A Fort Wayne man is facing charges after being pursued by police in a high speed chase.
John William Wakefield, 26, Fort Wayne, is charged with resisting law enforcement, a Level 6 felony; and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class A misdemeanor. He was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 1:46 p.m. Monday.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed June 8, on April 24 Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to The Keg Tavern in Leesburg for an unwanted person. The person, later identified as Wakefield, was hitting on the door of the bar and threatening self-harm if he wasn’t let in.
Deputies were told Wakefield started a blue motorcycle while they were still on their way to the bar. As deputies approached the scene, they were informed Wakefield left the scene at “a high rate of speed,” the affidavits said.
A Milford police officer saw Wakefield drive on West Van Buren Street toward Ind. 15. The Milford officer activated his lights to conduct a traffic stop. Wakefield disregarded the emergency lights and continued to drive.
According to the affidavit, officers then engaged in a pursuit of Wakefield’s motorcycle. Wakefield was pursued on Ind. 15, where he was driving at speeds greater than 120 miles per hour. Wakefield also disregarded traffic control devices and passed over the center line of the road, court documents state.
Wakefield then attempted to use the exit ramp to get onto U.S. 30, but struck a cement ramp and crashed the motorcycle.
The pursuit ended at about 2:13 a.m. Officers placed Wakefield in handcuffs and were able to identify him through a license, the affidavit stated. EMS were called to the scene to treat Wakefield’s injuries.
When talking to Wakefield, officers detected the smell of alcohol, and, the affidavit stated, Wakefield appeared to have red, watery signs. Wakefield refused to consent to a certified chemical test.
Wakefield was taken to Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospital via helicopter for further treatment.
A search warrant was obtained to retrieve blood from Wakefield. The blood sample was sent for testing. Test results indicted Wakefield’s blood alcohol content registered a .15 of alcohol per 100 millimeters of blood while his was driving his motorcycle, according to the affidavit.
His bond was initially set at $5,250.
