Gary police chase ends with weapons, auto theft charges

GARY | A driver who ignored a stop light led police on a chase through Gary early Thursday morning that ended when he jumped out of a moving, bullet-riddled van.

Frank M. Jones III, 29, of the 2200 block of West Fifth Avenue, was arrested and charged with criminal recklessness, resisting law enforcement, being a felon in possession of a handgun, possessing a handgun without a permit and auto theft, police said.

Officers on patrol at West 25th Avenue and Grant Street saw a green minivan speed through the intersection and ignore the red light at 2:18 a.m., police Cpl. Gabrielle King said. The officers pulled their marked squad car behind the van and tried to stop it, but Jones, who was driving the vehicle, accelerated, King said.

The officers followed the van with lights and sirens on, trying to get Jones to pull over but he increased his speed, King said.

The van then turned into the Delaney Housing Complex, 913 W. 22nd Place, where Jones drove over curbs and weaved in and out of parked cars with the passenger side door open, King said.

The driver continued north on Carver Street, where he allegedly opened the driver's side door while the car was still moving. King said the passenger then jumped out of the moving vehicle and ran east into the complex.

The driver also jumped out, hit the pavement and fell under the stopped Gary squad car before fleeing west from West 22nd Place and Carver Street as the van continued, unoccupied, down the street.

Officers caught Jones after a brief foot chase, King said. Police used a Taser on Jones after he allegedly fought with officers and refused to show them his hands, King said. Police were unable to find the passenger.

Police found a large screwdriver, handgun and bottle of alcohol under the Gary squad car where Jones landed after falling out of the van, King said. An assault rifle also was recovered from inside the van. The body of the van was riddled with bullet holes, the rear window was shattered and the steering column had been damaged, King said.

An employee of Steel City Truck Stop, 3001 Grant St., told police he heard shots being fired and saw a green minivan drive by just before officers saw the van allegedly ignore the traffic signal, King said.

The van was reported stolen out of Gary about 3 a.m.