FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – A two-state, 100-mile chase with a stolen semi ended with a fiery standoff just outside of Fort Wayne early yesterday morning.
Authorities say it started in southwest Ohio about 2:15 a.m. yesterday. Police in both Ohio and Indiana tried to stop the stolen big-rig, Adams County deputies used several rounds of stop-sticks to blow out the truck’s tires.
Eventually, the big rig wound up in a ditch just outside of Berne. That’s where the two men inside the truck holed up for a few hours.
26-year-old Michael McGee from Dayton, Ohio surrendered. A SWAT Team had to use tear gas to get the other, 29-year-old Nicholas Mingus from Ghent, Kentucky, out of the truck. After the tear gas was fired, a fire broke out inside the truck and the cab burst into flames along the side of the road.
Indiana State Police released the following:
The Indiana State Police are investigating an early morning multi-agency police chase with a stolen semi-tractor. The pursuit originated in Riverside, Ohio (suburb of northeast Dayton) and ended in rural Adams County. Two men were subsequently taken into custody by the ISP North SWAT team and are currently being held in the Adams County jail on several related felony charges.
At approximately 12:05am this morning the Riverside Police Department (RPD) received a report of stolen semi-tractor in their jurisdiction. RPD located and attempted to stop the stolen semi-tractor on I-70, which then lead into a lengthy vehicle pursuit. Riverside Police reported that the suspect allegedly fired shots at their officers during the chase. (*Further official information or comment regarding the police action that was taken in Ohio should be obtained through the Riverside Police Department.)
At approximately 2:15am the suspect driver led the pursuing Ohio officers out of Wilshire, Ohio into Adams County, Indiana, at which point the Adams County Sheriff deputies joined in the pursuit. Multiple Stop Stick devices had already been successfully deployed in Ohio, so the semi-tractor was operating on multiple flat tires.
The pursuit continued in eastern Adams County until the semi-tractor ran off road and became stuck in a ditch near the intersection of Salem Road and CR400S, approximately 4 miles northeast of Berne. Once stuck, the suspect(s) barricaded themselves inside the semi-tractor berthing cab. Adams County deputies, assisted by several Riverside Police and Ohio State Highway Patrol officers setup a safety perimeter, and then requested assistance from the ISP North SWAT team.
At approximately 5:00am, one male suspect exited the semi-tractor and surrendered to ISP SWAT officers without further incident. He was later identified as Michael James McGee, 26, of Dayton, Ohio.
At approximately 5:10am, ISP SWAT located a second male suspect, later identified as Nicholas R. Mingus,29, of Ghent, Kentucky, hiding in the berthing cab. Gunshots were fired from inside the semi-tractor and struck the SWAT armored vehicle windshield. SWAT deployed tear gas into the semi-tractor, at which point Mingus exited and surrendered. The exact reason or source has not been confirmed, but as Mingus exited the semi-tractor, a fire ignited inside the cab. Mingus was safely taken into custody. The semi-tractor was eventually engulfed in flames and destroyed.
After being taken into custody, both Mingus and McGee were transported from the scene to the Adams County Jail. Both were booked into custody on the following criminal charges, with the possibility of further criminal charges to follow.
Arrested: Nicholas R. Mingus, 29, of Ghent, Kentucky
Michael James McGee, 26, Dayton, Ohio
Charges:
Attempted Murder, Level 1 Felony
Auto Theft, Level 5 Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony
This remains an active criminal investigation. The Indiana State Police has assumed responsibility as the primary investigating agency. At this time there is no further information to release.
*As previously stated, all questions regarding criminal offenses or police actions that occurred in Ohio, should be directed to the Riverside (Ohio) Police Department.
The Indiana State Police were assisted in this investigation by the Adams County Sheriff Department, Riverside Ohio Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Berne Police Department, Berne Fire Department, Adams County EMS, and Piqua Repair Towing.
All suspects are to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The above noted criminal charges are preliminary, with the final determination of charges filed at the discretion of the Adams County Prosecutor.
