Yesterday a vehicle pursuit led to the arrest of Justin Fitch, 30, South Bend. He was incarcerated in the Miami County Jail. He faces criminal charges for resisting law enforcement with a motor vehicle, criminal mischievous, resisting law enforcement (non-vehicle), driving while suspended with a prior conviction, aggressive driving, leaving the scene of a property damage crash, and reckless driving.
At approximately 3:25 p.m. Monday, Indiana State Police Trooper Kyle Miller initiated a traffic stop on a Ford Explorer, which was allegedly traveling southbound on U.S. 31, near Miami County Road 1050 South, with a false and fictitious license plate. The driver of the Ford, later identified as Fitch, failed to stop and led Miller on a vehicle pursuit. The chase ended when the Ford crashed into a bean field on Miami County Road 700 East near State Road 19. Fitch emerged from the vehicle and allegedly fled on foot. Officers from the Indiana State Police, the Miami County Sheriff’s Office, and the Peru Police Department quickly set up a perimeter. Fitch surrendered a short time later and was taken into custody without incident.
Further investigation revealed that Fitch was allegedly driving on a suspended driver’s license with a prior conviction.