A police chase in Branch County turned into an officer-involved shooting yesterday, according to several reports. Around 5 p.m., a 33-year-old male suspect from Camden reportedly refused to yield to a deputy’s signal, resulting in a pursuit, according to the Branch County Sheriff’s Office and WWMT. The chase began around Central Road and Ferguson Road in Algansee Township and came to a standstill at Kelley Road and State Line Road, where the suspect’s vehicle veered off the road.
An officer-involved gunshot occurred while attempting to arrest the suspect at the location, according to Branch County Sheriff Fred Blankenship, who noted that the defendant was shot while a passenger in the car remained unharmed. After fleeing the original capture, the subject was eventually discovered and captured in Indiana, near the Ohio state line, resulting in pending charges in both Michigan and Indiana, Blankenship noted. The suspect had medical treatment at Parkview Regional Medical Center.
According to local law enforcement announcements, the Michigan State Police have taken over the investigation into the events that led to the shooting. According to a news statement from the Sheriff’s Department, the officer involved has been placed on administrative leave as the investigation continues, in accordance with department practice.
Several organizations from around the state assisted in dealing with the aftermath of the incident, including the Indiana State Police, Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, Fremont and Angola Police Departments, and Steuben County Emergency Medical Services. This cross-jurisdictional collaboration emphasizes the nature of the crime, which required a pursuit that ended in a neighboring state. WOODTV confirmed the incident and the subsequent arrest of the perpetrator.