Longacre (photo provided) |
It was his dive into the river, apparently to get away from police, that got his name in the news this week.
But for 27-year-old Duane Longacre, who was fished from the St. Joseph River by police following a high-speed chase that ended with a crash, the river was just the end point to an apparently busy week.
According to charges filed late Wednesday by the St. Joseph County prosecutor’s office, Longacre, who lives in Plymouth, had good reason to flee:
Jan. 26: Longacre is accused of stealing a car outside the Speedway gas station on Mishawaka Avenue.
According to police, the car was left unlocked and running by the owner, who watched as Longacre drove the vehicle away, an act that was also caught on the station’s video camera.
Inside the car, the owner told police, was a Smith and Wesson .38 revolver.
Jan. 27: Marshall County police find the stolen car parked outside a home in Bremen.
The car is engulfed in flames.
A gray Jeep that was registered to the home is missing and is reported stolen.
Jan. 31: Just after midnight, two South Bend police officers are parked at the same Mishawaka Avenue Speedway gas station when a Jeep with a burned out headlight drives by.
One of the officers, Joseph Cole, remembers a crime bulletin about a gray Jeep and a possible armed suspect.
The officers attempt to pull the vehicle over.
The Jeep, police said, doesn’t stop, but instead picks up speed.
As officers activate their lights, according to the charging affidavit, the Jeep continues through the River Park neighborhood. A brown bag, later alleged to contain items used to make meth, is thrown out the passenger side window.
During the chase the Jeep’s driver holds a large metal cylinder — police later discover it to be a covered fire extinguisher — out the window and opens the valve, emitting a gas the pursuing officers can smell.
The officers report difficulty breathing and burning eyes.
The Jeep stops and a woman climbs out the passenger door. Later, she tells police the gas was likely anhydrous ammonia.
The Jeep proceeds into Mishawaka.
At Wilson and Pleasant, it goes over the steep river bank, through some trees, and crashes near the river.
After a brief attempt at swimming away, police say, Longacre is pulled from the river and arrested.
Feb. 1: Longacre is charged with seven felonies, including auto theft, possession of meth precursors and two charges of battery to an officer.
Feb. 2: Longacre is held in the St. Joseph County Jail on $5,000 cash bond. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 10.
Staff writer Dave Stephens:
dstephens@sbtinfo.com
574-235-6209
But for 27-year-old Duane Longacre, who was fished from the St. Joseph River by police following a high-speed chase that ended with a crash, the river was just the end point to an apparently busy week.
According to charges filed late Wednesday by the St. Joseph County prosecutor’s office, Longacre, who lives in Plymouth, had good reason to flee:
Jan. 26: Longacre is accused of stealing a car outside the Speedway gas station on Mishawaka Avenue.
According to police, the car was left unlocked and running by the owner, who watched as Longacre drove the vehicle away, an act that was also caught on the station’s video camera.
Inside the car, the owner told police, was a Smith and Wesson .38 revolver.
Jan. 27: Marshall County police find the stolen car parked outside a home in Bremen.
The car is engulfed in flames.
A gray Jeep that was registered to the home is missing and is reported stolen.
Jan. 31: Just after midnight, two South Bend police officers are parked at the same Mishawaka Avenue Speedway gas station when a Jeep with a burned out headlight drives by.
One of the officers, Joseph Cole, remembers a crime bulletin about a gray Jeep and a possible armed suspect.
The officers attempt to pull the vehicle over.
The Jeep, police said, doesn’t stop, but instead picks up speed.
As officers activate their lights, according to the charging affidavit, the Jeep continues through the River Park neighborhood. A brown bag, later alleged to contain items used to make meth, is thrown out the passenger side window.
During the chase the Jeep’s driver holds a large metal cylinder — police later discover it to be a covered fire extinguisher — out the window and opens the valve, emitting a gas the pursuing officers can smell.
The officers report difficulty breathing and burning eyes.
The Jeep stops and a woman climbs out the passenger door. Later, she tells police the gas was likely anhydrous ammonia.
The Jeep proceeds into Mishawaka.
At Wilson and Pleasant, it goes over the steep river bank, through some trees, and crashes near the river.
After a brief attempt at swimming away, police say, Longacre is pulled from the river and arrested.
Feb. 1: Longacre is charged with seven felonies, including auto theft, possession of meth precursors and two charges of battery to an officer.
Feb. 2: Longacre is held in the St. Joseph County Jail on $5,000 cash bond. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 10.
Staff writer Dave Stephens:
dstephens@sbtinfo.com
574-235-6209
