11:19 A.M. UPDATE
COLUMBUS, Ind. — The 2016 white Kia Sportage that was stolen from the Waffle House in Taylorsville Tuesday was recovered early this morning in Nashville, Tennessee, Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies said. The subject was not located. However, it is believed that the second subject involved in yesterday’s pursuit, in Bartholomew County, is also the subject who stole the Kia.
The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are forthcoming, investigators said.
ORIGINAL STORY
COLUMBUS, Ind. — Bartholomew County sheriff deputies and local and area police officers continued to search Tuesday for a suspect driving a stolen white 2016 Kia Sportage. The suspect, who was believed to be armed and dangerous, is wanted for an armed robbery in Nashville, Tennessee, investigators said.
At 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy Dylan Prather initiated a traffic stop on northbound I-65, near the 76 mile-marker, deputies said. The vehicle, a Honda Civic, had two suspects inside who were wanted in the armed robbery case.
The pursuit began northbound on I-65 from the 72.5 mile marker, but the vehicle reversed course and went southbound, and then reversed course again and went northbound to U.S. 31.
The vehicle went over tire deflation devices at U.S. 31 and County Road 500N, but then continued northbound on U.S. 31 and then northbound on I-65, deputies said.
The vehicle then crashed and rolled several times at the 80.5 mile marker in the northbound lanes off the east side of the interstate after trying to get around two vehicles on the interstate, deputies said.
Two males fled the vehicle. After a couple hours, a 16-year-old juvenile male was located at a residence on State Road 252, east of I-65 where he sought help for his injuries, deputies said. He was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries and later released to the Bartholomew County Youth Services Center on a preliminary offense of resisting law enforcement, deputies said.
A short time later, sheriff deputies were dispatched to a vehicle theft at Waffle House in Taylorsville. The owner of the Sportage had gone out of the restaurant to turn on the car and warm it up and the car was running when it was stolen, investigators said. The male who stole the 2016 Kia Sportage is believed to be the same suspect from the pursuit, deputies said, but until the vehicle is located, it cannot be confirmed, deputies said.
Deputies are continuing to look for a black male suspect (wearing a black shirt, jeans and a grey toboggan hat) from the pursuit in the Kia Sportage.
Two police K9s, two drones and deputies from multiple agencies attempted to locate the second suspect, who was believed to be armed with a .45-caliber handgun.
“I want to give a huge thanks to all agencies involved,” said Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers. “If anyone sees this vehicle or a person matching this description, please do not approach – call law enforcement immediately.”
