A late-night stop at a Carmel gas station exploded into chaos when a man allegedly carjacked a vehicle, left one victim with multiple broken bones, and sent a woman tumbling from a moving car. Prosecutors say the stolen vehicle later hit a gas pump amid the ordeal before officers ultimately tracked it down and took the suspect into custody.
What Happened at the Gas Station
Surveillance video and court filings indicate the incident began around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday in the 11000 block of Illinois Street near West 111th Street, when a suspect allegedly forced two people out of their vehicle, then sped off. A witness followed the stolen car and called 911, reporting reckless driving and several near collisions before the vehicle crashed at the gas pumps, according to WTHR.
Arrest and Booking
Police later located and detained the suspect after the crash, then took him into custody near the intersection of Spring Mill Road and Hamlet Drive. The man is listed in Hamilton County jail records as being held in the county system under the subject entry for Manuel Cary Ettress.
Charges and Injuries
The Hamilton County prosecutor has filed 26 counts against the suspect, including robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, kidnapping while hijacking a vehicle, robbery resulting in bodily injury, leaving the scene of an accident, and battery by means of a deadly weapon, according to WTHR. Court documents reviewed by the outlet state the male victim suffered four breaks in his left humerus and had his right foot run over. The female victim sustained a minor left-leg injury after jumping from the moving vehicle. A witness estimated the stolen car reached high speeds during the chase, and police say the vehicle later crashed into a house before officers located the suspect.
Prior Record and Context
Public booking logs and court records show the suspect has a history of arrests in central Indiana, including a Marion County booking in June 2025. That earlier arrest appears in public archives and booking logs for Marion County under Ettress's name.
What Happens Next
Ettress remains held in the Hamilton County Jail as the prosecutor's office moves the case forward and local courts set hearing dates. Investigators say they relied on security footage and witness accounts and are asking anyone with additional video or information to contact Carmel police.
