By 1ST SGT. CHAD HILL
Public Information Officer, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department

WARSAW — A Warsaw man is in jail today after leading police on an early morning pursuit that resulted in his vehicle being driven into Center Lake.

Early this morning, at approximately 3:20 a.m., a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department deputy had observed a vehicle driving without any tail or headlights near the intersection of Cleveland and Market Streets in the city of Warsaw. The sheriff’s deputy, along with the assistance of a Winona Lake officer, was able to locate the suspect vehicle near the area of the Dairy Queen located on East Winona Avenue.

The vehicle was initially stuck in snow, but was able to dislodge and flee from officers. The suspect vehicle then traveled westbound on Winona Avenue, striking the Winona Lake police vehicle. The pursuit continued westbound onto Smith Street, at which point the suspect vehicle struck a newspaper box as it turned northbound onto Detroit Street.

During the course of the pursuit, the suspect vehicle continued to deactivate its tail and headlights. The suspect vehicle additionally damaged Warsaw Parks Department property as it turned westbound onto Canal Street, and then eventually northbound onto Buffalo Street.

The driver, identified as Benny Dean Fitzpatrick, 29, Warsaw, jumped from his vehicle as it continued down the Center Lake boat-ramp and into the lake. Fitzpatrick was taken into custody by officers after a short foot pursuit ensued.

Fitzpatrick was arrested and preliminarily charged with resisting/fleeing law enforcement by use of a vehicle, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, failure to stop after an accident, and refusal to submit to a chemical test.

He is currently being held in the Kosciusko County Jail on $7,500 bond.

Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory dive team members were summoned to the scene to assure there were no other passengers in the vehicle or water. The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department was also assisted by officers from the Winona Lake and Warsaw Police Department.

The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office advises that the defendant’s charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.