Last night an Elkhart man, driving over 100 miles per hour on the US 20 Bypass, tried to flee an Indiana State Trooper. He failed and ended up in jail.
Around 9:16 p.m. last night, October 15, 2018, Trooper Artie Smith saw a black 2002 Mercedes that was traveling eastbound on the US 20 Bypass, near the 91.3 mile marker, at 108 miles per hour in a 65 mile per hour zone. Smith was able to catch up to the Mercedes as it exited the US 20 Bypass and continued south on US 33.
As the Mercedes turned west onto Shaffer Avenue, Smith turned on his emergency lights and siren. According to Smith the Mercedes then turned off its lights and fled from him, travelling south on CR 111. The Mercedes continued east on CR 20 before entering a subdivision. After entering the subdivision, the Mercedes drove through two yards before finally stopping on Merrimac Lane just south of Belmar Drive.
The driver, identified as 18 year old Veniamin Rumatchik of Elkhart, was safely taken into custody. Rumatchik was arrested on preliminary charges of Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony and Reckless Driving, Class B-Misdemeanor and taken to the Elkhart County Jail. Rumatchik also received several traffic citations.
Smith was assisted by Trooper Andrew Baldwin, the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department, Elkhart Police Department, and the Goshen Police Department.
