Staff Report

Christian M. McQuade

WARSAW — A Warsaw man was arrested after allegedly stealing a woman’s vehicle and leading police on a high-speed pursuit.

Christian M. McQuade, 28, 27 EMS B59 Lane, Warsaw, is charged with theft and resisting law enforcement, both level 6 felonies; and reckless driving, a class A misdemeanor.

On July 13, a woman reported her vehicle, a black 2020 Chrysler Pacifica, was stolen from Dutchtown Church in Warsaw. The woman said she left her keys in the vehicle’s door while she carried items into the church. A Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was on patrol in Syracuse was informed of the stolen vehicle.

According to court documents, while the deputy was traveling south on SR 13, he noticed the stolen vehicle traveling north. The deputy turned his patrol vehicle around, caught up to the vehicle, and informed other officers that he had found the stolen Chrysler Pacifica.

The deputy followed the Chrysler Pacifica until other officers were nearby, and then attempted to pull the vehicle over in North Webster. The Chrysler Pacifica came to a stop and the deputy began ordering the driver, later identified as McQuade, to exit the vehicle. However, the vehicle accelerated and drove north on SR 13 at a high rate of speed.

McQuade traveled through the town of North Webster, reaching speeds greater than 100 mph at times and was seen swerving in between vehicles and traveling on the incorrect side of the road.

The KCSO deputy followed the vehicle to North SR 13 and East CR 1000N, where additional officers deployed stop sticks. McQuade ran into the stop sticks and continued speeding.

The pursuit continued into Syracuse, where McQuade continued driving erratically. The pursuit then entered Elkhart County. While on US 6, officers noticed the Chrysler Pacifica’s passenger side tires had gone flat. Eventually, McQuade lost control and the Chrysler Pacifica left the roadway.

McQuade was taken into custody but refused to answer questions about the incident.

McQuade has been arrested and released on his own recognizance. He has an initial hearing at 1 p.m. Aug. 4, in Kosciusko Superior Court Three.