Lake County

HAMMOND — A 37-year-old East Chicago man wanted in four separate criminal cases was captured Tuesday afternoon after Indiana State Police said he led troopers on a high-speed pursuit from Hammond into Chicago.

According to Indiana State Police Sgt. Glen Fifield, detectives with the ISP Lowell Post Criminal Investigations Bureau and members of the ISP SWAT Team were attempting to serve a high-risk felony arrest warrant on Austin Earl Williams, 37, who was wanted on multiple violent felony and misdemeanor charges in Lake County.

Police said investigators used Flock license plate reader technology and other investigative tools to locate Williams driving a 2018 Ford Taurus near Calumet Avenue and Conkey Street in Hammond.

When troopers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, Williams allegedly fled, prompting a vehicle pursuit.

ISP said Williams continued through Hammond at a high rate of speed before crossing the state line into Illinois. The pursuit ultimately ended in Chicago when Williams crashed at the intersection of 77th Street and East End Avenue.

Williams was taken into custody without further incident following the crash. Chicago Police later transported him to the Cook County Jail, where ISP said he is being held without bond pending an extradition hearing to return him to Indiana.

According to ISP, Williams had active warrants in four separate cases involving the following charges:

  • Burglary Resulting in Bodily Injury, a Level 3 felony
  • Robbery, a Level 5 felony
  • Two counts of Domestic Battery Resulting in Injury, Level 6 felonies stemming from two separate cases
  • Strangulation, a Level 6 felony
  • Criminal Confinement, a Level 6 felony
  • Residential Entry, a Level 6 felony
  • Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, a Level 6 felony
  • Interference with Reporting of a Crime, a Class A misdemeanor
  • Domestic Battery, a Class A misdemeanor

Indiana State Police said additional felony charges will be sought in connection with Tuesday afternoon’s pursuit and related events.

Williams remains in custody in Cook County pending extradition proceedings.

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