Warrant issued for fourth suspect
By SYDNEY KENT
Three suspects from South Bend were arrested following a high-speed chase through Wells County in the early hours of Sunday morning. The driver of the vehicle is still wanted.
Lesly Ramirez, 19, Charlene Kassandra Perez, 18, and Terez Alastair Leonard Jr., 19, all from South Bend, were each charged with one count of resisting law enforcement using a vehicle, a Class A misdemeanor. Bond was set at $1,500 for all three suspects.
According to the probable cause affidavit, an officer with the Bluffton Police Department overheard radio traffic from Fort Wayne that multiple pursuits had been initiated on Saturday night.
The vehicle pursuits were related to a car meet in Fort Wayne. At approximately 1:55 a.m., the officer observed a Dodge Charger with a sports package and a spoiler on the rear. The license plate on the vehicle reportedly came back as stolen from Cicero, Illinois, on Jan. 4.
The officer signaled the lights on his patrol car in the area of Main Street and Capri Court. The vehicle reportedly “blacked out” its lights, a tactic used to avoid police pursuit, and revved the engine as it fled. The vehicle reached up to speeds of 100 mph before it passed the area of Charles Deam Court.
The vehicle reportedly drifted into the center lane at Wabash and Main streets before correcting to the proper lane. It then continued at speeds exceeding 90 mph through downtown Bluffton. The officer noted that he was unable to gain distance to the Charger.
A deputy attempted to set up spike strips at the intersection of Ind. 218 and Ind. 1, however, the vehicle drove through the area first. An additional deputy advised that a second attempt at spike strips were unsuccessful as the Charger fled through Petroleum at 90-100 mph.
An officer with the Markle Police Department succeeded at a third attempt at stop strips, placed at Ind. 18 and Ind. 3. All four doors to the Charger were reportedly opened with each of the suspects fleeing on foot. One officer then drove his vehicle into the field and detained two of the suspects, Ramirez and Perez. His vehicle became stuck in the field as a result of the pursuit.
The third suspect, Leonard, was located nearby by an officer with the Bluffton Police Department and held at gunpoint until additional officers arrived.
Speeds of up to 130 mph were noted in the affidavit. The officer also recorded the high-performance style street car was likely linked to ongoing street races in Fort Wayne over the last several weekends.
All three suspects initially denied any knowledge of the driver or the number of occupants in the vehicle. Ramirez and Perez each claimed they had gone to Fort Wayne for a “car meet” in a different vehicle. When police arrived, they alleged that they “hopped in” the Charger for a ride. One suspect claimed she was too tired and sleeping during the pursuit.
After further investigation and multiple calls to the Bluffton Police Department regarding an individual, a primary suspect was identified as Damion Xavier Dickerson, also from South Bend.
Perez and Ramirez both confirmed that Dickerson was indeed the driver of the car. They also admitted that they not only knew Dickerson, but that they had gone to the gathering with him.
On Monday, a warrant for Dickerson’s arrest was issued for charges of resisting law enforcement using a vehicle, a Level 6 felony, criminal recklessness, a Class B misdemeanor, and reckless driving, a Class C misdemeanor. Dickerson also received 18 citations involving disregarding stop signs, speeding, false license plates and unsafe lane movement.
Leonard was released on his own recognizance after his initial hearing Monday. A status hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. March 14, in the Wells Superior Court.
Ramirez was also charged with possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor. A status hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on March 12 in the Wells Superior Court.
Perez is scheduled for a status hearing at 9 a.m. on March 11 in the Wells Superior Court.
sydney@news-banner.com
