ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- According to the probable cause affidavit, on July 24, an officer with the St. Joseph County police was in the area of SR 23 near North Liberty. A Walkerton officer notified that a Ford Fusion bearing false and fictitious plates was heading in their direction. Officers spotted the vehicle and began following it.

The fusion then began picking up speed and engaging in behaviors that indicate police avoidance.  Officers noticed a plate cover was partially obstructing the plate. The fusion then turned into a loop drive way. 

Officers then turned on lights and sirens and alerted dispatch that he would be in pursuit, chasing the fusion northbound on SR 23. Officers reached speeds of 110 in a 55. North Liberty officers deployed stop sticks, causing the suspect vehicle to slow. The driver, a white male with several face and arm tattoos, exited the vehicle and ran into a cornfield, not to be found despite K9 and drone deployment. 

Later that day, North Liberty Officers received calls of a suspicious person going in and out of a corn field on SR-4 and Sycamore. The description of Brent Ottman. Officers were advised that the parties got into a black Chevy Cruze and were headed east on SR-4. Officer Kelly found the vehicle and conducted a felony stop.

The driver was placed into handcuffs while Brent Ottman took off again south on Millet, then east into a field, and then into the woods. 

Later that same day, with Brent Ottman still at large, a civilian with a scanner noticed a man hitchhiking on the side of SR 4 matching the description of Ottman. Brent Ottman then got into the bed of the pickup truck of the civilian, and the civilian then called 911. 

North Liberty officers located the truck and conducted a traffic stop. Brent Ottman jumped out of the truck and attempted to flee on foot for a third time before being arrested by officers.

Brent Ottoman was charged with:

Possession of Methamphetamine

Resisting Law Enforcement-Defendant uses a vehicle.

Resisting Law Enforcement def. knowingly or intentionally flees from law enforcement

Resisting Law Enforcement def. knowingly or intentionally flees from law enforcement

Possession of Paraphernalia; Introducing a Controlled Substance into the Body

Resisting Law Enforcement def. knowingly or intentionally flees from law enforcement