Warsaw Man In Custody After Fighting, Chase With Police

A Warsaw man was arrested after leading law enforcement on a chase in a stolen police car across state lines into Michigan Friday evening.

    Michael Lee Eppenbaugh
  

It began when a handcuffed shoplifting suspect at the Menards near Main Street in Mishawaka - Michael Lee Eppenbaugh, 42, of Warsaw - allegedly began fighting with a Mishawaka police officer and an off-duty St. Joseph County police officer who happened to be there, according to police.
During the struggle, Eppenbaugh somehow took control of a Mishawaka police car on scene and drove off. A little while later, officers found the stolen vehicle as it sped north on Ironwood Road before crossing into Michigan.
The stolen vehicle was involved in a traffic crash near the intersection of M-60 Highway and Yankee Street in Cass County’s Howard Township, according to a Cass County Sheriff’s Office advisory report. The other vehicle was driven by Catherine Townsend, of Vicksburg, Mich.
Eppenbaugh was then taken into custody and taken to Corewell Lakeland Niles Hospital via SMACS ambulance, the report states. He then was taken to Cass County Jail.
Townsend was not injured in the crash.
Eppenbaugh also was wanted on multiple warrants in Kosciusko County.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office said alcohol is believed to have played a role in the crash, which remains under investigation.