Indianapolis, IN – An Iowa man and an Indiana woman were arrested in Hammond after a high-speed chase involving a Jeep stolen from Indianapolis.
According to the East Chicago Police Department, on Tuesday, officers pursued a Jeep Cherokee, reported stolen and tracked by its finance company, through the streets of Hammond. The chase, which began around 12:19 p.m. near 3400 Guthrie Street, came to a halt at the intersection of Cline Avenue and Calumet Avenue after the vehicle collided with several others.
The driver, identified as Brion Dowdell, 32, from Clinton, Iowa, initially reportedly evaded arrest on foot and was reportedly seen allegedly brandishing a semi-automatic handgun. Despite shots fired by an officer, Dowdell was apprehended without injury after a brief confrontation. Antonnette Johnson, 25, from East Chicago, Indiana, was taken into custody at the scene. Officers recovered a stolen .45 caliber Glock, modified with a Glock switch, from Dowdell.
Both suspects are now detained at the East Chicago Police Department Jail. The Jeep Cherokee, reported stolen from Indianapolis, has been seized. The incident remains under investigation by the Gang and Narcotics Division, and updates will be issued once formal charges are filed. Dowdell also had an active U.S. Marshal’s warrant for a weapons offense.
