Dash-Cam Video Released In Fatal Police Pursuit
The Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office has released dash-cam video from a high speed pursuit that ended with the death of the suspect, identified as Don Smith, 29, of Elkhart, April 9.
The incident began with an armed robbery at a bank in Watseka, IL. The suspect fled when police arrived, taking a female hostage at gunpoint and forcing her into a vehicle. A pursuit followed along US 24, with the vehicle crossing into Indiana.
Contact with the vehicle was lost for a period of time, with deputies from Benton and Newton counties in Indiana attempting to locate the suspect. At approximately 5:30 p.m. April 9, Lafayette police were called to a report of an armed robbery at Advance America on Elmwood Avenue. A gun was displayed during the robbery and two employees sustained minor injuries.
The suspect, which turned out to be Smith, left the scene of the robbery in the same vehicle from Illinois with the woman still held hostage. Police regained contact near Battle Ground, IN, and began pursuing again.
The Lafayette Police Department pursued the vehicle through Battle Ground and into Brookston, where it was disabled by stop sticks. Smith then ditched the damaged vehicle and carjacked another while continuing to hold the hostage at gunpoint. He headed north on US 421, where the chase finally ended just north of Monon.
Indiana State Police say the suspect attempted to avoid another set of stop sticks and struck another vehicle. Officers surrounded the vehicle and Smith aimed his weapon at them. ISP Sgt. Kim Riley stated that is when officers fired, killing the suspect.
The hostage was taken to IU Health Memorial Hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries. According to court records, Smith faced rape and robbery charges in St. Joseph county in 2003. More than 10 agencies worked together in the incident.
Source: WLFI