More details in last week’s North Webster manhunt have been made public in court papers.
Tristen L. Terry, 34, of 9688 E. Excalibur Place, Cromwell, was arrested Wednesday following a three-hour manhunt and vehicle pursuit. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Terry at the time and warned he was wanted on a firearm warrant and could be dangerous.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Friday in Kosciusko County Superior Court III, a NET 43 officer was involved in an investigation involving Terry for being a wanted fugitive out of Elkhart County. Terry, having had multiple felony convictions within the past 15 years, had failed to appear for sentencing in a case where he is charged with a Level 5 felony of carrying a handgun without a license, as well as other charges, court papers state.
Following up on a tip, officers located Terry at a residence in North Webster. After conducting surveillance on Terry, officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Terry was a passenger.
Terry fled the vehicle on foot and began hiding in the game preserve in the area of CR 875E and Epworth Forest Road, court papers state.
The officer called Terry on the phone and Terry allegedly told the officer “to call off the search” stating that he would “shoot officers attempting to apprehend him.”?
While in the preserve, Terry phoned a man to come and pick him up. That man called police and told them he would try to get Terry to come out of the woods. The man drove his Ford F350 to the edge of the woods. The man got out and Terry got in the truck and fled.
After that, a vehicle pursuit began, lasting approximately 20 minutes and ending in Enchanted Hills Mobile Home Park in Cromwell, according to court papers.
“During the pursuit, Terry drove the truck at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour and dangerously drove through yards and between trailers in the heavily populated mobile home park. In addition, during the vehicle pursuit, Terry brandished a shotgun at officers, visible through the window of the pickup truck,” the report states.
He also made the gesture of shooting a handgun with his hand multiple times at officers pursuing him, according to the police report.
After officers were able to stop the truck, Terry again fled on foot, resulting in a Warsaw officer pouncing on him.
Later, court papers state, Terry told police he was looking for ammunition for the shotgun while fleeing from law enforcement. The ammunition was underneath the passenger seat of the truck.
Terry is charged with intimidation with a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony; two counts of resisting law enforcement, Level 6 felonies; and criminal recklessness while armed with a deadly weapon, a Level 6 felony.
According to court records, Terry was convicted April 15, 2004, of burglary, a Class C felony; on April 12, 2005, for resisting law enforcement, a Class D felony; and on Feb. 2, 2010, for escape, a Class D felony.
His bond was set at $5,250.
Pammy J. Sanchez, 54, of 9688 E. Excalibur Place, Cromwell, also was arrested after the manhunt for interference with custody. Her bond was set at $5,250.
