Tippecanoe County – This morning, just before 10:30 a.m., Trooper Farmer responded to the area of O’Reilly Auto Parts in West Lafayette. Trooper Farmer was attempting to locate a 2010 Ford Focus, driven by Naman Powers, 33, from Lafayette, IN. Trooper Farmer had information that Powers fled from the Lafayette Police Department earlier in the day. Trooper Farmer, the Lafayette Police Department, and the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department located the Ford and attempted to stop it. Powers failed to stop and fled out of the parking lot onto Sagamore Parkway.
Trooper Farmer and other troopers from the Lafayette Post pursued the vehicle westbound on Sagamore Parkway. At the intersection of Salisbury Street and Sagamore Parkway, the Ford ran over the center median and made a left to go southbound on Salisbury Street. Powers continued southbound on Salisbury before stopping on Salisbury Street near Highland Drive. Troopers gave Powers commands to exit the Ford, but he ignored the commands and continued southbound.
The pursuit continued south on Salisbury Street before turning left onto Fowler Avenue, going the wrong way down a one-way street. On Fowler Avenue near Littleton Street, Master Trooper Stinson de-escalated the pursuit by performing a P.I.T. (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver on the Ford. The Ford came to a stop, then continued forward, hitting the passenger side of Sergeant Piers' Indiana State Police vehicle. Powers was then safely taken into custody.
Arrested and preliminary charges:
- Naman Powers, 33, from Lafayette, IN
- Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle – Level 6 Felony
- Reckless Driving - Class A Misdemeanor
- Aggressive Driving - Class A Misdemeanor
Trooper Farmer was assisted on the scene by other troopers from the Lafayette Post, Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department, Lafayette Police Department, West Lafayette Police Department, and Joey's Towing.
*All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
