St. Joseph County – A man’s erratic driving last Saturday caught the attention of a trooper and eventually landed him in jail. The short car chase that ensued ended with his vehicle stuck on the train tracks in Mishawaka near Main Street.
Indiana State Police Trooper Jonathan Price was patrolling in Mishawaka shortly before 2:00 a.m. when a car sped past him and turned north onto Church Street from Lincolnway West. Trooper Price pulled in behind the car in an effort to signal the driver to pull over but the man refused to stop.
Price pursued the driver for less than two miles before the man ended up driving through a yard in the area of Marion Street and Broadway Street. In an effort to escape the driver attempted to drive west on top of the train tracks but got his vehicle stuck.
Price and officers from the Mishawaka Police Department surrounded the car and took the driver into custody. The man was identified as Patrick James Stouffer, 22, of South Bend. Purportedly Stouffer told police that he had been drinking at a bar and got nervous when he saw the police.
A records check by Price showed that Stouffer was driving on a suspended learners permit. Further investigation by Price also revealed that Stouffer was intoxicated.
Stouffer was arrested and transported to the St. Joseph County Jail where he was charged preliminarily with resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, operating while intoxicated – endangerment, and criminal recklessness.
*All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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SMITH
