High speed chase ends in crash on west side

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A Central Indiana man is facing auto theft and drug charges following a police chase on the city’s west side Wednesday morning.

Metro police said the incident started as a routine stop just after 9 a.m. after officers noticed a man in a SUV wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.

After pulling the suspect over, police said the man took off with his female passenger.

The suspect wound up crashing into another red truck 12th and Tibbs. Authorities said the chase only lasted about a minute. It began at 11th and Goodlit.

They say the suspect, a young man from the Camby area, is in stable condition at Wishard Hospital. His passenger is fine.

After checking out the SUV, police found the vehicle was stolen. They also found drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.

They said a citizen helped catch the guy who tried to run after crashing.

“I’m not sure why this guy fled. I don’t think he fled because he didn’t have a seat belt on. Obviously, there was something in the car maybe he was doing. But hopefully, we’ll learn through our investigation," said Commander Paul Ciesielski.

Police said they’ve been investigating drugs and prostitution in the area. The driver of the other vehicle, the red truck, has been taken to Methodist Hospital. He may have suffered two broken hips.

Meantime, the suspect faces auto theft, fleeing, resisting and drug charges.