Press release from the Indiana State Police, Lowell District:
Toliver
A man who had allegedly fired shots in a Walgreen’s store in Broadview, IL, led police on a chase into Indiana and was taken into custody on I-94 near the 39 mile marker without any shots fired.
At approximately 7:52 p.m., ISP units from Lowell District continued a pursuit of a suspect wanted out of IL for allegedly firing shots in store. The pursuit was started in Broadview, IL, and continued southbound down I-294 to eastbound I-80 into Indiana where Troopers Curtis Jones, Nathan Wolfe, Khari Walton and Davonne Barlow continued pursuing the white 2004 Ford Expedition across eastbound I-80. Stop sticks were deployed several times as the Expedition continued across I-80 onto I-94 without success.
At approximately 8:26 p.m., LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department again attempted to deploy stops sticks at the 36 MM EB but the Expedition avoided them, also. Troopers had slowed EB traffic so it was trailing the pursuit by about one mile when the Expedition started to slow then stopped on the shoulder near the 37 MM, which is near the Michigan City exit. EB traffic had been stopped at the 36 MM to keep them out of harm’s way. The Expedition then started traveling EB again at a very low speed before coming to a stop again at the 39 MM. The vehicle then turned around going WB in the EB lanes of I-94 for a short distance before coming to a stop.
Units from Berrien County MI had the WB I-94 traffic stopped at the 40 MM. The suspect in the Expedition refused commands from law enforcement officers to exit the vehicle. At approximately 9 p.m., Captain Michael Kellems, a negotiator from LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, arrived on scene to assist in talking with the suspect in the Expedition. At approximately 9:03 p.m., the suspect exited his vehicle with a hand gun in his hand. He then put the gun to his head, then put his hands up, but not surrendering the gun all the time standing in the middle of I-94.
At approximately 9:34 p.m, the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department SWAT Team arrived to also assist while negotiations continued. At approximately 10:10 p.m, the suspect was struck with a non-lethal weapon (numerous bean bag rounds) and was taken into custody with no injuries to police or the suspect. He was transported to a local hospital to be evaluated and then was incarcerated in LaPorte County Jail.
The suspect has been identified as Vincent J. Toliver, 34, from Madison, WI. He also had a last name of Berry. He was charged with Possession of Stolen Property and Resisting Law Enforcement. The hand gun he had in his possession was allegedly stolen out of Tennessee. Further charges may be pending as the case is still under investigation.