Trooper Pinned After Chase Leading To Shots Fired
This morning at 12:27 a.m., the Munster Police Department initiated a pursuit of a silver Nissan sedan which had reportedly been involved in suspicious activity at a residence in their town near Manor & Broadmoor. The driver fled Munster at a high rate of speed, driving without headlights, and had reportedly attempted to ram a Munster police car. ISP units assisted with the pursuit as it continued east bound on I-80 from Kennedy Avenue, according to Sgt. Glen Fifield of the Indiana State Police. The pursuit continued north on Cline Ave and exited onto Columbus Dr. where the vehicle crashed into the round-a-bout. The Nissan continued to attempt to flee west on Columbus before stopping in the left lane. A trooper then pulled next to the vehicle and attempted to take the suspect into custody; however the vehicle moved forward striking the trooper as he stood outside of his vehicle, wedging him against his police car. The trooper, while still wedged between vehicles, then shot at the driver through the windshield, striking the suspect, Fifield told RNS. The vehicle was occupied by three other passengers, none of whom were injured or struck by any gunfire. The suspect and trooper were both transported from the scene for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspect has been identified as Eric R. Douglas, 30, from Crown Point, IN. He is currently being held at the Lake County Jail on a probable cause hold for this incident as well as for active warrants out of Marion and Porter County. This is an on-going investigation.. The identification of the trooper involved will be released Thursday afternoon.
All persons named in this release are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. Any charges mentioned are merely accusations, further charges as a result of this investigation will be determined by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.
