A Leesburg man was arrested after a vehicle pursuit with Indiana State Police resulted in his Jeep entering a ditch. Photo provided by ISP.

Press Release

Austin N. Zarse

LEESBURG — A Leesburg man led Indiana State Troopers on a vehicle pursuit through a field before getting stuck in a water-filled ditch on Monday, May 16.

Around 10 p.m. on Monday, May 16, ISP Trooper Matthew Drudge saw the driver of a gray 2017 Jeep commit a moving violation as it traveled north on SR 15, south of Leesburg. Drudge activated the red and blue emergency lights on his marked ISP Dodge Charger and the Jeep pulled to the right, stopping near the intersection of SR 15 and Levi Lee Road.

As Drudge approached the Jeep on the passenger side, he noticed the driver still had his foot o the brakes due to the brake lights being on. As Drudge began to speak to the driver, later identified as Austin Zarse, 27, another trooper stopped to see if Drudge needed assistance. As the assisting trooper began to walk toward the Jeep, Zarse sped off north on SR 15.

Zarse led troopers and other agencies on a pursuit that continued north through Leesburg. As Zarse approached CR 900N, he took the pursuit off the roadway and began to drive west through a field.

Zarse continued to flee until his Jeep ran down an embankment and into Coppes Ditch. The Jeep became disabled and came to a stop in about three feet of water.

Zarse exited the Jeep and was taken into custody but not before he began dumping bags of an unknown substance into the water, according to state police.

Zarse was arrested and taken to the Kosciusko County Jail for resisting law enforcement, obstruction of justice, and reckless driving.

ISP was assisted by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, NET43, Milford Police Department, and Crouse Towing.