Multi-county pursuit of wanted felon driving stolen U-Haul truck leads to police shooting on Indy’s west side

INDIANAPOLIS — An investigation is underway after a Plainfield police officer shot a man who led multiple law enforcement agencies on a multi-county pursuit that concluded on Indy’s west side Wednesday night.

Plainfield Police Department Deputy Chief Joe Aldridge said the incident began when deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department attempted to apprehend a wanted felon who was reportedly driving a stolen U-Haul truck in the eastbound lanes of I-70.

Aldridge added that the wanted suspect reportedly struck two vehicles before the pursuit was initiated. The chase then led police into Hendricks County for a brief period on State Road 267 before returning to Marion County.

The pursuit involved five agencies, including the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, Hendricks County Sheriff’s Department, the Plainfield Police Department, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Indiana State Police.

The pursuit continued until the suspect’s vehicle came to a halt on I-70 just west of Holt Road. There, Aldridge said the two suspects exited the stolen U-Haul truck and continued fleeing from police on foot along the I-70 shoulder near passing traffic.

Aldridge identified the two suspects as adult males but did not provide their ages.

One of the suspects was soon apprehended by officers without further incident while the other suspect entered Crosspoint Power & Refrigeration, located at 4301 W. Morris Street, where they reportedly stole a box truck and rammed into a garage door and gate.

At some point during the altercation, Aldridge said this suspect attempted to intentionally strike multiple officers on the scene.

Following this, Aldridge confirmed that shots were fired by at least one suspect and one officer from the Plainfield Police Department.

The suspect was subsequently apprehended and transported to Eskenazi Hospital for medical treatment after sustaining a gunshot wound to the lower leg and multiple dog bites.

No officers or uninvolved citizens were injured during the incident, according to Aldridge.

The Plainfield police officer who discharged their weapon has been placed on administrative leave in compliance with the department’s policy. Aldridge confirmed that PPD will conduct a separate administrative investigation into the incident as well.

This marks the second officer-involved shooting that occurred in Indianapolis Wednesday after two IMPD officers shot and injured a man who was reportedly holding a woman hostage at an apartment complex on the city’s north side.

ISP will lead the investigation into the circumstances of Wednesday night’s incident.

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