Driver accused of hitting police vehicle, fleeing traffic stop

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- A man who allegedly struck a police cruiser while fleeing a traffic stop is facing multiple charges in connection with the incident, according to court records.

Taleo Nonnie Halbert has been charged with attempted battery by means of a deadly weapon, criminal recklessness, resisting law enforcement, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, felony carrying a handgun without a license, misdemeanor carrying a handgun without a license and possession of marijuana.

On Thursday an officer with the South Bend Police spotted a black Honda traveling at a high rate of speed.

When the officer ran the license plate of the vehicle, the officer learned the vehicle had been reported stolen from Mishawaka, reports said.

The officer located the black Honda at a gas station and parked behind it with his emergency lights activated.

The occupants were ordered out of the vehicle, but the driver, Halbert, put the car in reverse and struck the officer's vehicle while he was standing next to it, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Halbert then sped out of the parking lot, reports said.

The officer followed the vehicle with lights activated. After briefly losing sight of the vehicle, the officer located it abandoned near Meade and Fisher streets, reports said.

Witnesses told police the occupants ran into a nearby home.

The home was surrounded and Halbert eventually surrendered, reports said.

Officers applied for a search warrant to locate the keys to the stolen Honda. Inside the home, officers located a bag with a substance that appeared to be marijuana and a handgun, police said.

Halbert has previously been convicted of a felony.

UPDATE: On September 7, 2022, the court accepted Halbert's plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to criminal recklessness, resisting law enforcement, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident. The remaining charges against him were dismissed. He was sentenced to 808 days for criminal recklessness, 808 days for resisting law enforcement, 60 days for reckless driving nd 180 days for leaving the scene of an accident. All the sentences are to be served concurrently. Because he has credit for 404 days in custody, the court said he had satisfied his sentence.