ROCKVILLE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— A Parke County Sheriff’s Deputy on routine patrol was alerted by an Indiana Conservation Officer of a fleeing vehicle from Raccoon Lake Park at 6:36 p.m. Saturday evening.
According to a news release, the deputy was at the entrance of the state park and saw the suspect traveling between 60-70 miles per hour past the gate swerving around vehicles and people. The news release added that the suspect nearly struck multiple cadets of the Bellmore Fire Department.
The release stated that the deputy turned on his lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop but that the suspect continued to flee. The suspect continued out of the park and turned east on U.S. Highway 36 continuing at a high rate of speed passing vehicles. The suspect then lost control of their vehicle and crashed.
The suspect, identified as 40-year-old William E. Ditchley Jr. of Indianapolis, was then taken into custody and taken to the Parke County Jail. Ditchley Jr. is being charged with a prior charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, resisting law enforcement, and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon. He is being held on a $10,000 bond with no 10% allowed.
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