Police seeking suspect in chase

Police are looking for a Muncie man who they chased around Jay County last week, resulting in one injury and damage to two county vehicles and a Portland police vehicle.

Officers started following 44-year-old Matthew E. Waters near the intersection of county roads 100 East and 100 North about 11:26 a.m. July 30, traveling northwest then generally southwest through the county before passing through several streets on the northwest side of Dunkirk. Waters then began driving southbound on Indiana 167 with police behind him.

Indiana State Police Pendleton Post released a report Monday detailing a crash that resulted from the pursuit while on the highway about noon July 30. According to the report, Jay County Sheriff’s Office captain Patrick Wells, Portland police officer Brandon McDavid and Jay County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant Tony Lennartz were following Waters’ 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche.

Lennartz told police Waters slammed on his brakes, causing Wells’ vehicle to crash into the back of Waters’ car. McDavid swerved off the west side of the road to avoid hitting Wells’ vehicle, causing him to crash into an Albany sign. Lennartz told police Waters performed a U-turn at the highway’s intersection with county road 900 North, driving off the northeast side of the road and striking a stop sign and road sign before getting back onto the road.

Waters, then northbound on Indiana 167, drove toward Lennartz’s vehicle. Waters’ back tire struck the front corner of Lennartz’s vehicle.

Wells sustained a bruised wrist from the collision. He was treated at IU Health Jay.

Lennartz and Wells visited Waters’ home Wednesday but weren’t able to make contact with the suspect.

As of noon Monday, police had warrants for Waters’ arrest but had not yet located him. He is preliminarily charged with two Level 5 felonies for resisting law enforcement with a prior conviction and battery by means of a deadly weapon, as well as a Level 6 felony for criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon.

The vehicles driven by Wells and McDavid — they are registered to Jay County Commissioners and Portland Police Department, respectively — were towed from the scene. Damage is estimated at more than $100,000.