Staff Report

Raymond J. Connolly

WARSAW — A Plymouth man was recently arrested after hitting a motorcyclist with a rented SUV and leaving the scene.

Raymond J. Connolly, 55, 2550 N. Michigan St. No. 112, Plymouth, is charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, a level 6 felony; and criminal recklessness with a vehicle, a class B misdemeanor.

On May 20, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a report of suspicious activity at the Dollar Tree store on Commerce Drive. An older man was allegedly harassing a 14-year-old girl in the parking lot. Officers were provided descriptions of the man and the vehicle he was driving. Due to his behavior, the man was believed to be intoxicated or have a mental disorder.

According to court documents, officers found the suspect vehicle in Rural King’s parking lot. Officers attempted to locate the man in Rural King and surrounding stores, but could not find him at that time. Rural King employees reported a man not acting normally, marching in place and following employees in the store.

Employees later provided a picture of the man inside the store. The man matched the description of the person involved in the disturbance at Dollar Tree.

Shortly after leaving Rural King, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a vehicle accident resulting in injury on US 30 at SR 15. A motorcyclist said an SUV intentionally changed lanes, hitting his motorcycle. A witness described the SUV driver; the description matched those of the man from the Rural King and Dollar Tree incidents.

The motorcyclist sustained extensive cuts and abrasions to a large portion of his body, including his back, shoulders, hips and hands. In addition to the abrasions, the motorcyclist sustained bruising to his hips, shoulders, and knees, causing extensive pain. He was taken to a Fort Wayne hospital for further treatment.

The SUV’s driver continued to travel west on US 30, failing to stop or contact law enforcement about the accident.

The SUV’s registration returned to Enterprise Rent-A-Car, who advised the vehicle was rented by Connolly. A file photo for the rental was compared to security evidence from Rural King, positively identifying the man as Connolly.

Officers later found the SUV at the Red Rock Inn in Plymouth. The vehicle had visible damage that was consistent with the motorcycle accident on US 30. Law enforcement learned the vehicle was parked near a room rented by Connolly, but Connolly could not be located at that time.

For this case, Connolly was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on June 10, with a $10,250 surety and cash bond.