CMHU investigating police-involved shooting following pursuit

NORTH LIBERTY, Ind. -- An hour long police pursuit ended in a cornfield when the suspect was shot by police and his vehicle and a police cruiser caught fire, according to St Joseph County Police.

North Liberty Police began pursuing a vehicle around 4:30 a.m. Monday after officers discovered the plates on the vehicle may be stolen.

The high speed pursuit included North Liberty Police, St. Joseph County Police, Walkerton Police and La Porte Police. The suspect's vehicle rammed several police vehicles during the pursuit, police said.

The pursuit ended in a cornfield off Leeper and SR23 around 5:30 a.m. when police fired shots at the suspect and he was hit by gunfire, police said.

A Walkerton Police officer's vehicle and the suspect's vehicle caught fire in the field.

Police pulled the suspect from the burning vehicle and provided treatment of his wounds and was transported to Memorial Hospital.

The vehicle fires caught the cornfield on fire. The fire was reported under control at 6:24 a.m.

Several officers were taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit is investigating the shooting.

The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office has identified the man who was shot in the pursuit as 48-year-old Kevin Meyers of LaPorte.

Meyers was taken into surgery for his injuries following the pursuit. Police say that he is in stable condition.