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Driver Flees Lake County Police In Box Truck Thursday

February 7, 2020February 10, 2020 Goddard

On Thursday,  February 6 around 9pm Lake County Police were dispatched to 2715 W Ridge Road at Chuck & John’s Tap in reference to a fight according to a Police Report from The Lake County Sheriff.  

While units were arriving dispatchers advised officers that the subjects involved were leaving the scene in a white box truck.  Officers located the truck and conducted a traffic stop at Ellisworth & Ridge Road in the center turn lane, records show. Before the responding officer could exit his vehicle the truck began to move again to the far right lane where it abruptly stopped and a passenger exited the truck.  The driver then fled Eastbound down Ridge Road disregarding numerous traffic signals and stop signs before passing I-65 and making a U Turn near Sandusky Street. The driver then continued to get on I65 Southbound with multiple agencies in pursuit of the vehicle at a high rate of speed according to the police report. Indiana State Police set up spike strips which the suspect hit and deflated several tires.  The driver exited I65 on to Route 2 near Lowell where officers were able to get in front of the truck to slow it down but the driver attempted to strike the police car. Officers noticed the driver on his cell phone before it came to a stop near Holtz Road & Route 2 intersection.  

The suspect was placed under arrest and officers found a pipe, open beers along with several unopened cans in the vehicle.  
Upon further investigation officers learned the driver had a suspended license.  The driver now identified as Eric Witrykowski was processed into Lake County Jail and charged with Felony Resisting and Reckless Driving along with numerous citations for speeding and failure to yield to signals according to the report.