BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY — A Bloomington man is behind bars after allegedly triggering a high-speed pursuit on Interstate 65 Sunday evening, crashing into two vehicles, and resisting arrest after being boxed in by fellow motorists.
The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Joe Dylan Hacker, faces four felony and eight misdemeanor charges following the multi-county incident on May 24.
The incident began around 7:36 p.m. on southbound I-65 near the 77-mile marker. Senior Trooper Ryne McMahel of the Indiana State Police Sellersburg Post was driving home from a shift at the Indianapolis 500 when a speeding maroon passenger car nearly sideswiped his patrol vehicle.
When Trooper McMahel attempted a traffic stop, Hacker fled. A high-speed pursuit ensued but was quickly terminated after about two miles. Authorities cited heavy holiday traffic and wet road conditions as the primary safety reasons for calling off the chase.
The reprieve was short-lived. Moments later, dispatch received reports that the same maroon vehicle had crashed further south on the interstate.
According to State Police radio, Hacker collided with two other vehicles. Recognizing the danger, nearby motorists worked together to box Hacker’s vehicle in, forcing him to a stop near the 61-mile marker. Police confirmed both collisions resulted in property damage only, with no injuries reported.
When Trooper McMahel caught up and made contact, Hacker reportedly refused to comply with repeated commands. The situation escalated until McMahel deployed his Taser to safely take Hacker into custody.
During the subsequent investigation, officers discovered that the maroon vehicle Hacker was driving had been reported stolen out of Marion County.
Hacker was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for a medical evaluation. Once cleared, he was booked into the Bartholomew County Jail.
Hacker faces several traffic infractions alongside a lengthy list of criminal counts:
Felony Charges (Level 6):
- Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle
- Theft of a Motor Vehicle
- Unauthorized Entry of a Motor Vehicle Used in a Crime
- Obstruction of Justice
Misdemeanor Charges:
- Resisting Law Enforcement (Class A)
- Operating While Intoxicated – Endangerment (Class A)
- Theft / All Other Larceny (Class A)
- Aggressive Driving (Class A)
- Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Crash (Class B)
- Reckless Driving Causing Property Damage (Class B)
- Operating While Intoxicated (Class C)
- Refusal to Identify (Class C)
Trooper McMahel was assisted at the scene by Troopers James Herbert and Logan Gray of the ISP Versailles District, as well as Deputy Bryant of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.
