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Early morning I-70 pursuit ends in downtown Indianapolis
A high-speed vehicle pursuit starting in Putnam County ended in downtown Indianapolis after the driver of a stolen 2014 Ford Escape crashed into another vehicle and a bicyclist Thursday morning.
An Indianapolis man was arrested early Thursday morning following a vehicle pursuit that began in Putnam County and ended in downtown Indianapolis when the suspect crashed into another vehicle and a bicyclist.
Putnam County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Jon Chadd initiated the high-speed vehicle pursuit Thursday at 8:54 a.m., after a 2014 Ford Escape, driven by Torvon E. Davis, 23, was observed speeding and driving recklessly on eastbound Interstate-70 near the 41-mile-marker.
"It began as I observed the vehicle traveling in excess of 100 mph and driving erratically, passing vehicles on the shoulder and in the median," Chadd explained. "When the vehicle popped over the hill going eastbound, he was in excess of 100 mph, passing on the shoulder. I turned on my emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the vehicle, at which point he continued on, trying to run vehicles off the road while passing on the shoulder and on the median."
Chadd continued to pursue the vehicle, which was allegedly stolen by Davis from a car dealership in Mount Vernon, Ill., through Morgan County to Hendricks County at which point, Davis intentionally attempted to hit an Indiana State Police trooper.
"Just west of the Plainfield off ramp, he passed semi in the median," Chadd noted. "When he came back out I could see an Indiana State Police motorcycle sitting on the shoulder, which was waiting for us with its lights activated. The suspect then crossed both lanes in an attempt to strike him."
Missing the trooper, Davis exited I-70 at the Plainfield exit, at which point he crossed State Road 267 and got back onto the interstate.
"He then evaded Hendricks County's attempt at stop sticks and continued east to Marion County, still in excess of 100 mph," Chadd added.
Once in Marion County, several agencies assisted Chadd in the pursuit as Davis continued eastbound on Interstate-70, eventually exiting and continuing north on Meridian Street, with a flattened left rear tire due to stop sticks deployed by an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officer.
The vehicle pursuit ended shortly after 9 a.m. at Meridian and Maryland streets when Davis disregarded a red light and crashed into a 2000 Ford Taurus, which was traveling eastbound on Maryland Street.
"He crashed at the intersection of Maryland and Meridian," Chadd explained. "He T-boned a car, which then knocked that car into a female bicyclist."
According to an Indiana State Police report, the Taurus, driven by Wyatt J. Luelf, 33, Greenwood, came to rest on the sidewalk on the northeast corner of Meridian and Maryland streets with the bicyclist, Jannelle Lynne Nordlund, 25, Indianapolis, trapped under the rear of the car.
Following the crash, Davis then led authorities on a short foot pursuit into a parking garage on Meridian Street, just north of the Hard Rock Cafe, where he was captured on the third floor within four minutes by an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officer.
When placed in custody, Davis was said to have spit in the face of the officer, at which point authorities placed a sweatshirt over his head to keep him from spitting at authorities.
Davis was later released to Chadd and transported to the Putnam County Jail.
Davis will be facing multiple charges in Putnam County including resisting law enforcement with a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property and criminal recklessness with a motor vehicle.
He will also be facing several charges in Marion County, including resisting law enforcement with a motor vehicle causing injury, possession of a stolen vehicle, leaving the scene of a personal injury crash, criminal recklessness with a motor vehicle, battery waste on a police officer, along with several traffic related charges.
Davis will also be facing criminal charges in Hendricks County and the State of Illinois.
Luelf was treated at the scene for cuts to his forearm and was released, while Nordlund was transported to Methodist Hospital for complaint of pain to her foot. She is listed in stable condition.