Police looking for driver following chase

Police are looking for a person who allegedly fled from law enforcement from the west side of Portland into rural Jay County this month.

A Portland police officer attempted to stop the driver of an early 2000s red Chevrolet Impala with black rims in the 600 block of Meridian Street about 10:46 p.m. Aug. 8 after the driver allegedly committed multiple traffic infractions, including failing to stop at the intersection of Race and Middle streets. The driver didn’t stop for police, continuing to disregard stop signs and drive at high speeds headed generally west through Portland, driving south on Middle Street before turning onto Western Avenue and then turning west onto Arch Street. 

The chase continued west on Arch Street to its intersection with Charles Street, when the driver turned north. They turned west on Votaw Street (Indiana 26/67) and continued southwest for a few miles on Indiana 67 before turning west onto county road 200 South. The driver began driving in the eastbound lane while driving west and allegedly threw items out of the vehicle. (Police searched the area later but couldn’t locate the items.)

The driver turned north onto county road 600 West, with police pursuing for several miles. Officers ended the pursuit when they lost sight of the vehicle between county road 200 North and Walnut Corner Road because of dust from the road.

Portland police and Jay County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search but weren’t able locate the suspect.

The suspect is accused of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle and obstruction of justice. Those with additional information on the case may contact Portland Police Department at (260) 726-7161.

Lost control

A woman was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated after crashing her car into the van a Montpelier man was driving along Indiana 1 about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Corina A. Oliver, 51, was driving her 2007 Chevrolet Impala south on the highway when she fell asleep at the wheel, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office crash report. Her vehicle went off the west side of the road and into a ditch. She overcorrected, according to the report, got back onto the highway and crossed into the lane for oncoming traffic. She struck the front passenger side of a northbound 2016 Chevrolet Express van driven by 39-year-old Clinton M. Roberts.

Oliver was preliminarily charged with a Class A misdemeanor. She was being held on a $1,000 bond in Jay County Jail.

Both vehicles were towed, with damage estimated between $10,000 and $25,000.  The van was registered to Coca Cola Plaza of Charlotte, North Carolina.