A Champaign, Illinois man was jailed on multiple charges Tuesday morning following a traffic pursuit in Montgomery County.
Robert E. Turner III, 21, is facing preliminary charges of two counts of resisting law enforcement, receiving stolen property, unauthorized entry to a motor vehicle, reckless driving, criminal recklessness, dealing in marijuana and identity deception after he allegedly led police on a pursuit that began on Interstate 74 and ended in Crawfordsville.
According to information provided by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, at 11:54 p.m. Monday, Deputy Caleb Berry attempted to stop a speeding Nissan Altima that was traveling westbound on Interstate 74. Berry confirmed the vehicle was traveling at 93 mph and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The vehicle did not yield to the officer’s emergency lights and increased its speed.
The officer pursued the vehicle on I-74 towards the U.S. 231 interchange where stop-sticks were positioned at the 34 mile-marker by officers with the Crawfordsville Police Department. The Nissan hit the stop-sticks, flattening both front tires. The vehicle then exited the interstate onto U.S 231 where two Crawfordsville officers entered the pursuit.
The vehicle then fled southbound on U.S. 231 towards the Smith Avenue intersection, turned eastbound onto Smith Avenue, and continued toward Heritage Products, where it entered a parking lot. The vehicle eventually came to a stop in the grass and its three occupants fled on foot. After a brief foot pursuit, all three individuals were taken into custody by city and county officers.
Police identified the driver as Turner. His two passengers were identified as 17 years old and were also from Illinois. Deputies seized more the 270 grams of marijuana from the vehicle and $1,910 in cash. It was later discovered that the vehicle was reported stolen from Berkley, Illinois.
Turner remains incarcerated at the county jail on the pending charges as well an Illinois parole warrant. The two juveniles were processed and released to their guardians.
Charges for all three individuals will be sent to the Montgomery County Prosecutors Office.
The sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate and is working with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. A vehicle matching the Nissan’s description was reportedly involved in two separate robberies in Indianapolis prior to the local incident.
The sheriff’s office was assisted by the Crawfordsville Police Department, Crawfordsville Fire Department, Indiana State Police and Wilson’s Towing.
