WHITLEY CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – Indiana State Police say that Monday afternoon, at approximately 1:30 p.m., state troopers from the Fort Wayne Post and officers from several agencies from Huntington, Allen, and Whitley Counties became involved in a lengthy vehicle pursuit of a 1995 Toyota pickup truck.
It began after an officer with the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department attempted to stop the truck for a traffic violation on US 24 near Roanoke.
Indiana State Police released the following:
The driver, who eventually would be identified as Sheldon Straessle, 25, of Roanoke, allegedly refused to pull over and instead led officers into southwest Allen County via the areas of Homestead Road, Aboite Center Road, Illinois Road, and West County Line Road, before heading over into Whitley County along CR900S and north on State Road 9.
Officers initiated multiple StopStick deployments in Allen and Whitley Counties and were successful in deflating all four tires of the truck effectively slowing the speed of the pursuit. But despite best efforts, the pickup truck continued driving north on SR9 towards Columbia City, albeit at slower speeds and on bare rims.
On SR9 just south of County Road 200 South, a state trooper initiated a Precision Immobilization Tactic (PIT) maneuver and disabled the pickup truck into the west side ditch, which effectively ended the pursuit. Officers were then able to take Straessle into custody without further incident.
Straessle was transported for a medical clearance at Parkview Whitley Hospital, then transported to the Whitley County jail, where he was booked into custody on related criminal charges.
Arrested: Sheldon A. Straessle, 25, Roanoke, IN
Charges:
Resisting Law Enforcement w/Vehicle, Level 6 Felony
Criminal Recklessness w/Deadly Weapon, Level 6 Felony
Reckless Driving, A Misdemeanor
The Indiana State Police was the arresting agency. There is no further information to release.
The Indiana State Police was assisted during this pursuit by the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department, Roanoke Town Marshal, Fort Wayne Police Department, Allen County Police Department, Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, Columbia City Police Department, South Whitley Town Marshal, Parkview Whitley EMS, and Smith Brothers Towing.
*The charges listed are preliminary. The Whitley County Prosecutor will have final determination of charges to be filed. All suspects are to be presumed innocent unless/until proven guilty in a court of law.
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