South Bend man flees traffic stop, tazed and found in tree by MPD K9 unit

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Indiana State Police reports, in collaboration with the South Bend and Mishawaka Police Departments, a man is now in jail after fleeing on foot from a traffic stop on Thursday night.

The report states on Thursday, around 9 p.m., a state trooper in an unmarked police car was traveling west on Colfax Avenue when he noticed a gold Chevrolet in front of him with a taillight out. 

The trooper then made a traffic stop on the Chevrolet near the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Notre Dame Avenue.

The report states while the trooper was speaking to the female driver, she informed him she did not have her driver’s license on her, but she provided a name and date of birth. 

The man in the passenger said he did not have a license either but provided a name and date of birth. 

The trooper went back to his car and was able to verify the driver's identity. It was found that she had a suspended driver’s license. 

The trooper found the passenger provided a false name but was able to determine his identity of as 23-year-old Jeremiah Johnson of South Bend.

Johnson was found to have three active felony warrants for theft out of Michigan City.

The trooper then requested another officer for assistance. An officer with the South Bend Police Department then arrived. 

When officers had Johnson exit the car to take him into custody, he fled on foot with officers briefly making chase and tazing him. 

At the same time, the driver, who had been identified, also fled from the scene in the Chevrolet.

An officer with the Mishawaka Police Department then arrived on scene with a K9 and began to track Johnson. 

The K9 tracked Johnson and found him hiding in a tree in the 700 block of LaSalle Avenue. 

Johnson was taken into custody and taken to a local hospital to be medically cleared due to being tazed and having abrasions on his hands and legs from the K9 and tree branches.

Johnson was cleared and taken to the St. Joseph County Jail. 

At the jail, it was found Johnson had suspected fentanyl and suspected cocaine hidden on his body. 

Johnson was arrested for the three active warrants, False Informing, Resisting Law Enforcement, Possession of Cocaine or Narcotic Drug, a Level 6 Felony, and Possession of Cocaine or Narcotic Drug, a Level 5 Felony.

Charges will be submitted to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office for the driver of the Chevrolet that fled from the scene of the traffic stop.