Police recover stolen vehicle after pursuit in LaPorte County

On Thursday around 4:15 p.m., troopers out on patrol in Michigan City noticed a black Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT with an Illinois license plate.

Police checked the Jeep's plates and they came back belonging to a different vehicle, reports said. 

The trooper began to follow the Jeep and the driver of the Jeep then accelerated at a high rate of speed, police said. 

A pursuit began at Franklin Street and it continued onto I-94 in the westbound lanes. 

The Jeep exited I-94 onto southbound SR 49 before getting onto I-90. As the Jeep attempted to get onto the Toll Road, it hit stop sticks that had been placed in the road.

Police said the Jeep continued driving on the Toll Road with a flat tire.

The driver of the Jeep eventually stopped near mile marker 27 and he was taken into custody along with his passenger, according to reports.

An investigation showed the Jeep had been reported stolen from Plainfield, Illinois as part of a Facebook sales scam, police said.

Police said the driver of the Jeep matched the description of the suspect in the online sales scam. 

The driver, identified as Keyvon Johnson, 23, of Park Forest, Illinois, was taken to the LaPorte County Jail on preliminary charges including resisting law enforcement with a vehicle (prior conviction), theft, reckless driving and possession of marijuana, police said. 

The passenger was released and not charged in the incident.