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Brazil suspect, 21, charged in pursuit that ended in Putnam
BRAZIL -- A 21-year-old Clay County man is facing charges after leading police on a two-county pursuit that ended with the suspect going the wrong way on U.S. 40 before crashing in western Putnam County.
As a result, Joseph Dahlstrom, of Brazil, faces three felony counts of criminal confinement, felony and misdemeanor counts of resisting law enforcement and misdemeanor counts of criminal recklessness and failing to stop after an accident.
Charges were filed in Clay County alleging the suspect would not let three passengers out of his vehicle while leading authorities on a pursuit that reportedly began about 2:45 p.m. Feb. 5.
That's when a Clay County deputy attempted to pull over an older-model GMC Sonoma after noticing front-seat occupants were not wearing seatbelts and appeared to be acting nervously.
Initially the truck slowed for the deputy, but then sped off as the driver, later identified as Dahlstrom, ran several stopsigns and stoplights in an attempt to outrun authorities.
When Dahlstrom turned east onto U.S. 40, a second Clay County deputy joined the pursuit.
The chase eventually found its way into Putnam County where Indiana State Police troopers employed stop sticks in an effort to stop the suspect. However, Dahl-strom avoided the tire-deflating devices by crossing the median and traveling east in the westbound lanes of U.S. 40.
Stop sticks were deployed a second time, but Dahlstrom again crossed the median into the eastbound lane before losing control and crashing into a tree near the intersection of CR 450W and U.S. 40 in Putnam County.
Dahlstrom then fled on foot, leaving his passengers in the truck, but authorities were reportedly able to locate him hiding under a trailer.
The three passengers in the truck all said they had pleaded for Dahlstrom to stop and let them out, the report noted, but he reportedly refused and kept running from authorities.
The front-seat passenger said he was so frightened he attempted to jump out of the vehicle but after being threatened by the driver he stayed in the truck.
Along with his new charges, Dahlstrom was also wanted in Vigo County on a felony burglary charge.
At his initial hearing in Clay Superior Court, a pretrial conference was set for April with a jury trial set for May.
Dahlstrom is being held in the Clay County Justice Center on $50,000 bond.