According to a press release from the Winamac Police Department, on September 8th, Officer Brian Galliard was on routine patrol at Monticello Street and Ontario Street.
Officer Galliard observed a vehicle driving 57MPH in a 30MPH zone, the first vehicle in a line of vehicles driving northbound.
Officer Galliard activated his emergency lights on his fully marked patrol vehicle and attempted to catch up to the vehicle to conduct a traffic stop. The officer noted that he saw the taillights of the vehicle and they resembled that of a Ford Mustang. The vehicle, which would later be identified as a 2006 Ford Mustang, was modified and equipped with a supercharger.
The vehicle fled from Officer Galliard, who was able to catch up to the vehicle through town and gave pursuit. After driving down multiple streets in Winamac, the Ford Mustang drove into the Braun parking lot before exiting and driving at a high rate of speed towards North Market Street. Officer Galliard noted in his report that the Mustang disregarded multiple stop signs before turning westbound onto 11th Street, or State Road 14.
The Mustang continued at a high rate of speed, passing vehicles traveling westbound into eastbound traffic. The officer noted that the vehicle drove off of the roadway at one point to avoid a collision with oncoming traffic. Once the mustang was past traffic, the officer noted that the vehicle was traveling in excess of 150MPH westbound on SR14. That was when Officer Galliard made the decision to terminate the pursuit, due to the increased risk to the motoring public due to the suspect’s driving behavior.
Later in the day, the Ford Mustang was located in Miami County where the driver was incarcerated for narcotics-related charges. A cell phone was obtained by Officer Galliard for evidence relating to this case of Resisting Law Enforcement with a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Driving, and numerous infractions, pending a search warrant.
This is an ongoing investigation by the Winamac Police Department. All suspects are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
