Tuesday evening at approximately just before 9:30 PM, Deputy Ryan Doperalski was dispatched to the 5000 east block of Miami Trail, reference a suspicious person call for service. During the investigation of Deputy Doperalski, he located a suspicious vehicle possibly associated with the complaint. Deputy Doperalski attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle. However, the vehicle fled, and a vehicle pursuit ensued along CR 500 East, CR 1000 North and CR 650 East. Once the vehicle pursuit crossed the Michigan/Indiana state line on CR 650 East, it was terminated.
Just before 9:40 PM, Sergeant Jonathan Burger was traveling east on CR 1000 North near CR 150 East when an approaching westbound vehicle on CR 1000 North crossed the centerline. As the vehicle passed Sergeant Burger, he recognized that it matched the same description of the vehicle that Deputy Doperalski had just been pursuing. Sergeant Burger immediately turned around and began to pursue the vehicle. The vehicle fled again while still traveling west on CR 1000 North. The vehicle pursuit continued south on SR 39. While navigating the curve along SR 39 near CR 925 North, the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle left the of the roadway and collided with a tree in the 9000 block of SR 39.
The driver was identified as 48 year old Mark A. Harrington of Three Oaks, Michigan. Harrington was transported to La Porte Hospital for treatment. Harrington was arrested for Resisting Law Enforcement, Operating While Intoxicated, Aggressive Driving, Operating While Intoxicated, Operating While Intoxicated and Reckless Driving.