Fleeing Driver Faces Multiple Felony Charges After Trooper Capture
Posted
Staff Report-
ELKHART?COUNTY - On Thursday, a driver fled from Indiana state troopers, leading them on a chase that began in Nappanee and ended with a crash in Elkhart.
Around 4 p.m. on Thursday, an Indiana state trooper attempted to stop a white 2012 Toyota Camry for a traffic violation near the intersection of North Rosenberger and West Centennial streets in Nappanee, according to a news release form Indiana State Police Bremen District. When the trooper turned on his emergency lights in his marked ISP car, the driver of the Toyota, Luiz Fraire, 26, of Bristol, refused to stop and fled northbound on Ind. 19.
As the Toyota continued northbound, it sideswiped a Jeep in the roundabout at the intersection of Ind. 19 and Ind. 119 and continued northbound, stated the news release. While travelling northbound, it is alleged that contraband was thrown from the Toyota in multiple locations along Ind. 19. Troopers later were able to locate some of the contraband and identified it as suspected methamphetamine.
The Toyota driven by Fraire hit a tire deflation device (stop sticks) that deputies with the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office deployed at the intersection of CR 26 and Ind. 19. The Toyota continued to flee northbound despite the stop sticks successfully deflating the tires.
At the intersection of Ind. 19 and CR 24, Fraire disregarded a red light and collided with a red Suzuki Reno that was travelling westbound on CR 24. Fraire’s Toyota came to a stop due to disabling damage and the driver and passenger were safely taken into custody. No injuries were sustained in the two crashes, stated the release.
Troopers located approximately 80 grams of suspected methamphetamine, a loaded handgun that had been reported stolen, and suspected marijuana.
Fraire was arrested for preliminary charges of dealing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a handgun by a violent felon, possession of stolen property, obstruction of justice, resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and possession of a handgun without a license, according to the release.
The passenger in the Toyota, Fernanda Perez, 27, of Goshen, was arrested on an active warrant.
Fraire and Perez were taken to the Elkhart County Jail.
ISP was assisted by the Wakarusa Police Department, the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office and the Elkhart Police Department.
