A La Porte man, who was previously apprehended in Michigan during a pursuit, now finds himself in trouble once more for allegedly evading law enforcement.
Travis Hatchel, 38, allegedly fled in his vehicle after being pulled over for a traffic stop on August 8th at the intersection of 10th and J streets in LaPorte.
According to LaPorte Police, the driver ignored stop signs and drove on the wrong side of the road during the car chase. The pursuit finally came to an end after a few minutes in the 1300 block of Federal Ave.
According to police, the suspect fled from the vehicle, leaving it in drive. As a result, the car rolled forward and collided with a fence, causing damage. Eventually, authorities were able to apprehend Hatchel after a foot chase.
Court records indicate that Hatchel spent 129 days in the La Porte County Jail as a result of a pursuit following an attempted traffic stop in March 2021 in the Michigan City area.
The LaPorte man drove into Michigan and explored various roads near Three Oaks before turning into a field north of U.S. 12 and west of Hampton Road near Galien, according to the police.
As the officers pursued him, Hatchel’s vehicle came to a halt in the soft soil of the field. Despite their presence, he decided to make a daring move by reversing his car and colliding with a police vehicle. Refusing to give up, he then abandoned his vehicle and attempted to escape on foot.
A K9 dog was relentlessly pursuing him as he ran through a water-filled ditch. The police dog finally brought him down, and amid the struggle, officers managed to apprehend him and put him in handcuffs.
According to court records, Hatchel had multiple outstanding warrants in LaPorte County at the time. He was accused of leading officers on a previous chase and fleeing from a motor vehicle crash in 2017. Additionally, Hatchel has previous convictions for offenses such as possession of methamphetamine, burglary, and resisting law enforcement.
Hatchel, with a history of leading police pursuits, is currently detained in the LaPorte County Jail. He faces charges of resisting law enforcement, which has been elevated to a felony due to his previous record. His bond is set at $15,000.
