Three Arrested After High Speed Pursuit In Whitley, Kosciusko Counties
News Release
COLUMBIA CITY —At approximately 7 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, several troopers from the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne post became involved in a high-speed vehicle pursuit that led to three arrests.
The pursuit began after Master Trooper Todd Reed attempted to stop a 2019 Nissan Sentra passenger car traveling at over 90 mph westbound on US 30, just west of Columbia City.
The driver, later identified as Devonte Devon Perkins, 37, of Michigan City, chose to speed off rather than pull over, and then attempted to evade officers from multiple agencies for nearly 30 miles into Kosciusko County, at times with speeds well over 115 mph.
The other two occupants of the vehicle were later identified as Jahnesha Annette Thompson, 37, South Bend, and Terrell Yusef Morrow Jr., 32, South Bend.
Once the pursuit entered Kosciusko County on US 30, de-escalation tactics were attempted with stop sticks deployed by troopers at the intersection of CR 650E, near Pierceton.
One tire was successfully struck, but Perkins’ vehicle was not completely disabled and he continued on.
The damaged tire eventually came off the rim. At one point along US 30, passengers in Perkins’ vehicle were seen allegedly throwing items from the vehicle. Upon recovery, law enforcement found two handguns.
As the pursuit entered into the city of Warsaw, officers from the Warsaw Police and Kosciusko Sheriff’s deputies, along with additional troopers from the ISP Bremen Post, became involved.
According to a press release issued by Indiana State Police Sergeant Brian Walker, the Warsaw Police Department “did a great job blocking intersections ahead of the pursuit to protect other vehicular traffic, and then continuing de-escalation attempts with multiple stop stick deployments.”
The de-escalation efforts proved successful, and the pursuit ended just west of Warsaw on CR 200S at Zimmer Road at approximately 7:40 a.m.
All three occupants were taken into custody without further incident. They were placed under arrest on various felony and misdemeanor charges, transported back to Whitley County and booked into custody at the Whitley County jail pending arraignment.
Perkins was charged with serious violent felon in possession of a firearm, a level 4 felony; resisting law enforcement, a level 6 felony; identity theft, a level 6 felony; dealing marijuana, a level 6 felony; and reckless driving, possession of paraphernalia and operator never licensed, all misdemeanors.
Thompson was charged with possession of a handgun without a permit, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia, all misdemeanors.
Morrow was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia, both misdemeanors.
Both Perkins and Morrow were found to have active arrest warrants.