La Porte Deputies pursue stolen vehicle, ends on Chicago Skyway

LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. - The La Porte County Sheriff's Office reports on Tuesday afternoon, they received a notification of a stolen vehicle heading east on U.S. 20 from U.S. 35.

Authorities say the stolen black SUV with Illinois registration was caught on video and identified via a Flock Safety Camera.

At 3:24 p.m., a deputy located a vehicle matching the description near U.S. 20 and Wilhelm Road.

Officials say the vehicle turned into Hunters Run subdivision where the deputy then initiated a traffic stop.

The vehicle stopped in a driveway in the 4900 block of Hunters Glen Drive. There, authorities say the driver initially obeyed the commands of the deputy before driving away leading to a pursuit.

The vehicle then traveled within Hunters Run subdivision before exiting westbound on U.S. 20.

The pursuit continued west on U.S. 20 to C.R. 525 West. The vehicle made a U-turn and drove eastbound on U.S. 20.

Officials say the suspect vehicle then went eastbound to C.R. 400 West where it turned southbound.

It continued to U.S. 35, turned northbound, and traveled back to U.S. 20. From westbound U.S. 20, the fleeing vehicle merged onto I-94 where the pursuit continued westbound.

The deputy pursued the suspect vehicle westbound on I-94 through Porter County and into Lake County. The fleeing vehicle took the Indiana Toll Road I-90 and continued westbound.

At that point, they continued west to the Illinois state line and onto the Chicago Skyway.

Authorities say the pursuit ended at the Chicago Skyway Bridge Toll Plaza where the driver was taken into custody.

The driver was identified as 43-year-old James A. Simcoe of Norridge, Illinois.

Officers from the Chicago Police Department then took custody of Simcoe, pending extradition back to La Porte County for criminal charges.