Police took a South Bend man into custody Saturday on an assortment of charges including auto theft after a pursuit that started on U.S. 20 near Indiana 49 in Porter County.
Police arrested Benjamin K. Vanvynckt, 41, on three Level 6 felony charges, including operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic offender; theft with a prior conviction; and resisting law enforcement. He also faces misdemeanor counts of theft, conversion and reckless driving, according to a release from the Indiana State Police Lowell Post.
Around 1:15 p.m. on Sept. 7, a trooper was patrolling U.S. 20 near Indiana 49 when he located a white 2022 Dodge Ram pickup truck that had been reported stolen.
Troopers tried to initiate a traffic stop on the stolen vehicle near Indiana 149 in Burns Harbor but the driver refused to stop and police initiated a pursuit, according to the release. The pursuit continued east on U.S. 20 when the vehicle turned onto County Road 1400 North where the vehicle suddenly stopped and the driver exited the truck and ran into a wooded area, police said.
Troopers chased the suspect into the woods where he was taken into custody and transported to Porter County Jail. Vanvynckt was scheduled for an initial hearing Monday before Porter Superior Court Judge Michael Drenth.