A Warsaw man is facing criminal charges after a vehicle pursuit that occurred on Friday, June 19. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

Press Release

WARSAW — A Warsaw man is facing criminal charges after a vehicle pursuit Friday morning.

At approximately 6:29 a.m. Friday, June 19, Warsaw Police officers responded to a report of a man passed out at the wheel of a 2004 silver Oldsmobile Alero in the intersection of CR 200N and US 30.

According to a press release from the Warsaw Police Department, the responding officer initially suspected the driver may be intoxicated or impaired based on his actions. During this initial investigation, a second Warsaw police officer arrived on scene. It was at that point the driver, identified as Ezekiel Dewayne Fitzpatrick, 25, Warsaw, fled the scene, almost striking the initial investigating officer.

A pursuit ensued as Fitzpatrick fled along Anchorage Road, then north on SR 15. Fitzpatrick was driving at an excessive speed and passing other motorists on the right side of the road. This caused Fitzpatrick to lose control of his vehicle around CR 400N and SR 15, where his vehicle rolled and came to rest on its top. Fitzpatrick was partially ejected because of the single-vehicle collision with a culvert. The silver Alero is believed to be totaled from the collision. Other than damage to the culvert, no other vehicles or property were damaged in the rollover.

Warsaw officers began to tend to Fitzpatrick medically until Lutheran EMS and Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory arrived on scene to take over. He was extricated from the vehicle and taken by ambulance to a Fort Wayne area hospital. Fitzpatrick’s injuries are currently unknown.

Preliminarily, Fitzpatrick is facing charges for fleeing law enforcement and reckless driving, as well as other infractions committed during this case. The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office is assisting WPD with the traffic accident investigation and subsequent charges that may result in an investigation for operating while intoxicated pending the outcome of a blood test.

Narcotic drugs are believed to be a factor in this morning’s pursuit. This investigation is still active and ongoing.

Warsaw Police Department was assisted on scene by KCSO, the Winona Lake Police Department, Lutheran EMS and Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory.