Wanted fugitive off the street
By Stacey Creasy
BREMEN � Indiana State Troopers from the Bremen post managed to take a wanted fugitive off the street after the suspect was pulled over for speeding nearly two weeks ago.
Charles L. Petty, 25, of Elkhart was taken into custody by State Trooper James Zeser Wednesday and charged with multiple felonies.
Petty was stopped on the US 20 bypass on March 27 for speeding.
The Bremen post was conducting a concentrated effort at the time to reduce speeding and impaired drivers on the highway.
When Petty was stopped on the bypass, he gave police officers a false name.
He was cited for speeding and arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and possession of a handgun without a permit.
Zeser continued to investigate the case and later learned Petty gave police a false name.
�I was able to get the information from one of the victims in his identity theft case,� Zeser explained.
As the investigation unfolded, Zeser learned Petty had allegedly stolen the identity of a couple of relatives and used those names to evade police.
�He had been getting by with this for the past three to four years,� said Zeser. He also learned Petty was a fugitive with a stack of arrest warrants waiting on him.
The active warrants were for dealing cocaine, possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, 20 counts of forgery and two counts of identity theft.
Zeser did not want Petty to know police knew his real name. They waited for Petty to make his scheduled court appearance Wednesday.
Zeser, along with fellow troopers Chad Sherwood and court security officers took Petty into custody as he entered the Elkhart County Courts Building.
�This guy has addresses from Hammond and Gary,� Zeser added.
�He�s been living in Elkhart the past couple years. I was real glad to pick this guy up and get him off the streets.�
The State Police were assisted by the Elkhart County Prosecutor�s office, probation department, Elkhart City Police, Elkhart Superior Court No. 4 office Elkhart County Sheriff�s Records Division, and the court security officers.
If convicted on all counts Petty could be sentenced to more than 200 years in prison.
|
|
| Community Calendar |
|
No events listed.
|
|
Interactive Calendar
|
