Three People Arrested After a New Year's Eve Pursuit 

Tippecanoe County: Last night, just before 11:00 p.m., Trooper McKinney was patrolling US 231 near Martin Jischke Drive in West Lafayette. Trooper McKinney attempted to stop a 2008 Dodge Avenger for a traffic violation. The driver of the Avenger was later identified to be Ivan Vazquez, 26, from West Lafayette. The Avenger failed to stop and fled northbound on US 231. 

Trooper McKinney continued to pursue the Avenger northbound on US 231 to State Road 26. The Avenger turned left onto State Road 26 and then went south on Newman Road. The Avenger then ran off Newman Road and crashed into a fence near Sharon Chapel Road. Vazquez and two passengers were safely taken into custody. No one was injured in the crash. 

Multiple bags of an unknown substance were thrown from the Avenger during the pursuit. After a subsequent search of the area by a West Lafayette Police Department's K-9, all items from the vehicle were located.

After further investigation, Trooper McKinney located suspected Cocaine, Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Marijuana, and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. 

In total, the preliminary weight located was 14 grams of Cocaine, 18 grams of Fentanyl, 2 grams of Methamphetamine, and 18 grams of Marijuana. All items will be sent to the Indiana State Police Laboratory for an exact determination of substance and weight.

All three subjects were transported to the Tippecanoe County Jail. 

Arrested and preliminary charges:

• Ivan Vazquez, 26, from West Lafayette

1. Dealing Cocaine - Level 2 Felony
2. Dealing Fentanyl - Level 2 Felony
3. Possession of Cocaine - Level 4 Felony
4. Possession of Fentanyl - Level 4 Felony
5. Possession of Methamphetamine - Level 6 Felony
6. Maintaining a Common Nuisance - Level 6 Felony
7. Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle - Level 6 Felony
8. Operating a Vehicle while Suspended - Prior- Class A Misdemeanor 
9. Reckless Driving Causing Damage to Property - Class B Misdemeanor 
10. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Class C Misdemeanor

• Andre Wade Jr., 25, from Lafayette

1. Obstruction of Justice - Level 6 Felony
2. Visiting a Common Nuisance - Class B Misdemeanor 

• Yeriyah Taylor, 24, from Lafayette

1. Obstruction of Justice - Level 6 felony
2. Visiting a Common Nuisance - Class B Misdemeanor
3. Possession of Marijuana - Class B Misdemeanor 

Trooper McKinney was assisted by other troopers from the Lafayette Post, Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office, West Lafayette Police Department, Purdue Police Department, Lafayette Police Department, and Jim's Garage.

*All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

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