Dog helps troopers locate man after pursuit

DELAWARE CO. – An unlikely helper is credited with locating a New Castle man following a pursuit that ended after he crashed his vehicle on the south side of Muncie.

On Wednesday, March 31, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Indiana State Police Trooper Blake Stephenson was driving on State Road 3 near Shockley Road. He noticed a tan Buick SUV traveling north at a high rate of speed. Trooper Stephenson caught up to the vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop near Macedonia Avenue and Fuson Road.

The driver failed to stop and continued speeding north as he entered the city of Muncie. The driver led the police on a short pursuit as he continued to disregard stoplights and stop signs.

As the driver was traveling north on Mock Avenue he attempted to turn west onto 15th Street and was unable to make the turn and crashed into a mailbox located at 2014 East 15th Street. He was able to get out of the car and took off running.

As Trooper Stephenson was getting out of his patrol car, a witness told him the driver fled into the backyard of the residence. Trooper Stephenson gave chase and encountered the homeowner’s dog. The dog was barking and appeared to be focused on a deflated above-ground swimming pool. This alerted Trooper Stephenson to the area and he was able to locate the suspect hiding under the pool tarp. With the help of backup units, Troopers were able to arrest 36-year-old Michael C. Kline, of New Castle.

Before transporting Kline to jail, Troopers returned to the crash scene and realized there was a large dog in the car. Arrangements were made for Kline’s girlfriend to come to the scene and take possession of the dog.

When she arrived, Trooper Michael Garcia identified her as 26-year-old Brenna M. Roach, of Muncie, and realized she was wanted on an active warrant out of Hamilton County, Ohio for a probation violation. Roach told Trooper Garcia she lived close by and asked if he could take the dog to her residence instead of calling animal control. Trooper Garcia agreed and dropped the dog off safely before transporting Roach to jail.

Kline and Roach were transported to the Delaware County Jail and held on the following charges:

Kline is facing charges of resisting law enforcement, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and operating a vehicle while never licensed.

Roach was arrested on the warrant for a parole violation on an original charge of receiving stolen property.