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Delaware County - A Fort Wayne man was arrested early this morning and charged with numerous charges after he refused to stop for a trooper trying to stop him for speeding. It all started shortly before 3 a.m. this morning, when Trooper Brad Tucker clocked a south bound Chevrolet Cavalier at 108 M.P.H. on I-69 at the 245 mile marker.

When he tried to stop the vehicle, it continued on south at speeds over 100 M.P.H. refusing to stop. As the vehicle entered Madison County, it was able to avoid Stop Sticks deployed by police at the 234 mile marker. Around the 233 mile marker, the vehicle suddenly began slowing down, having run out of gas.

The driver steered the car to the right berm, where he promptly jumped out and ran over the hill into some brush and briars. As officers pursued, the suspect, Amado Perez, age 18 of Fort Wayne, ran head long into the INDOT fence, off the edge of the interstate, bouncing back into the brush where he was taken into custody by Trooper Tucker.

Further investigation revealed that Perez, who said he was on his way to Michigan but was driving south bound on I-69, was driving a car that had been reported stolen by his grandmother in Fort Wayne. After being treated at IU Health’s Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, for the minor injuries he received from briars and running into the fence, Perez was lodged in the Delaware County Jail.

Perez was charged with Resisting Law Enforcement with a Motor Vehicle, Level 6 Felony, and Vehicle Theft, level 6 Felony, as well as OWI Endangerment, Class “A” Misdemeanor, and Resisting Law Enforcement, fleeing, Class “A” Misdemeanor. In addition he was written a ticket for 108 M.P.H. in a 70 M.P.H. zone.

Trooper Tucker was assisted in the pursuit by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Department, Chesterfield Police and Daleville Police, as well as Madison County EMS, who administered treatment at the scene.

During the 2015 July Fourth holiday period, there were 964 traffic collisions in Indiana. Of those, 64 were alcohol-related, and 73 percent involved a driver with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or greater. In total, there were 43 injuries and 2 deaths as a result of alcohol-related crashes.

The Pendleton District covers the eight counties of Delaware, Madison, and Randolph; Henry, Wayne, Union, Rush and Fayette counties. Motorists are encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers by calling 9-1-1. Give a vehicle description, location, and direction of travel. Never follow an impaired driver.