GRANGER — A 20-year-old South Bend man who police say has made a habit out of driving off without paying for gasoline was arrested Monday night after a pursuit.

Preston Brown was reportedly filling up his Ford Explorer at the Martin’s Super Market in Heritage Square when an employee there told an off-duty police officer the vehicle matched the description of a sports utility vehicle that had on three prior occasions driven off without paying.

St. Joseph County Lt. Brent Croymans watched as the driver, who stole $55 in gas, drove north onto Gumwood Road at a high rate of speed. Although Croymans lost sight of the SUV, he said he knew which direction it was going by the vehicles pulled off at the side of the road.

Brown reportedly disregarded a four-way stop at Gumwood and Adams Road, causing a four-vehicle accident. Brown ran from the intersection and into a Knollwood subdivision, said Sgt. Bill Redman, a St. Joseph County police spokesman.

An Indiana State Police officer apprehended Brown in Knollwood a short time later. He was taken to the scene, where a witness identified him as the driver of the Explorer, Redman said.

The first vehicle Brown hit received the most damage, police said. Bernadette Terry, a 62-year-old Niles woman, was taken to an area hospital, complaining of head and neck injuries.

Brown was treated at the scene for cuts to his face before being transferred to an area hospital and then the St. Joseph County Jail.

Redman said it’s the second time this month a man has been arrested for multiple drive-offs at the Mishawaka Martin’s.

“Employees had kind of been watching for him to come back,” Redman said. “As soon as the suspect pulled into the store, an employee called our off-duty officer, who was in the store.”

Redman said the Explorer did not have a license plate.