At approximately 10:50 p.m. Saturday on I-74 eastbound near the 23 mile marker (that is about two miles west of the SR 25/25 exit), a Fountain County Deputy and a Veedersburg Deputy Marshal stopped a dark green Ford Escape for numerous traffic violations. As they were conducting the stop, the front seat passengers switched positions and the car then fled the scene.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Kevin Jeffries has revealed that during the traffic stop, the two back seat passengers, a male and a female exited the Escape and then it took off. The two officers were not able to pursue the vehicle because of the passengers who had exited. The officers advised the vehicle was eastbound on I-74 but were unable to advise if it had exited at the SR 25 exit or continued on.
Troopers from the ISP post at Lafayette along with Montgomery County Deputies, Fountain County Deputies, Attica Police Department and Crawfordsville Police Department began to comb the area in search of the green Ford Escape. On US 231 near Lafayette St in Crawfordsville Sergeant Brad Mull of the Indiana State Police advised he had spotted the vehicle and was waiting for other units to assist on the stop. As they all activated their emergency lights, the suspect vehicle began to flee. It continued south on US 231 and then turned onto Lafayette Ave and shut off its lights. Upon approaching the intersection of US 231 and US 136, numerous other police vehicles were waiting at the location. Stop sticks were deployed and the Escape ran over the stop sticks and then crashed into several parked cars.
The suspect driver, later identified as Wyatt William Hunt, 21 of Springville, Iowa, exited the vehicle and started running down the street. Troopers caught up to him and attempted to place Wyatt in custody. As officers approached, Wyatt dove to the ground and resisted the officer’s verbal commands. After Wyatt failed to comply with the officers numerous commands, a Taser was deployed and then officers were able to place him in custody. He was then transported to Franciscan Health Crawfordsville Hospital by ambulance where he was checked out and released. Wyatt was then transported to the Montgomery County Jail and charged with:
- Criminal Confinement-A Level 5 Felony. This is due to a 9 year old juvenile in the car.
- Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle A Level 6 Felony
- Criminal Recklessness A Level 6 Felony
- Reckless Driving-A Misdemeanor
- Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Crash-A Misdemeanor
- Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance-A Misdemeanor
- Possession of Marijuana-A Misdemeanor
The investigation is continuing. No further will be released at this time.