February 8, 2010

An Elkhart County Sheriff's Department patrol car was stolen and crashed after a chase over the weekend.

Around 7:30 Sunday evening deputies were called to settle a disturbance at a home on the north side of Elkhart.  The parents of Ryan Larson, 21, had called police after Larson reportedly drank a lot of alcohol and had taken prescription drugs.  While deputies were meeting with one of the parents, officers say Larson got into a patrol car on the scene and drove off.

Officers were able to track down the stolen car using a GPS locator.  The tracking devices are installed on all of the department's cars. 

While officers were trying to stop the stolen car it crashed in the construction area of the Johnson Street bridge.  It was lightly damaged after hitting barricades at the construction site.

Officers say Larson then fled on foot but was caught near Cassopolis Street and Baldwin Avenue about 7:45 p.m.

Larson faces preliminary charges of felony auto theft, misdemeanor operating while intoxicated, and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement. He also faces a preliminary charge of leaving the scene of a property damage crash, also a misdemeanor. 

All weapons in the vehicle were secure and nothing was taken from the patrol vehicle.