Local News

Stolen Safe Found in Fleeing Vehicle

(Michigan City, IN) - Charges are filed in connection with a high speed chase and manhunt throughout much of Michigan City. Justin McColly, 39, is charged in La Porte Superior Court 1 with resisting law enforcement and other counts.

 

According to court documents, officers at about 4 a.m. on January 18th were assisting a disabled vehicle on Twin Road near U.S. 12 when a vehicle with a very loud exhaust system drastically reduced its speed while traveling past their location. One of the officers began following the vehicle and, eventually, tried to make a traffic stop, but the driver accelerated. Speeds reached up to 120 miles per hour as the pursuit ventured down U.S. 12, Karwick Road, U.S. 20 and other roads like 400 West.

 

Police said McColly blew through a number of traffic lights and stop signs and drove between trees in a yard in his effort to elude law enforcement.  At one point, the vehicle driven by McColly traveled sideways in the curves of a curvy road with the tires smoking from the high speeds.

 

Eventually, stop sticks placed by an officer flattened at least one of the suspect’s tires on East Michigan Boulevard near the police station.   The pursuit continued down numerous streets in the downtown area despite the flattened tire falling off the rim.

 

McColly with sparks flying up from the rim stopped and allegedly fled on foot in the area of U.S. 12 and 8th Street  He was later captured inside a residence. Police said a safe apparently forced open after stolen and three other people in their upper 20's to early 30's were located inside the vehicle.

 

One of them, Brandon Hicks, was taken into custody on a felony warrant out of Saint Joseph County, Michigan, police said.

 

Weather Center

High School Scoreboard

Sports Scores

Facebook