Indy man driving stolen car during chase accused of attempted murder

MARSHALL COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) — A man driving a stolen car through Elkhart was arrested after a pursuit across counties ended in a crash in Plymouth.

Jamarius Bryant, 37, from Indianapolis, has been charged with attempted murder, resisting law enforcement, and theft following Wednesday morning’s events.

At approximately 8 a.m., officers from the Elkhart Police Department were pursuing a stolen Ford Edge when they requested backup from the Indiana State Police.

According to a press release from the ISP, a child was trying to move out of the path of the Ford driven by Bryant, causing them to stumble and be struck by the car as it sped by. From there, the EPD decided to stop following the car to attend to the child.

The ISP received reports of the stolen Ford at a gas station near Lapaz in Marshall County, around 30 miles south of Elkhart. The gas station was located near the intersection of Michigan Road and US 6.

As a trooper and a deputy with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office approached, Bryant fled the gas station and began heading south in the opposite northbound lane on Michigan Road. The Ford was driving so recklessly that a trooper approaching the area from the south had to swerve out of the way and onto the shoulder to avoid being hit by Bryant.

As Bryant continued towards a roundabout for Veteran’s Parkway, he swerved, allegedly aiming for a police car. He continued into a nearby ditch, where he then allegedly drove directly at two more officers. These officers were trying to put out stop sticks in an effort to end the pursuit. They were able to run out of the way before they could be hit.

Bryant continued in the ditch towards the roundabout, where he struck another vehicle, causing the Ford to spin out and bring the car chase to a stop. Three different police entities, including deputies from the sheriff’s office, Plymouth Police Department, and the ISP, boxed the driver in, preventing escape.

In an attempt to flee, Bryant kicked the rear window out of the Ford and began running away on foot. A taser was deployed, and Bryant was taken into custody in the Marshall County Jail after being cleared of injuries.