Wells County Sheriff’s Office: Pursuit ends in crash

WELLS COUNTY, Ind. (WPTA) - A Wednesday morning pursuit ended in a crash, the Wells County Sheriff’s Office says.

The agency was investigating suspected drug activity when a detective attempted to pull over a car driven by 46-year-old Louis “Sammy” Howard Jr., according to the Wells County Sheriff’s Office. Howard had an active warrant.

The suspect allegedly sped off, starting a high-speed pursuit that covered 31 miles through Wells, Huntington, Blackford, and Grant Counties.

Howard allegedly drove off the road, directly at an officer laying stop sticks, the Wells County Sheriff’s Office says. He eventually hit stop sticks near the intersection of County Road N. 1100 East & County 500 North.

Howard then crashed in a field and allegedly ran on foot until a Taser was deployed on him, according to the Wells County Sheriff’s Office. Afterward, he was taken into custody.

The following agencies were also involved in the pursuit:

• Markle Police Department;
• Warren Police Department;
• Grant County Sheriff’s Office;
• Van Buren Police Department;
• Blackford County Sheriff’s Office;
• Montpelier Police Department;
• Bluffton Police Department;
• Grant County EMS;
• Freeman’s Towing; and
• The Bluffton 911 Center.

Howard is facing preliminary charges of dealing a narcotic drug, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, resisting law enforcement, possession of a narcotic drug, possession of a handgun by a domestic batterer and operating while intoxicated.

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