Two people are in custody following a police pursuit that started in Michigan City, traveled into Michigan and eventually terminated in the City of La Porte.
La Porte County Sheriff’s Department officers say that on Sunday, November 29, at around 11:45 a.m. CT, a Michigan City Police officer began pursuing a driver in a Nissan SUV on suspicion of committing theft at the Meijer store on Franklin Street. The pursuit involved several officers chasing the vehicle through La Porte County and into Michigan.
The driver, later identified as 36-year-old Shannon G. Burton of Elkhart, reportedly swerved directly toward a La Porte officer as he was attempting to stage tire deflation devices in the area of State Road 39 and County Road 650 North in La Porte County. She missed hitting the device at that point, but did not miss the device later deployed at U.S. 20 and County Road 500 East which punctured the front tires.
Police say Burton’s vehicle was unable to maneuver a right turn at the intersection of Kentucky and Illinois Streets in La Porte and crashed into a parked vehicle.
Burton and her 15-year-old passenger were taken out of the vehicle after refusing to obey a deputy’s commands to exit, according to the report. After further investigation, the car was found to be allegedly reported stolen out of St. Joseph County.
Burton was arrested and faces preliminary felony charges of resisting law enforcement, possession of a narcotic and methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a syringe, and theft. She is also facing preliminary misdemeanor charges of resisting law enforcement, aggressive driving and possession of paraphernalia. She remains housed in the La Porte County jail on a $1,505 cash-only bond.
The 15-year-old passenger is being held in the La Porte County Juvenile Services Center with preliminary felony charges of possession of a narcotic and methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a syringe. The juvenile has preliminary misdemeanor charges of resisting law enforcement and possession of paraphernalia.
The La Porte County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by the Indiana State Police, Michigan City Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, Long Beach Police Department, and Trail Creek Police Department.
Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
