Derek Robert Fleckenstein

WARSAW — Driving the wrong direction on a one-way street led to a brief police chase and charges of resisting law enforcement, possession of syringe and possession of methamphetamine.

Derek Robert Fleckenstein, 37, 1310 E. Clark Street, Warsaw, was arrested Tuesday, Oct. 6, by Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputy Dalis Owens.

The affidavit of probable cause states Owens observed a green Jeep Cherokee turn onto a city street westbound, in the wrong direction. The street is one-way for eastbound traffic.

Owens, who was eastbound, turned around and activated his emergency lights and siren, at which time the driver, later identified as Fleckenstein, accelerated at a high rate of speed. Fleckenstein turned the Jeep sharp, at an intersection, running over the curb and causing the vehicle to go slightly airborne. The driver eventually pulled over.

Court documents state Fleckenstein exited the vehicle quickly and refused to obey commands of the officer. The officer saw the driver pull something out of his pocket and then throw an object under the vehicle as he knelt to comply with the officer’s order.

Under the Jeep, police found a syringe with a hypodermic needle and a liquid residue, inside the syringe. Fleckenstein allegedly admitted to police he threw the syringe under the vehicle, and had used the syringe to inject methamphetamine.

Fleckenstein’s charges are level 6 felonies. He was held on $5,000 surety and $250 cash bond.