Anthony M. McClellan

Anthony M. McClellan (Noble County Sheriff’s Department photo)

Police from several agencies spent hours Tuesday afternoon searching an area near Whitley County’s Big Lake, for a suspect wanted on several outstanding warrants and for trying to run down a police officer with a vehicle. (See related)

Anthony Michael McClellan, 23, of Churubusco, was being sought in the area of SR 109 and CR 700 North near Columbia City yesterday after allegedly battering a female in a home near Albion. While the search was active, police were urging nearby residents to stay inside.

Indiana State Police spokesperson Sgt. Ron Galaviz said in a released statement that McClellan left the scene of the alleged battery. An ISP Trooper in an unmarked car came across a vehicle on SR 109 that matched the description of McClellan’s vehicle.

The trooper called for backup before attempting to stop the vehicle, which turned off the state road onto Lakeshore Drive on the south end of Big Lake. Lakeshore Drive is a dead end street.

The trooper exited his vehicle, at which time McClellan allegedly tried to run him over. The trooper fired an unknown number of rounds, none of which struck McClellan, who exited his vehicle and fled on foot into a wooded area.

Police set up a perimeter around the area and used aircraft during the search. Police officers and K-9 units from several law enforcement agencies assisted with the search, which included ground and air searches, and even had officers going door to door looking for the suspect.

The search for McClellan was called off at about 6:30 p.m., nearly four hours after the event began. Police then released McClellan’s photo to the media and asked for the public’s help to locate him.

Around 8:30 p.m., multiple callers to the Noble County and Whitley County Sheriff’s departments reported seeing a man fitting McClellan’s description near Goss Grocery, and later, they received information he was at a home on West Goss Road. A deputy attempted to make contact at the home, at which time McClellan ran from the back of the home.

After a short foot pursuit McClellan was apprehended.

McClellan was transported to the Noble County Jail where he is being held without bail. Authorities have not yet said what charges McClellan faces, but he was already wanted on several warrants out of Noble County for possession of methamphetamine, theft / receiving stolen property, domestic battery, driving while suspended, motorcycle license warrant and operating without financial responsibility.