At approximately 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Whitestown Metropolitan Police Officers were investigating a burglary that occurred in a residential neighborhood. While traveling northbound on County Road 500 East, a WMPD officer observed a dark colored SUV turn off all its lights, and pull into a driveway off County Road 500 East. The officer illuminated the vehicle with its spotlight, at which point the SUV exited the driveway at a high rate of speed and drove southbound on County Road 500 East, almost striking the officer’s vehicle.WMPD attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle continued fleeing from police and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. The suspect vehicle continued southbound at a high rate of speed, disregarding stop signs at several intersections, until eventually coming to a T-intersection at County Road 450 South and County Road 500 East. The vehicle then drove off the roadway onto a residential property, and crashed into several trees. The suspect, a black male, then exited the vehicle on foot and continued fleeing into a wooded area.
WMPD officers established a perimeter, and started a K9 Track for the suspect. Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Zionsville Police Department, Lebanon Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Carmel Police Department, and Whitestown Fire Department all responded to the area and assisted with the perimeter and track of the suspect. After several hours tracking the suspect, Indiana State Police located a black male matching the description of the suspect on Interstate 65 near 86th Street in Marion County. The suspect again fled on foot from ISP. A second perimeter and search was conducted, and the suspect was apprehended in a nearby neighborhood and taken into custody.
The suspect was identified as Michael Murphy of Indianapolis, and he is being held at the Boone County Jail on charges of Resisting Law Enforcement (using a
vehicle), Driving While Suspended with prior convictions, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and Criminal Mischief.
Murphy is also currently being investigated by WMPD and BCSO Detectives for burglaries that have occurred in the area.