Sheriff: Suspect found hiding along river bank following multi-state police pursuit

LAGRANGE COUNTY, Ind.—A traffic stop led to a police pursuit across state lines on September 26, according to the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies tried to conduct a traffic stop on a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt near County Road 750 N and County Road 800 E around 8 p.m. on Thursday but the Cobalt did not stop, the sheriff’s department said.

A police pursuit ensued and continued into Michigan, through Burr Oak, before the Cobalt hit stop sticks, blowing out the front driver’s side tire just south of Colon, police said.

The Cobalt continued into a corn field and the Cobalt’s driver, identified as Kevin Smith of LaGrange, got out of the car and evaded police, reports said.

A passenger in the Cobalt, Richard Moore of LaGrange, was arrested without further incident.

A Michigan State Trooper and his K-9 partner were called to the scene and located Smith hiding along the river bank in Little Swan River.

Both Smith and Moore were arrested and taken to the St. Joseph County Jail in Michigan and are awaiting extradition back to Indiana. They face charges including resisting law enforcement, aggressive driving, and reckless driving, the sheriff’s department said.

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