Police tase, arrest man after toll road fight

STEUBEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) Police tased and arrested a man along Interstate 69 early Friday after he reportedly beat his girlfriend in a car.

Police were called around 9 a.m. Friday to the Indiana Toll Road near the 136 milemarker on a 911 call of a man beating a woman in the median. As police arrived in the area, Fort Wayne Trooper Christopher Kinsey spotted the suspect driving away from the toll road and onto Interstate 69 in a silver Dodge Charger.

Eventually, Kinsey was able to stop the driver on I-69 near the 354 milemarker. According to a report, Kinsey noted obvious injuries to both the driver and a woman in the car. A young child was in the back seat.

At that point, Kinsey asked the driver of the car – 39-year-old Tirrell D. Rogers of Clarkton, North Carolina – to step out of the car so that he could talk with him about the reported incident while another officer spoke to the woman, Rogers’ girlfriend.

The report said Rogers reportedly told Kinsey that he had gotten into an argument with his girlfriend over her cell phone. He refused to answer questions about his injured arm.

Kinsey then attempted to handcuff Rogers while another trooper spoke with the woman, who had a bite mark on her arm. Rogers, said “No,” and began walking away and into I-69 traffic. Police said Rogers also said, “Shoot me”, as he walked down the interstate with his hands above his head, ignoring police commands.

Rogers was eventually shot twice with Tasers by a trooper but they were ineffective. A Steuben County Deputy then successfully tased Rogers and he was handcuffed.

Rogers refused medical treatment at the scene. He was taken to the Steuben County Jail on charges of strangulation, domestic battery in the presence of a child, intimidation, criminal mischief, obstructing traffic, and resisting law enforcement.

The interstate was briefly closed as the situation unfolded.