A Warsaw man was arrested after leading police on a chase that ended when he drove his vehicle into Center Lake.
The pursuit began around 3:20 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27 when a Kosciusko County Deputy saw a vehicle, driven by Benny Fitzpatrick, 29, traveling without any head lights or tail lights, according to a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department report.
Fitzpatrick’s vehicle struck a Winona Lake police vehicle and a newspaper box during the pursuit, the sheriff’s department report stated.
The suspect vehicle additionally damaged Warsaw Parks Department property as it turned onto Canal Street, and then eventually northbound onto Buffalo Street, the sheriff’s department report stated.
Fitzpatrick jumped from his vehicle as it continued down the Center Lake boat-ramp and into the lake.
Fitzpatrick was taken into custody by officers after a short foot pursuit and preliminarily charged with resisting/fleeing law enforcement by use of a vehicle, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, failure to stop after an accident, and refusal to submit to a chemical test.
He is currently being held in the Kosciusko County Jail on $7500 bond.
