(Garrett, IN)-  (7-22-24) The Indiana State Police, assisted by multiple local and county law enforcement agencies, arrested a Fort Wayne man Friday night after a lengthy vehicle pursuit that began in DeKalb County and ended in Noble County. The pursuit resulted a crashed patrol car and a laundry list of criminal charges for the suspect. 

The incident began at approximately 9:30pm Friday night when a state trooper attempted to stop Dusty E. Dawkins (43) of Fort Wayne, on SR327 near Warfield Street in Garrett.  Dawkins was allegedly driving his 2016 Honda Civic passenger car without any tail lights.  The trooper turned on his emergency red/blue lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop.  Dawkins did not pullover, rather he continued south on SR327 to CR56. He disregarded a “road closed” sign (due to construction) and headed eastbound on CR56.  A brief traffic stop occurred near the area of construction blockage, and then Dawkins allegedly made a u-turn and fled northbound on SR327 back towards Garrett. 

A second trooper became involved in the pursuit, and his patrol car was crashed into by Dawkins vehicle on SR327 south of Garrett.  Stopstickswere successfully deployed striking two tires on the Honda, but Dawkins continued driving north on SR327 through Garrett and then west on SR8 towards Noble County.  As the pursuit entered into Noble County on SR8, local and county officers assisting to de-escalate the pursuit successfully deployed Stopsticks two more times prior to the pursuit entering into the town of Avilla. 

Near the intersection of CR100N near CR900E, the same trooper who had his patrol car crashed into early in the pursuit, would effectively initiate a series of Precision Immobilization Techniques (PIT) maneuvers, which disabled the suspect vehicle down into a side ditch.  Dawkins continued to refuse compliance with officers commands to exit the vehicle, but was eventually removed from the vehicle and taken into custody without further incident.  

Dawkins was initially transported to the DeKalb Parkview Hospital for medical clearance.  Once cleared for incarceration, he was then transported to the DeKalb County Jail and booked into custody on numerous preliminary criminal charges.

ARRESTED:  Dusty Edwards Dawkins, 43, of Fort Wayne, IN 

CHARGES:     Resisting Law Enforcement (Vehicular), L6 Felony

                          Resisting LE with Injury, L6 Felony (3 Counts)

                          Obstructing Justice, L6 Felony

                          Operating While Intoxicated, L6 Felony

                          Possession of Cocaine, L6 Felony

                          Operating W/Controlled Substance, A Misd

                          Operating While Intoxicated Endangering, A Misd

                          Leaving the Scene of Crash, A Misd

The Indiana State Police were assisted during this pursuit and apprehension by the Noble County Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department K9 team, Avilla Town Marshal’s Office, Kendallville Police Department, Parkview (Noble) EMS, and Avilla Motorworks Wrecker Service.