A Whitley County man is facing multiple felony charges after stealing an Indiana State Police patrol car.  According to authorities, at about 9:25 a.m., John Hart of the Churubusco Police Department spotted Robert J. Bonham in a vehicle on Pleasant Street in Churubusco.  Bonham was wanted in Dekalb and Steuben Counties for failure to appear in court on various charges.  When officer Hart tried to apprehend Bonham, the suspect fled from his car and disappeared among some houses.

At about 11:20 a.m., an anonymous caller to the Whitley County Sheriff's Office tipped off police that Bonham was fighting with another person at his home located at 3135 S. County Road 150 E. in Whitley County.  Trooper Jason Ward of the Indiana State Police arrived at Bonham's home a couple of minutes later.  Trooper Ward saw Bonham run north from his home, and Ward proceeded to chase Bonham on foot.  However, Bonham circled around and got into Ward's cruiser and took off southbound on County Road 150 E from County Road 300 S.

At about 11:40, Fort Wayne Police spotted the stolen cruiser on Covington Road near Ardmore.  Bonham eluded police and eventually made his way to the northbound lanes of I-69.  When he got to the construction area north of State Road 14, Bonham had to stop because of heavy traffic near the 108 mile marker.  That's where officers from the Indiana State Police, the Allen County Sheriff's Department, and the Fort Wayne Police Department  were able to take Bonham into custody without incident. 

An officer with the Indiana State Police say at some points during the chase, Bonham drove speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour.  None of the squad cars involved in the chase were damaged.  It's unclear if Trooper Ward will face any disciplinary action.

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