Staff Report

Devon Pete Poe

WARSAW — A Pierceton man was recently arrested after fleeing from officers while under the influence of methamphetamine.

Devon Pete Poe, 33, 3104 E. Wooster Road Lot 59, Pierceton, is charged with resisting law enforcement, a level 6 felony; and resisting law enforcement, operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in bodily injury and driving while suspended, all class A misdemeanors.

On Dec. 4, a Warsaw Police officer saw a red Ford Fusion traveling north on Columbia Street. The officer learned the vehicle’s registration returned to a Nissan Maxima, leading the officer to attempt to pull the vehicle over.

According to court documents, the vehicle turned west onto Fort Wayne Street and failed to yield to the officer. The vehicle continued to not stop while traveling at a high rate of speed. While on Center Street, a female passenger jumped out of the vehicle. The vehicle then traveled through a property at 421 W. Center St. and hit a tree, causing the vehicle to roll over.

The vehicle’s driver, later identified as Poe, exited the vehicle and began to flee on foot. A K9 unit was deployed to take Poe into custody.

Officers spoke with the female passenger, who said Poe was driving her vehicle to pick up a friend. When she learned that Poe was going to the Victory Hotel to pick the friend up, the woman asked to be taken home. During the pursuit, the woman asked Poe to let her out of the vehicle. When Poe turned a corner, the woman opened one of the vehicle’s doors and fell out, causing injuries to her left hand, right elbow and a bump to her forehead.

Poe told officers that he was “high on methamphetamine” and admitted to smoking meth earlier in the day. An oral fluid analyzer test administered to Poe showed a positive result for methamphetamine usage.

Poe was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Dec. 5, with a $6,250 surety and cash bond.