Stolen Jeep Pursuit Nets Wanted Man
On Tuesday, 01/16/24 at approximately 12:19 PM, East Chicago Officers were dispatched to the 3500 block of Guthrie Street in reference to a stolen Jeep Cherokee in the area, according to Chief Jose Rivera. The stolen vehicle was tracked in the area by the finance company using a geo-locator. Officers located the stolen vehicle in the area of 3400 Guthrie Street and attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The vehicle, which was occupied 2 times, refused to stop, and officers pursued the stolen vehicle.
The pursuit ended in Hammond after the stolen vehicle struck several vehicles near the intersection of Cline Avenue and Calumet Avenue. Both occupants exited the vehicle, and the passenger was immediately apprehended. The driver jumped a divider wall and fled on foot. Officers then began to chase the driver on foot. While chasing the driver, officers observed the driver point a semi-automatic handgun at them. Officers advised the suspect to drop the weapon, but he refused. One officer then fired 3 shots at the suspect, and the suspect stumbled to the ground, Rivera said.
Officers then approached the suspect, and he began to forcibly resist officers. Reasonable force was then used to subdue the suspect. After a brief struggle, the suspect was taken into custody. Officers then checked the suspect and observed that he was not struck by the gunfire.
The driver of the stolen Jeep was identified as 32-year-old Brion Dowdell of Clinton, Iowa. The passenger was identified as 25-year-old Antonnette Johnson of East Chicago. Both suspects were transported to the East Chicago Police Department Jail for processing.
Officers recovered a .45 caliber Glock modified with a Glock switch from the suspect. The firearm was reported stolen from Marion County, Indiana. The vehicle (2012 Jeep Cherokee) was reported stolen out of Chicago, Illinois, and was impounded to ECPD. The driver also had a US Marshall’s warrant for his arrest for a weapons offense.
The East Chicago Gang and Narcotics Division is currently investigating the case. An update will be given once formal charges are filed.
