News Release

SOUTH BEND — A collaborative effort between the Indiana State Police, South Bend Police Department and Mishawka Police Department landed a man in jail after he fled on foot from a traffic stop last night in South Bend.

According to a press release from the Indiana State Police, at approximately 9 p.m. Oct. 3, Trooper Brian Robbins was traveling west in his marked Indiana State Police car on Colfax Avenue when he noticed a gold Chevrolet in front of him with a taillight that was out. Robbins made a traffic stop on the Chevrolet near the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Notre Dame Avenue.

While speaking to the female driver, she informed him that she did not have her driver’s license on her, but she provided a name and date of birth. The male passenger said he did not have a license either and provided a name and date of birth. Once back in his car, Robbins was able to verify the identity of the driver and found that she had a suspended driver’s license. Robbins found that the passenger had provided a false name but was able to determine the true identity of the passenger as Jeremiah Johnson, 23, of South Bend. Johnson was also found to have three active felony warrants for theft out of Michigan City.

Once Robbins determined that the passenger had warrants, he requested another officer and an officer with the South Bend Police Department arrived. When the officers had Johnson exit the car to take him into custody, he fled on foot with officers briefly chasing. During this time the driver, who had been identified, fled from the scene in the Chevrolet.

An officer with the Mishawaka Police Department arrived on scene with a K9 and began to track Johnson. The K9 was able to track Johnson and found him hiding in a tree in the 700 block of LaSalle Avenue. Johnson was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital to be medically cleared due to being “tased” when he initially fled on foot and due to having abrasions on his hands and legs from the K9 and tree branches.

Johnson was medically cleared and transported to the St. Joseph County Jail. Once at the jail, it was found that Johnson had suspected fentanyl and suspected cocaine hidden on his body. Johnson was arrested for the three active warrants, false informing, resisting law enforcement and two counts of possession of cocaine or narcotic drug.

Charges will be submitted to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office for the driver of the Chevrolet that fled from the scene of the traffic stop.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.