INDIANAPOLIS (July 3, 2014) – It was a fiery end to a police chase on the south side Thursday morning.
Responding officers said the incident started as a domestic disturbance around 6:20 a.m. Jordan Smith, 23, tried to set his ex-girlfriend’s car on fire and then got in a different vehicle in Beech Grove.
Smith’s ex-girlfriend was able to provide a detailed description to police of the car he was driving, explained Sgt. Jo Moore. Beech Grove officers and IMPD officers were on the lookout for it. An officer spotted the car, which came up in the system as a stolen vehicle, about 30 minutes later and followed it.
Smith didn’t stop and officers called for backup near 16th and Albany. Police described the pursuit as “high-speed” but couldn’t say how fast it was.
The suspect crashed at Shelby Street and Troy Avenue while trying to make a fast left turn, and the car hit a utility pole and knocked over a traffic light. The car burst into flames after the crash.
An IMPD officer on scene pulled the suspect from the burning car. He was medically checked out at the crash site and was taken to jail to be booked.
Moore said it appeared Smith had a long criminal history including being accused of stalking the ex-girlfriend whose car he tried to set on fire.