An Elkhart man is facing jail time after allegedly stealing and crashing a county police car over the weekend.
At about 7:30 p.m. Sunday, officers with the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department responded to a domestic disturbance in the 25700 block of Kiser Court on the north side of Elkhart. Involved in the incident was 21-year-old Ryan Larson, 25723 Kiser Court, who was believed by his parents to have been very intoxicated from both alcohol and prescription medication.
While Ptl. Brandon Denesuk was meeting in the home with one of the parents, Larson entered his patrol car and drove away. Officers were able to locate the vehicle instantly using GPS locators installed in sheriff’s cars.
Officers were attempting to intercept the vehicle when it crashed in the construction area surrounding the Johnson Street Bridge, sustaining minor damage from striking construction barricades or barrels.
Larson reportedly left the vehicle and fled on foot before being taken into custody by Elkhart police officers at about 7:45 p.m. in the area of Cassopolis Street and Baldwin Avenue. He was checked for injuries at Elkhart General Hospital and then transported to the Elkhart County Jail, where we was incarcerated on preliminary charges of felony auto theft, misdemeanor operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement. He also faces a preliminary charge of leaving the scene of a property damage crash, also a misdemeanor.
Sheriff Mike Books said the incident will be reviewed to determine whether department policies and procedures were effective and followed by officers.
All weapons inside the stolen car were secure and could not have been used by the suspect, according to police. Nothing was taken from the patrol vehicle.
