Two South Bend residents arrested after chase in La Porte County

LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. – Two people were arrested on Thursday for allegedly leading police on a pursuit in La Porte County, Indiana State Police reported.

At 3:20 p.m., a trooper saw a silver Ford Taurus traveling 80 mph along State Road 2, east of La Porte, according to reports.

The trooper caught up to the Taurus and initiated a traffic stop but as the trooper exited his patrol vehicle, the driver of the Taurus drove away, traveling west towards La Porte, reports said.

The trooper called out a vehicle pursuit and followed the Taurus.

The Taurus tried to turn onto Clay Street from S.R. 2 in downtown La Porte but crashed into the corner of a business, reports said.

The crash disabled the vehicle and the driver left the vehicle and ran south on Clay Street, according to reports.

The trooper chased the suspect through an alley to Jackson Street when the suspect, identified as 18-year-old Bryan Fuentes of South Bend, tripped and fell, reports said.

Fuentes was taken into custody.

A passenger in the Taurus also ran from the vehicle, reports said.

The trooper retrieved dash cam of the pursuit and got a description on the passenger, who was later located by the La Porte Police Department as he was trying to blend in with a group of people, reports said.

The passenger, identified as 27-year-old Ricardo Ramirez of South Bend, was taken into custody, according to police.

While doing inventory of the crashed Taurus, police found marijuana and crack cocaine, reports said.

Fuentes and Ramirez were not injured in the crash.

Both were taken to the La Porte County Jail.

Fuentes faces the following charges:

• Possession of cocaine
• Resisting law enforcement with a vehicle
• Possession of marijuana
• Driving while suspended (prior conviction)
• Aggressive driving
• Operator never licensed

Ramirez faces the following charges:

• Possession of cocaine
• Resisting law enforcement
• Possession of marijuana
• Possession of paraphernalia