UPDATE: Homicide suspect arrested near Niles after chase

By LOU MUMFORD, Tribune Staff Writer

Tools

Police from Michigan and Indiana searched for an Illinois murder

A St. Joseph County Sheriff's deputy guards the entrance to the Rural King parking lot on South 11th Street in Niles Thursday morning during a manhunt for a suspect wanted for questioning in a homicide in Hickory Heights, Illinois. Police from area agencies, including Michigan State Police, Indiana State Police, Niles P.D., South Bend Police, St. Joseph County Sheriffs Dept., and Berrien County all participated in the search for the suspect, which ended with his capture in a tree in the yard of a homeowner on Bertrand Road in Niles. (Tribune Photo/BARBARA ALLISON)

By Tiffany Griffin

NILES — A suspect in a homicide in Hickory Hills, Ill., who attempted to evade police Thursday morning in Niles has been identified as Ronald Smith, 41.

A Niles area resident, Smith was being held on multiple felony charges and a parole violation. Investigators from Hickory Hills were headed to Niles Thursday to question Smith about the homicide there.

Smith was apprehended after police officers from Michigan and Indiana cornered him in a tree above a shed near 13th Street and Bertrand Road. He fled to that area, Michigan State Police in Niles said, after ditching a car, which reportedly had been stolen, behind the motel.

Smith ingested narcotics prior to his apprehension, police said, and was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

A second man at the motel also was arrested on charges of possession of narcotics and counterfeit currency, police said. They said evidence in the room indicated the counterfeit money had been produced there.

The name of the second individual was withheld pending his arraignment in Berrien County Trial Court.

Police said Thursday's series of events began shortly after 8 a.m., when a Michigan state trooper attempted to stop an auto driven by Smith for a speeding violation on U.S. 12. Rather than stop, Smith accelerated, leading the trooper on a chase south on Michigan 51 until he abandoned the car near the motel and fled into a wooded area.

About 60 police officers then converged on the area, cordoning it off while a Niles city police tracking dog picked up Smith’s scent and helped track him to an area behind the Rural King store.

Police arrested Smith after he was discovered in the tree, about 30 feet off the ground.

Police said no shots were fired and no one was injured during the pursuit.

During the pursuit, a lockdown order was issued by Brandywine Public Schools to ensure the safety of students in school properties in the area of the chase.

Staff writer Lou Mumford:
lmumford@sbtinfo.com
(269) 687-7002

Friday, Sep 19 at 5:46 PM Anonymous wrote ...

this guy is a murder suspect out of Hickory Hills, IL... glad they caught him... sorry for the inconvenience Niles. Glad it turned out ok there!

Friday, Sep 19 at 12:05 PM R. wrote ...

Why do people end chases in Niles? Its so small you will be caught if you dont crash into a tree first.

Friday, Sep 19 at 11:45 AM Jessica wrote ...

good job dogs u caught him i wonder who his girlfriend was? weird..

Thursday, Sep 18 at 9:39 PM Niles reminds me of mishawaka wrote ...

I smell a "Hot Pocket" please get this man a hot pocket before he kills again

Thursday, Sep 18 at 8:38 PM Trebor wrote ...

Hey 12:13 PM Anonymous, It's the funniest thing! Brown is close friends of your Mother, and describes her the exact same way as you described him.

Thursday, Sep 18 at 3:15 PM craig wrote ...

my 2 daughters go to brandywine and wife works at merritt was glad they went to lock down!

Thursday, Sep 18 at 2:02 PM A SBCSC TEACHER wrote ...

Eggleston School in South Bend was also on lock down. I also understand the buses were not allowed in the area...... Good Job!

Thursday, Sep 18 at 1:56 PM Anonymous wrote ...

The officers did a great job today. I work at one of the businesses next to where he abandoned his car and an officer informed us right away to lock our doors. Someone from the police station even took the time to call us and give us an upday when he still wasn't caught yet...HOW NICE. And they also stopped in and told us when they did catch him. WAY TO GO OFFICERS. Thanks for keeping us protected.

Thursday, Sep 18 at 12:15 PM Anonymous wrote ...

