Machete-Armed Suspect Arrested After Ramming Police Vehicles, Crashing Stolen Car in Wheatfield
WHEATFIELD — A South Bend man was taken into custody Tuesday evening after allegedly ramming police vehicles, striking a civilian car, and confronting officers with a machete during a traffic stop in Wheatfield, authorities said.
According to the Wheatfield Police Department, officers and deputies with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department responded around 5:11 p.m. on February 3, 2026, to a traffic stop at the Family Express gas station at 51 E. State Road 10.
Police said the driver refused to identify himself and would not exit the vehicle. Officers observed behavior consistent with possible drug use, prompting additional units to respond.
As deputies attempted to prevent the suspect from fleeing, authorities allege the driver intentionally rammed two fully marked law-enforcement vehicles, striking one deputy’s squad car while the deputy was seated inside. The suspect then fled, striking a civilian vehicle at the intersection of State Road 10 and State Road 49 before the vehicle became disabled near State Road 49 and South Street.
Investigators said the suspect exited the vehicle armed with a machete and ignored repeated commands from officers. Due to what police described as an immediate threat, officers deployed a Conducted Energy Weapon (Taser), which was effective in safely taking the suspect into custody.
The suspect was identified as Duncan Davis, 45, of South Bend. He was evaluated by Wheatfield EMS and transported to Franciscan Health Rensselaer for medical clearance before being booked into the Jasper County Jail.
One deputy sustained injuries when the suspect rammed a law-enforcement vehicle. The deputy was taken to a local hospital for treatment and later released.
The crashes are being investigated by the Indiana State Police. Authorities later confirmed the vehicle driven by Davis had been reported stolen out of Porter County.
Davis is currently being held pending the filing of formal criminal charges.
