Jeremy J. Niebert

A Saturday morning pursuit that started in Warsaw reached speeds in excess of 100 mph and eventually led to the arrest of a Winona Lake man.

Jeremy J. Neibert, 23, denied his involvement in the event, but was located by a police K9 stuck in a tree.

Warsaw Police say at about 3:37 a.m. Saturday morning, an officer investigating a criminal mischief complaint on North Park Avenue in Warsaw, saw a silver vehicle drive out of Lucerne Park with no lights and at a high rate of speed. The officer caught up to the vehicle near Sunset Drive and began pursuing the Chrysler 200 to SR 15.

The vehicle continued to flee and lost control near CR 350 North, but the driver regained control and continued northbound at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. At CR 600 North, the vehicle turned west and continued to flee at high speeds. Due to the snowy weather conditions, the officer lost sight of the vehicle but then observed brake lights and approached the area where the Chrysler had collided with a tree. Police observed one set of shoe prints in the snow leading away from the driver’s door.

Officers and a Winona Lake Police K9 tracked the driver to a wooded area southeast of the vehicle. At approximately 4:29 a.m., the driver was located stuck about eight feet up in a tree with his left knee lodged in the tree. The Atwood Fire Department was called and freed the driver who was then taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital for treatment.

Neibert denied his involvement and had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. He refused a chemical test and a search warrant for a blood draw was obtained.

After medical treatment, Neibert was transported and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on felony charges of resisting arrest with a vehicle, fleeing law enforcement, and criminal recklessness. Charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated are pending the results of the blood draw.

Three other occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody at the scene and later released without charges.

Warsaw Police were assisted by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, Winona Lake Police Department, and the Atwood Fire Department.