The driver involved in the multi-county pursuit on July 10 was arrested and booked in the Allen County Jail.

WHITLEY COUNTY — The driver involved in the multi-county pursuit on July 10 was taken into custody and booked in the Allen County Jail on several active warrants out of Allen County.

Clarence Shearer, 31, Fort Wayne, was taken into custody after being released from Parkview Hospital in Columbia City. Shearer will have charges pending related to the multi-county pursuit and subsequent crash that took the life of Whitley County Sheriff’s Department patrol K9 Cas.

The passenger in the vehicle with Shearer was arrested by the Plymouth Police Department and is in the Marshall County Jail.

Around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, the Plymouth Police Department put out a dispatch of an armed carjacking that occurred near the LifePlex gym near US 30 and Pioneer Drive. Shortly thereafter an Indiana State Trooper saw the vehicle traveling eastbound on US 30 near Fox Farm Road. Once other police officers arrived, a high-risk stop was attempted near Meijer Drive on US 30 in Kosciusko County. The Chrysler pulled to the side of the road and stopped and the passenger got out of the Chrysler but Shearer sped off in the vehicle, continuing eastbound on US 30.

Shearer continued eastbound on US 30, refusing to stop while being chased by officers from several police departments with the pursuit eventually entering Whitley County. Whitley County Deputy Gary Archbold positioned his car, a 2019 Dodge Charger, in the intersection of US 30 and CR 450W and set up stop sticks in an attempt to stop the Chrysler from fleeing. Shearer attempted to avoid the stop sticks and collided broadside with the Whitley County Dodge Charger in the passenger side. The collision caused the Charger to go into the  westbound lanes of US 30 and burst into flames. Officers were unable to get K9 patrol dog Cas out of the Charger and she died on scene.

A memorial service honoring K9 Cas will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, at the First Church of God, 12200 W. DePoy Drive, Columbia City. The public is welcome to attend.

Donations are also being accepted in Cas’ name to the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department K9 Fund, 101 W. Market St., Columbia City, IN, 46725.

K9 Officer Cas