Indianapolis Man Arrested After Vehicle and Foot Pursuit

The suspect lead officers on a two county pursuit which resulted in a crash with a police vehicle

Southern Indiana - December 5, 2023: An Indianapolis man has been arrested on several felony charges after leading officers on a vehicle and foot pursuit in Jackson and Scott Counties.  

Early Tuesday morning, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) reported a Maroon Dodge Charger SRT was stolen and believed to be southbound on I-65.  IMPD also reported a handgun was possibly in the vehicle.  Around 7:50 a.m., Sergeant Stephen Wheeles with ISP Versailles Post reported he had spotted and was following the car southbound near the Seymour exit; however, when Sergeant Wheeles attempted to stop the car along with Trooper Korry Clark and a Seymour Police Officer, the vehicle sped away at an extremely high rate of speed.  The officers gave chase and tried to catch up with the vehicle but lost sight of the Charger in southern Jackson County.   

An Indiana State Excise officer soon spotted the car as the driver attempted to get fuel at a gas station at the Crothersville exit; however, the driver was unsuccessful and sped away southbound on US 31 into Scott County.    

Master Trooper Mark LaMaster from ISP Sellersburg spotted and tried to stop the Charger as it approached Booe Road, where a Crothersville K9 and Austin PD unit attempted to set up Stop Sticks.  As the Charger continued south, it collided with the Crothersville Police car, and the vehicles came to rest on the southwest side of the intersection of US 31 and Booe Road.  The driver then fled on foot along nearby railroad tracks.  Trooper LaMaster and officers from Seymour and Austin gave chase and apprehended the driver a short time later. 

The driver was identified as 20-year-old Nicholas Nature Lewis of Indianapolis, Indiana.  Lewis was medically cleared at the scene and then incarcerated at the Scott County Jail.  Nicholas Nature Lewis is charged with Battery to a Public Safety Officer with a Vehicle - Level 6 Felony, Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle - Level 6 Felony, Receiving Stolen Property - Level 6 Felony, Resisting Law Enforcement on Foot - A Misdemeanor, Leaving the Scene of an Accident - B Misdemeanor, and Criminal Recklessness with a Vehicle - Class B Misdemeanor.

Neither the Crothersville officer nor his K9 were injured in the crash.  Officers have not currently located a firearm.   

Seymour, Crothersville, Austin, State Excise, and Indiana DNR officers assisted in the pursuit and investigation.