At approximately 10:19 a.m. Sunday on I-65 northbound near the 175 mile marker (that is at the SR 25/175 exit) a vehicle speeds by an unmarked state police car and fails to stop after the trooper activates his emergency lights and siren.
Senior Trooper Tyler Stinson was on duty in his blue unmarked Indiana State Police car when a white 2018 Dodge Challenger who was coming up from behind Stinson was catching up at a high rate of speed. Traffic was light in the area and Trooper Stinson was able to get a RADAR reading of 100 mph in a construction zone speed limit of 55 mph. As the Challenger got up alongside of Trooper Stinson, the driver, later identified as Marquinn Morrison, 27 of Lafayette, saw the vehicle was a police car and slowed and pulled in behind Trooper Stinson. Trooper Stinson slowed to almost a stop to let Morrison pull in front and to initiate a traffic stop. Instead, Morrison took off and Trooper Stinson got in behind him with his emergency lights and siren activated.
The pursuit continued NB with the vehicle traveling at times reaching speeds of 130 mph in the construction zone where workers were working on the Wabash River Bridge at the 177 MM. Trooper Stinson continued to follow the Challenger as the vehicle continued NB. Traffic continued to be light on I-65 as Trooper Stinson continued to follow the Challenger. Other troopers assisted in the pursuit as they continued NB traveling through White County and entering Jasper County.
At the 201 MM Morrison lost control of the Challenger and ended up rear ending a minivan which finally disabled the Challenger. Morrison and his passenger, Tyjah Ealey, 22 of Chicago were taken into custody. Morrison is being arrested for:
- Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle
- Driving While Suspended/Prior. 43 separate Suspensions on his driver’s license
- Possession of Marijuana
- Reckless Driving in a Work Zone with Workers Present
- Operating While Intoxicated
The passenger was charged with possession of Marijuana.
Both were transported to the Tippecanoe County Jail. Troopers assisting were Sergeant Sean Schaefer, Senior Trooper Jerad Foutch, Trooper Tyler Bentlage and deputies from the White County Sheriff’s Department. Further charges could be pending. No one in the minivan were injured and they were able to drive away.