Elkhart woman leads ISP pursuit in Northwest Indiana, speeds up to 140 mph
Porter County Jail: Carmela Maureen Pantoja, Maliek M. Long LAKE COUNTY, Ind. -- Two Elkhart individuals are charged with multiple crimes following a high-speed pursuit with Indiana State Police from Lake County to Porter County early Tuesday.
ISP reports at around 2:06 a.m., a trooper patrolling eastbound I-80 in Gary witnessed a black Toyota traveling at a high speed.
After catching up with the suspect vehicle, which was said to be traveling 110 mph in a 55 mph zone, the trooper attempted to relay the license plate number to dispatch.
The suspect vehicle is then reported to have accelerated to 133 mph. The trooper, driving a fully marked patrol vehicle, then activated his emergency lights and siren. The report stated the suspect vehicle initially appeared to be stopping but abruptly changed lanes and reached 120 mph before turning off its exterior lights.
Police say the suspect continued east onto I-94, weaving through traffic at speeds up to 135 mph. Dispatch was notified and officers with the Porter Police Department deployed stop sticks near mile-marker 21.
The suspect vehicle struck the stop sticks, before continuing at speeds up to 140 mph. The vehicle lost tires before coming to a stop in Chesterton near mile-marker 26.4.
Four individuals were detained without further incident. A Porter County Sheriff’s Office K9 also made a positive drug alert to the vehicle.
The driver, identified as 20-year-old Carmela Maureen Pantoja of Elkhart, was taken to Porter County Jail and is charged with Resisting Law Enforcement, a Level 5 Felony, Resisting Law Enforcement, a Level 6 Felony, Operating While Intoxicated Endangering, a Class A Misdemeanor, Possession of Marijuana, a Class B Misdemeanor, Operating While Intoxicated, a Class C Misdemeanor, Reckless Driving, a Class C Misdemeanor, and Minor Consumption, Class C Misdemeanor.
A passenger, identified as 23-year-old Maliek M. Long of Elkhart, was taken to jail on multiple active warrants out of Elkhart County, including charges for Escape, Resisting Law Enforcement, Leaving the Scene of a Crash, and Possession of Marijuana.
The two other passengers were released at the scene.