
A police chase in Branch County escalated into an officer-involved shooting yesterday, according to multiple reports. Around 5 p.m., a 33-year-old male suspect from Camden reportedly failed to yield to a deputy's signal, prompting a pursuit, as detailed by the Branch County Sheriff's Office and reported by WWMT. The chase, which started near Central Road and Ferguson Road in Algansee Township, came to a brief halt at Kelley Road and State Line Road, where the suspect's vehicle went off the road.
During the attempt to arrest the suspect at the scene, an officer-involved shooting took place, Branch County Sheriff Fred Blankenship disclosed, noting that while a passenger in the car was unharmed, the suspect was shot. After escaping the initial capture, the individual was later found and arrested in Indiana, near the Ohio state line, leading to pending charges in both Michigan and Indiana, Blankenship added. The suspect obtained medical treatment at Parkview Regional Medical Center.
The Michigan State Police have inherited the responsibility for investigating the circumstances leading to the gunfire, as stated in releases from local law enforcement. Following department protocol, the officer involved has been placed on administrative leave as the inquiry continues, as suggested by a news release from the Sheriff’s Department quoted by WTVBAM.
Support in handling the aftermath of the incident came from several agencies across state lines, including the Indiana State Police, Steuben County Sheriff's Office, Fremont and Angola Police Departments, and Steuben County EMS. This cross-jurisdictional cooperation highlights the nature of the crime, which involved a pursuit ending in a neighboring state. WOODTV confirmed the events and the subsequent capture of the suspect.