A Hobart man has been charged in connection with the theft of a vehicle on Friday that led to a police pursuit and ended in a crash involving a Gary squad car.
Samuel Mullins, 18, was charged Saturday with auto theft and resisting/fleeing law enforcement, both Class D felonies, Lake County Police Chief Marco Kuyachich said.
Mullins remained in custody Saturday, Kuyachich said.
Police said Mullins stole the car from a Merrillville gas station Friday afternoon. Merrillville police reported the car stolen, and a Lake County officer who spotted Mullins in the stolen car at Ridge Road and Taft Street pursued him.
The pursuit, which reached speeds of more than 80 mph at times, ended up on westbound Interstate 80/94. Mullins collided with a Gary squad car near the Burr Street exit ramp, police said.
No one was injured. The incident caused a traffic backup from Interstate 65 to Cline Avenue on Friday afternoon.
Lake County Police handled charges related to the auto theft and fleeing, and Indiana State Police are handling any charges connected to the traffic incidents, Kuyachich said.
