ST. JOSEPH CO. – This past weekend, six Indiana State Troopers from the ISP Bremen Post conducted Wolfpack Patrols on Friday night, April 25, 2025, and Saturday night, April 26, 2025, throughout Mishawaka and South Bend. These targeted, high-visibility patrols focus on proactive policing and criminal interdiction as part of our commitment to the community.
These patrols resulted in:
- 63 tickets
- 88 warnings
- 7 OWI arrests
- 5 drug arrests
- 38 misdemeanor arrests
- 5 felony arrests
- 18 agencies assist
- 2 crashes investigated
- 1 vehicle pursuit
- 21 criminal defendants
During the early morning hours of April 26, 2025, Senior Trooper Scott Hipsher initiated a pursuit of a suspected impaired driver. The pursuit began in Mishawaka near the intersection of N. Main Street and Catalpa Drive. It continued through Mishawaka and ultimately ended in South Bend, IN, near the intersection of Lincoln Way and Twyckenham Drive, when the driver collided with another vehicle. Troopers were assisted by the Mishawaka Police Department and the South Bend Police Department during this pursuit.
Following the crash, the driver, identified as Clinton Johnson, 36 of South Bend, refused to exit his crashed pickup truck. On several occasions during this standoff, Johnson put officers in danger by spinning his tires, attempting to back up towards officers. Still, he was prevented because his truck was entangled with the vehicle he had crashed into.
Members of the South Bend Police Department fired several rounds of pepper-ball projectiles (a non-lethal frangible projectile that contains chemical irritants similar to pepper spray) into the crashed truck. This tactic successfully de-escalated the situation and resulted in Johnson surrendering and being taken into custody.
Johnson was taken to the St. Joseph County Jail for Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony, OWI-Prior, Level 6 Felony, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Level 6 Felony, Reckless Driving, B-Misdemeanor, and OWI-Endangerment, A-Misdemeanor.
The driver of the vehicle that was crashed into was cited for operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license and illegal consumption of an alcoholic beverage by a minor. Despite having been drinking, she was not found to be impaired.
Troopers also assisted members of the Mishawaka Police Department with a foot pursuit of two suspects who fled from a traffic stop in the area of Jefferson Boulevard and Liberty Drive. One of the fleeing suspects was armed with a rifle, which was later located and found to be stolen. Troopers helped set up a perimeter, and Trooper Brett Adair responded with his K9, Zoia. Utilizing her unique set of abilities, she was able to sniff out the fleeing suspects.
Several troopers had multiple arrests for drivers operating while intoxicated. This is alarming because, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 12,429 people died in 2023 from drunk driving crashes- this equals one drunk driving-related death every 42 minutes.
The Indiana State Police will continue to conduct high-visibility, focused patrols throughout the communities they serve, using proactive enforcement, as well as investigative and crime prevention efforts, to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
