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Man facing charges after high-speed, multicounty pursuit through Fort Wayne

Trenton Anthony Irelan (Provided Photo/Indiana State Police)

MARKLE, Ind. (WISH) — A Bluffton man was arrested after leading state police in a high-speed multicounty chase Thursday night.

Indiana State Police say Trenton Irelan, 30, of Bluffton, was booked into Wells County jail and faces several charges including:

  • Resisting law enforcement
  • Operating while being a habitual traffic violator
  • Possession of a controlled substance
  • Reckless driving

An ISP sergeant was patrolling Markle, a small town about 25 miles southeast of Fort Wayne, Thursday around 10:30 p.m. when he saw what he believed to be criminal drug activity at a gas station.

The sergeant followed one of the suspect vehicles from the gas station and found the vehicle, a red Acura, had a false license plate on it. The car was pulled over on Marzane Road near the County Road 700 North intersection, police said.

The driver, Irelan, sped off once the sergeant got out of his vehicle during the traffic stop.

Irelan sped toward Zanesville and led troopers on a high-speed chase through Wells and Allen counties. Speeds reached up to 100 mph during the pursuit, police said.

Attempts to deflate Irelan’s tires were unsuccessful and the pursuit continued through Waynedale, the south side of Fort Wayne, into New Haven, then back through downtown Fort Wayne before Irelan drove westbound on Illinois Road.

Police were then able to deflate three of Irelan’s tires during the pursuit, but Irelan kept driving about 30-40 mph westbound, only on rims, police said. His last tire was deflated near the intersection of State Road 41 and West County Line Road and his car was no longer operable.

Irelan was taken into custody without further incident around 11:30 p.m.

According to online court records, Irelan is scheduled for his initial court hearing Tuesday afternoon.

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