PERU, Ind. – On Friday, November 11, at approximately 6:11pm, Peru Police received information of a possible stolen truck en route to Peru from Wabash. Wabash City Police advised of a red truck towing vehicle trailer that should be coming to Peru on Wabash Road. On the vehicle trailer was a dark colored Dodge Ram truck that was stolen.
A short time later, Lieutenant Sam Finnegan observed the red truck towing a vehicle trailer, with a dark colored Dodge Ram, on Wabash Road near the WARU radio station. After activating his emergency lights and siren, the driver initially did not stop. However, the driver of the red truck stopped near the intersection of Main Street and Smith Street.
As Lieutenant Finnegan exited his vehicle, the driver took off leaving northbound on Smith Street. Lieutenant Finnegan began to follow observing the driver fail to stop at the stop sign at Smith and Fifth Street. The driver went to Sixth Street, turning westbound. Lieutenant Finnegan continued to follow the vehicles as they went west on Sixth Street to Chestnut Street, as the driver disregarded four stop signs. The driver turned north onto Chestnut, then went west on the Nickel Plate Trail. Once in the area of north Park Avenue, the driver went off the Nickel Plate Trail. The driver went toward the Sherwood Court Mobile Home Park. The driver drove through a chain link fence. Once inside the mobile home park, the driver went through the park and exited out of the north end. The driver continued westbound in the area behind Kroger, driving through another chain link fence. After reaching an open area behind Aldi, the driver fled on foot from the vehicle.
Several officers set up a perimeter and two Peru Police Department K9’s were deployed. The K9’s were able to pick up a track on the suspect from near Kelly Avenue to Duke Street, along the NS Railway. However, the male suspect was not located. In the process of the pursuit, Lieutenant Finnegan’s patrol car sustained some damage.
Further investigation revealed that the truck that was being driven was stolen, as well as the truck on the trailer.
The male suspect remains at large. However, the Peru Police Department is following up on leads. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Peru Police Department Lieutenant Sam Finnegan at (765) 473-2150, extension 532.