Officers with the Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department, along with Lebanon Police Department and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office were involved in two vehicle pursuits, and arrested two suspects who physically and violently resisted arrest on March 2 and March 3.At approximately 11:30 p.m., on March 2, WMPD officers were dispatched to observe for a wrong way driver, driving northbound in the southbound lanes of Interstate 65. Upon investigation, WMPD officers located a white Honda Civic traveling northbound in the southbound lanes at the 132 mile-marker. Officers attempted to get the vehicle to come to a stop, trying to protect other drivers on the roadway, but the white Honda Civic failed to stop, and attempted to strike responding officers from WMPD and Lebanon Police Department while continuing to flee. LPD was able to successfully deploy tire deflation devices at the 136 mile-marker, which led to the suspect vehicle slowing down and eventually being boxed in by WMPD, LPD, and Boone County Sheriff’s Deputies.
Once the vehicle was stopped, all responding agencies attempted to remove the driver at gun point, however he refused all verbal commands to exit the vehicle. Officers then had to break out the driver side window, and remove the driver by force, later identified as Anthony Simeri (20) of Elkhart. Simeri physically resisted and fought officers upon trying to remove him, and was sprayed with a chemical agent for compliance. Once removed from the vehicle, Simeri physically resisted and fought officers continuously while trying to be handcuffed, and after being handcuffed, resulting in injuries to multiple WMPD
Officers. Once in custody, Simeri was transported to a local area hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained while resisting against officers, and for medical clearance.
Simeri is being held at the Boone County Jail pending charges of: Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury to a Public Safety Officer; Resisting Law Enforcement Using a Vehicle; Resisting Law Enforcement; Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated/Endangerment; Criminal Recklessness; Disorderly Conduct; Operating a Vehicle with a Schedule I or Schedule II Controlled Substance or its Metabolite in the Body; and Reckless Driving.
At approximately 9 p.m. on March 3, WMPD officers were dispatched to the TA Travel Center on a report of an intoxicated male, talking to himself, yelling obscenities, and attempting to leave after stealing merchandise without paying. Officers were informed he was exiting the parking lot in an older model Buick sedan with a headlight out. Officers observed this vehicle while responding, and attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle. The older model Buick accelerated to a high rate of speed when officers initiated their lights and audible siren, and entered Interstate 65 southbound at the 130-entrance ramp. The Buick drove recklessly, putting several other drivers in danger as it sped into multiple lanes of travel, and weaved between all lanes of travel at a high rate of speed, without ever using a turn signal.
WMPD Officers began a short vehicle pursuit, which ended at the 129.4 mile-marker when the Buick veered to the right and came to an abrupt stop. WMPD Officers removed the driver, later identified as Sean D. Howard Jr. (31) of Indianapolis, from the vehicle at gunpoint, and took him into custody. While trying to escort Howard Jr. into a police vehicle, he physically resisted and fought officers several times, which resulted in injuries to multiple WMPD Officers. Howard Jr. also spit at and screamed profanities at the WMPD Officers while resisting. Howard Jr. was transported to a local area hospital by WMPD Officers and BCSO Deputies, to be treated for injuries he sustained while resisting against officers, and for medical clearance. Howard continued to act belligerent, screaming profanities, and trying to fight law enforcement while at the hospital.
Howard Jr. is being held at the Boone County Jail pending charges of: Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury to a Public Safety Officer; Resisting Law Enforcement Using a Vehicle; Obstruction of Justice; Intimidation; Resisting Law Enforcement; Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated/Endangerment; Criminal Mischief; Driving While Suspended with a Prior Conviction; Theft; Criminal Recklessness; Public Intoxication; Disorderly Conduct; and Reckless Driving.
It is very alarming and important to note that there were 3 incidents in one week where WMPD Officers and other Boone County Law Enforcement agencies have dealt with dangerous and violent offenders who showed zero regard for the lives of the public, and the lives and safety of law enforcement officers.