HAMILTON COUNTY, IN - An arrest was made after a police vehicle pursuit ended a few hundred yards away from the Fashion Mall at Keystone.
In a press release on Facebook, the Carmel Police Department (CPD) said that on November 11, officers were proactively patrolling near 96th Street and Keystone Parkway when they located a vehicle displaying a license plate that had been reported stolen.
Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver refused to stop and led officers on a brief pursuit. Officers used a PIT maneuver to stop the stolen vehicle near the Keystone on-ramp, leading to the arrest of a suspect on multiple charges, including car theft and firearm possession.
The incident unfolded in a busy commercial area, alarming witnesses who watched as the pursuit came to a crashing halt, WRTV reported. "The car came screaming down with police officers in tow. They certainly seemed like they knew what they were doing. I was getting a video because I thought my family surely would not believe the scope of what just happened," said Megan Van Valer, who recorded a video of the pursuit coming to an end.
After police disabled the vehicle using the PIT maneuver, the suspect fled on foot down a hill towards the mall, where officers eventually arrested him. "In this area where it's really populated, it was alarming because you don't really feel like you have a lot of places to go," Van Valer added.
The incident is the latest in a series of vehicle pursuits in and around Hamilton County. In 2024, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) oversaw 20 vehicle pursuits and has already recorded 12 in 2025.
Police say that the decision to initiate a pursuit depends on multiple factors that are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. "You have to make sure that the reward outweighs the threat to the public. If obviously if school's letting out, traffic's busy or rush hour, those things go into consideration when you're trying to go after someone, whether or not to pursue," said Sgt. Melton with HCSO.
For drivers who encounter a police pursuit, officials recommend staying calm and aware. "Just be aware and maintain your traffic. No sudden movements. No immediate braking. If you can get over to the shoulder of the road safely by all means do it. The likelihood of encountering a pursuit is small. Knowing how to respond can protect you, your passengers, and everyone else on the roadway," Melton added.
Van Valer said she felt the officers had a handle on the situation. "The whole thing was very surreal, and it just happened so quickly. The police officers certainly seemed to know what they were gonna do, which I was grateful for," she said.
In a press release on Facebook, the Carmel Police Department (CPD) said that on November 11, officers were proactively patrolling near 96th Street and Keystone Parkway when they located a vehicle displaying a license plate that had been reported stolen.
Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver refused to stop and led officers on a brief pursuit. Officers used a PIT maneuver to stop the stolen vehicle near the Keystone on-ramp, leading to the arrest of a suspect on multiple charges, including car theft and firearm possession.
The incident unfolded in a busy commercial area, alarming witnesses who watched as the pursuit came to a crashing halt, WRTV reported. "The car came screaming down with police officers in tow. They certainly seemed like they knew what they were doing. I was getting a video because I thought my family surely would not believe the scope of what just happened," said Megan Van Valer, who recorded a video of the pursuit coming to an end.
After police disabled the vehicle using the PIT maneuver, the suspect fled on foot down a hill towards the mall, where officers eventually arrested him. "In this area where it's really populated, it was alarming because you don't really feel like you have a lot of places to go," Van Valer added.
The incident is the latest in a series of vehicle pursuits in and around Hamilton County. In 2024, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) oversaw 20 vehicle pursuits and has already recorded 12 in 2025.
Police say that the decision to initiate a pursuit depends on multiple factors that are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. "You have to make sure that the reward outweighs the threat to the public. If obviously if school's letting out, traffic's busy or rush hour, those things go into consideration when you're trying to go after someone, whether or not to pursue," said Sgt. Melton with HCSO.
For drivers who encounter a police pursuit, officials recommend staying calm and aware. "Just be aware and maintain your traffic. No sudden movements. No immediate braking. If you can get over to the shoulder of the road safely by all means do it. The likelihood of encountering a pursuit is small. Knowing how to respond can protect you, your passengers, and everyone else on the roadway," Melton added.
Van Valer said she felt the officers had a handle on the situation. "The whole thing was very surreal, and it just happened so quickly. The police officers certainly seemed to know what they were gonna do, which I was grateful for," she said.
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Comments
2025-11-14T17:28-0500 | Comment by: James
Great Job!!!