(LaGrange County, IN)-Troopers from the Indiana State Police Post on the Toll Road subdued a 40 year old suicidal man from Bozeman, Montana this morning after receiving a report that he had allegedly battered a female passenger that had been traveling with him.
According to First Sergeant Tim Moon, Assistant Toll Road District Commander, this morning at approximately 5:30 a.m., he responded to assist Trooper Aaron Meyer at the travel plaza located on the eastbound side of the Toll Road at the 125.8 mile marker in LaGrange County. Trooper Meyer had located an individual who was driving a vehicle that matched the description given by a female victim of a battery that was alleged to have occurred about an hour earlier near the 62 mile marker in St. Joseph County.
The man, who also fit the description given by the victim, became very agitated as Meyer spoke with him. He then told Meyer that he had several containers filled with gasoline and that he would set himself on fire. Moon and a LaGrange County Sheriff Deputy arrived at approximately 5:48 a.m., and as they began to walk towards the man and his 1987 Chevrolet Astro van, the man sped away continuing eastbound for the next two miles before stopping in the middle of the roadway at the 127.6 mile marker.
After about five minutes, Moon persuaded the man to drive to the crossover at the 127.5 mile marker, where, over the next hour, Moon began a dialog trying to convince the man to exit the vehicle and give himself up. At about 6:50 a.m. the man indicated that he was going to exit the vehicle, but then took one of the containers and began to douse himself with gasoline.
Moon, Meyer and other officers were able to forcibly enter the van and remove the man without injury to him or themselves before he had the opportunity to use the cigarette lighter that was in his hand. He was taken into custody, rinsed off with water and offered medical treatment at the scene before being transported to a local hospital for evaluation. This investigation is continuing. Assisting were the LaGrange County Sheriff Department, LaGrange Police Department, LaGrange Fire Department and LaGrange County EMS.
