Whitley County, IN – A police pursuit in northern Indiana ended with the arrest of a 20-year-old man whose personalized license plate — bearing his own last name — made it unusually easy for officers to identify him.
The incident happened early Sunday morning when an Indiana State Police SWAT officer observed a gray Nissan 370 abruptly switch off its headlights and accelerate on US30 in Whitley County. The trooper, en route to another emergency, had not attempted a traffic stop when the driver allegedly took off at high speed.
According to the Indiana State Police, the vehicle was equipped with a custom plate reading “GARRIDO.” As officers joined the pursuit, the unique tag helped authorities quickly confirm the identity of the suspect as Jose Miguel Garrido of Warsaw, Indiana.
The chase continued westbound into Kosciusko County, where law enforcement deployed a tire deflation device. Although the tires were compromised, the suspect continued driving until crashing near the intersection of US30 and Old Road 30. Police say Garrido allegedly attempted to flee on foot but was taken into custody without further incident. No injuries were reported.
Garrido now faces multiple charges across both counties, including:
- Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle – Level 6 Felony
- Resisting Law Enforcement – Class A Misdemeanor
- Forgery – Class A Misdemeanor
- Leaving the Scene of a Crash – Class B Misdemeanor
- Possession of Marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor
- Possession of Paraphernalia – Class C Misdemeanor
- Reckless Driving – Class C Misdemeanor
He declined medical treatment at the scene. Assisting agencies included the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, Columbia City Police, and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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