Press Release

Ricky A. Johnson (InkFree file photo)

Angela C. Rogers (InkFree file photo)

SYRACUSE — A Warsaw man and Rochester woman were booked into the Kosciusko County Jail following a lengthy, multi-county police pursuit.

Ricky Johnson, 40, Warsaw, is being held on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement and possession of a hypodermic syringe, both level 6 felonies; possession of a handgun by a serious violent felon, a level 4 felony; and reckless driving, a misdemeanor. Angela Rogers, 37, Rochester, was booked for possession of a hypodermic syringe, a level 6 felony; and on a warrant hold for Fulton County on an assault charge.

The above listed charges are merely accusations at this point, with final determination of charges left to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office. Further charges may also be filed in Noble and DeKalb Counties at a later date.

Around 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, troopers from the Indiana State Bremen Post became involved in what would turn into an hour-long vehicle pursuit running across four different counties and involving numerous assisting police agencies.

The incident began after ISP Bremen troopers attempted to stop a black Toyota Camry passenger vehicle occupied by a fugitive wanted out of Fulton County on a felony warrant (Rogers) and another occupant being in possession of a handgun and assault rifle as a serious violent felon (Johnson).

The suspect vehicle first fled from troopers in the area of SR 13 near Syracuse in Kosciusko County. The vehicle initially went north toward Elkhart County, then traversed several county roads back down to the Lake Wawasee area, and then over into Noble County. Once in Noble, the suspects led police down US 33 toward Churubusco at speeds of up to 100 mph, throwing bags of items out the windows along the way and also tossing out a handgun, which was recovered by one of the troopers.

Turning east onto SR 205, the pursuit ran into DeKalb County toward Auburn. A deputy with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department was able to successfully deploy stop sticks on SR 205 at CR 60, deflating at least one tire, causing damage that would eventually end the chase. While in Auburn the suspect vehicle ran off the road through a fence behind the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum property, then came back on the road and headed south on CR 427 into Allen County. On Tonkel Road, just south of Hollopeter Road, after running off the road and into the side ditch, Johnson lost control of his vehicle, causing it to overturn onto its side.

Pursuing officers quickly took the driver, Johnson; and an adult female passenger, Rogers, into custody. Officers realized there was a third occupant still trapped in the overturned wreckage. Officers gathered up and were able to flip the car back onto its wheels, at which time the third occupant was also taken into custody.

All three suspects were taken from the scene by ambulance to the Parkview Regional Medical Center for medical evaluation. After further investigation, the male passenger was released from custody without charges. Both Johnson and Rogers, after release from the hospital, were taken back to Kosciusko County where they were incarcerated on numerous related charges.

There were no other people injured nor vehicles damaged during this incident. The only property damage noted was the fence at Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum.

Troopers from the ISP Bremen Post are handling the arrests and charging of Johnson and Rogers, while troopers from the ISP Fort Wayne Post are handling the crash investigation. This was a cooperative multi-agency effort involving officers from both ISP Districts, assisted by numerous officers from county and local law enforcement agencies in Kosciusko, Noble, DeKalb and Allen Counties. Also assisting at the crash site was the Fort Wayne Fire Department, Three Rivers Ambulance Authority and the Avilla Motor Works tow service.