A 23-year-old male faces multiple charges after fleeing Three Rivers Police in a stolen vehicle Tuesday afternoon.

Officers were dispatched to the Three Rivers Wal-Mart just after 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 12 at the request of store detectives who required assistance identifying a suspect in a shoplifting incident that occurred over the weekend, after the suspect returned to the store. 

TRPD made contact with the suspect and escorted him to his vehicle where he allegedly had identification. While at the vehicle, police ran the license plate number and discovered the vehicle was stolen. The suspect then got into the driver’s seat and fled.

Officers pursued the vehicle as it headed eastbound on Millard toward US 131. As the driver attempted to get onto U.S. 131, he crashed into another vehicle. The suspect was taken into custody and is currently lodged at the St. Joseph County Jail on charges of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Fleeing and Eluding, Obstruction, Retail Fraud 2nd Degree, and Absconding from Parole. 

The Three Rivers Police Department was assisted by the Three Rivers Fire Department, St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, and the Fabius Park Fire Department. 

Alek Haak-Frost is the executive editor of Watershed Voice.