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Jasper County Man Apprehended After Vehicle Pursuit in Steuben County
(Steuben County, IN)- A Jasper County man is in the Steuben County jail this evening after leading troopers on a lengthy vehicle pursuit earlier this afternoon.
The incident began at approximately 1:30pm near the I-69 / SR-120 interchange after Senior Trooper Chris Kinsey (Fort Wayne Post) identified a black GMC Sierra pickup truck displaying a stolen license plate. Trooper Kinsey and Trooper Kody Buell initiated a traffic stop on Old 27 near SR120 to investigate the criminal matter. Prior to identifying the male driver, he sped off, initiating a vehicle pursuit that would run through central Steuben County for nearly a half hour, running off road several times through fields and wooded areas around Crooked Lake, crashing through a fence, running over a mailbox, and nearly striking one of the troopers.
Trooper’s John Silver, Dave Poe, and Jacob Bill, along with deputies from the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department were able to join in the pursuit at various locations to assist with apprehending the driver. Officer’s smartly coordinated their efforts, taking every opportunity to employ de-escalation tactics to confine and attempt to safely end the pursuit. Stop stick were deployed at several different locations, but the driver managed to avoid each attempt.
Officers ahead of the pursuit were finally able to successfully deploy stop sticks on County Road 600 West north of US20, which deflated the truck tires. The driver continued driving on flat tires for a short distance, but eventually his vehicle became inoperable near CR650W and US20. A felony traffic stop was conducted and the driver, identified as Mark Allen Cates (57) was taken into custody without further incident.
Cates was transported to the Steuben County Jail, where he was booked into custody on numerous related charges, and will remain held pending an initial hearing.
Arrested:
Mark Allen Cates, 57, DeMotte, IN
Charges:
- Resisting Law Enforcement – Level 6 Felony
- Operating as a Habitual Traffic Violator– Level 6 Felony
- Possession Stolen Property – Level 6 Felony (2 Counts)
- Possession of Marijuana – Class A Misdemeanor
- Possession of Paraphernalia – Class A Misdemeanor
- Reckless Driving – Class B Misdemeanor
- Criminal Mischief – Class A Misdemeanor
- Criminal Recklessness – Class B Misdemeanor
Senior Trooper Kinsey was assisted by troopers from the Fort Wayne Post, Toll Road Post, deputies with the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department, and Countryside Towing Service.
*All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The above listed charges are preliminary at the time of arrest, with the final determination of charges at the discretion of the Steuben County Prosecutor.
-Walker
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Mark Allen Cates
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