A routine drug investigation turned into a multi-county high-speed chase on Wednesday morning, ending with a crash in Wells County, Indiana. Authorities say the suspect, 46-year-old Louis “Sammy” Howard Jr., attempted to flee law enforcement despite having an active warrant.

Pursuit Spans Four Counties, Reaches Dangerous Speeds

Investigators were monitoring suspected drug activity when a detective from the Wells County Sheriff’s Office attempted to pull over Howard’s vehicle. Instead of stopping, he allegedly sped off, igniting a pursuit that stretched 31 miles across Wells, Huntington, Blackford, and Grant Counties.

Howard reportedly reached high speeds while weaving through traffic. Officers say he endangered multiple drivers, at one point veering off-road and heading straight for an officer who was deploying stop sticks.

Spike Strips and Crash Bring Chase to an End

Authorities say Howard’s vehicle eventually hit stop sticks near the intersection of County Road N. 1100 East and County 500 North. The impact disabled the car, causing it to veer off into a nearby field. But Howard wasn’t ready to surrender just yet.

• After crashing, he allegedly abandoned the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot.
• Officers pursued him across the field before deploying a Taser.
• Howard was subdued and taken into custody without further incident.

Multiple Agencies Responded to the Chase

The chase drew responses from law enforcement across several jurisdictions. According to officials, the following agencies assisted:

Suspect Faces Multiple Charges

Howard is now facing an array of preliminary charges, including:

• Dealing a narcotic drug
• Criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon
• Resisting law enforcement
• Possession of a narcotic drug
• Possession of a handgun by a domestic batterer
• Operating while intoxicated

Authorities have not yet announced Howard’s court date or potential bond amount. The case remains under investigation.