St. Mary's School in Niles went on lockdown as well. Job well done to all the schools in helping protect our children!

Thursday, Sep 18 at 12:14 PM nicki wrote ...

drove by and seen it there were tons of cops by the way the paper didnt get the road right.

Thursday, Sep 18 at 11:40 AM Lori wrote ...

Good going Brandywine Schools...this is how it is supposed to work to protect the children. I though had a thought to a weakness to "lockdowns". As a sub teacher, I work many districts in the county. I don't know the "codes" for all the districts. Maybe they should have PESG (the sub company) email us a cheat sheet with all the codes to keep handy? Brandywine is actually more prepared than other districts, as they give a sub handbook, but even in a lockdown situation that could be problemat

Thursday, Sep 18 at 11:13 AM Anonymous wrote ...

i would listen to alot of people, lt. brown is not one of them. can you say "BLOW HARD." that best describes that guy.

Thursday, Sep 18 at 11:02 AM Criss Swink wrote ...

This suspects should not be on the street because they are a menace to society. The schools were prevented to continue with class and the supervisors were on edge. Why this people are roaming the streets? Is this a scaped convict who murder someone? Why is he in the streets? We have a lot of thugs already in the streets and we have to lock our doors all the time so they wont go in and steal lop top computers and the gold and sylver jewlery. So, pleas would be suspects give it up ...

Thursday, Sep 18 at 10:23 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Way to go to all officers involved!

Thursday, Sep 18 at 10:13 AM Anonymous wrote ...

We can't put him in jail. We have to make room for little old ladies who steal money. Why? Because we're agonizingly stupid.

Thursday, Sep 18 at 10:05 AM Concerned wrote ...

I am a little upset that you were not posting my comments - they weren't bad so why didn't mine get on there?? It's sad that you have to pick and choose especially the dumb one who couldn't read. I sit here and read some of the comments and think how stupid some people are, but have never posted until today, then to find out that you have to approve them before they get posted what are you thinking sometimes???

Thursday, Sep 18 at 9:45 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Brandywine Public Schools were on lockdown around 950am until about 1030 this morning

Thursday, Sep 18 at 9:28 AM cc wrote ...

The suspect has been found, in a tree, by police.

Thursday, Sep 18 at 9:27 AM SB wrote ...

christ the king school was on lock down...last i heard they caught him!

Thursday, Sep 18 at 9:24 AM Nkjl wrote ...

they caught him what the hell is going on?

Thursday, Sep 18 at 9:24 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Are the kids and area safe and are the schools out of lockdown now?

Thursday, Sep 18 at 9:24 AM teri wrote ...

All area schools should be on lockdown!!

Thursday, Sep 18 at 9:23 AM Concerned wrote ...

Just got a text - they now have the suspect in custody and they are no longer on lockdown.

Thursday, Sep 18 at 9:23 AM anon wrote ...

is there a discription of the person??

Thursday, Sep 18 at 9:22 AM Concerned wrote ...

Are you not reading this the main header says Brandywine on lockdown then again in the second paragraph of the story. I am just concerned for the kids especially the little ones. That has to be a little scary.

Thursday, Sep 18 at 9:21 AM Anonymous wrote ...

all schools in the area should be on lock down..?

Thursday, Sep 18 at 9:18 AM Traci wrote ...

Yes in the second paragraph it says Brandywine schools are on lockdown

Thursday, Sep 18 at 9:17 AM Anonymous wrote ...

he's been caught as of 10:20 am

Thursday, Sep 18 at 9:01 AM pavi wrote ...

Are schools on lock down? Not knowing any details about this, I think they should be.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

WSBT and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

WSBT Weather

icon
Current Temp 27
°
More Weather
More On Demand

Stock Quotes

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule

7.00
Wheel of Fortune
7.30
Jeopardy!
8.00
Big Bang Theory
8.30
How I Met Your Mother
9.00
Two and a Half Men
9.30
Worst Week
10.00
CSI: Miami
11.00
WSBT News
11.35
Late Show with David Letterman

Question of The Day

Do you think Notre Dame should keep Charlie Weis?

E-mail your comments. We'll pick some to read during WSBT News at 5.

  • Yes
  • No