CONSTANTINE, Mich. (WOOD) — Police have identified a man who rammed two cruisers while fleeing a traffic stop in Constantine.
The LaGrange County Sheriff's Department says 23-year-old Aaron Joseph Shrock of Shipshewana was arrested after crashing a stolen car in Indiana.
The situation started around 2:45 p.m. Sunday at the entrance to the Whispering Pines mobile home park off S. Washington Street on the south side of Constantine.
The Constantine Police Department says after one of its officers pulled over a car for a license plate violation, Schrock backed into the officer's cruiser, turned around and took off.
At the same time, a St. Joseph County sheriff's deputy was arriving at the mobile home park. Schrock rammed the deputy's cruiser and then tried to drive around it, police say.
The deputy used his gun to break out the car's window and reached inside. The deputy was dragged before he broke free.
The Constantine officer fired one shot at the fleeing vehicle, but the suspect wasn't hit.
The officer stopped to make sure the deputy was OK, then gave chase headed south.
Video recorded by a witness shows officers throwing out stop sticks near the intersection of US-12 and Balk Road west of Sturgis. Schrock drove over them and then continued on.
The pursuit eventually crossed into Indiana and the LaGrange County Sheriff's Department joined in.
During the pursuit, authorities say Schrock drove at several oncoming vehicles on State Road 9 and on State Road 120, endangering other drivers.
Police say Schrock ultimately crashed on Indiana 120 after they initiated a PIT maneuver, disabling his vehicle. Investigators soon realized the car had been stolen in Colorado. The vehicle was found with California plates police say were also stolen.
Schrock remains in the LaGrange County jail. He's facing multiple charges in Indiana, including resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, possession of stolen property and reckless driving. Constantine police say they will also be pursuing charges, which could include fleeing and eluding and felonious assault.
St. Joseph County Sheriff Balk said Monday morning that the deputy who was dragged is a little shook up, but is at home resting and will recover.