A jewelry store heist in Lebanon, Indiana, took a dramatic turn on November 11 when a 34-year-old man from Chicago attempted to flee from law enforcement, leading them on a high-speed chase that spanned several jurisdictions.
The Lebanon Police Department said they received a 9-1-1 call from an employee at approximately 5:30 p.m. to report a robbery at Kay Jewelers, located at 2438 N. Lebanon St.
The suspect, identified later as David Juarez, allegedly stole an undisclosed amount of jewelry before making a swift exit southbound on State Road 39 in a gold Toyota sedan.
A Boone County sheriff’s deputy, responding to the call, spotted the fleeing vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop.
However, Juarez refused to comply, setting off a pursuit that involved multiple law enforcement agencies.
Lebanon police officers joined the chase as the suspect headed northbound on Interstate 65.
During the pursuit, officers observed Juarez engaging in unusual behavior by sticking his hand out of the window and motioning towards them. The nature of these gestures remains unclear.
The pursuit escalated when the suspect collided with a Thorntown Police Department vehicle but continued to evade law enforcement.
The driver of the Thorntown police vehicle was unhurt and continued the pursuit.
Eventually, officers from the Thorntown Police Department, Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office and Indiana State Police joined forces to bring Juarez to a halt by successfully boxing in his vehicle.
Officers were then able to successfully arrest the man.
When questioned about his peculiar hand signals during the pursuit, Juarez offered a baffling response: “Because I was trying to tell you you’re not supposed to pursue me.”
The 34-year-old Chicago resident now faces a litany of charges, including felony theft, felony criminal mischief, felony resisting law enforcement, as well as several misdemeanor charges, including possession of marijuana, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and operating a vehicle without a license.
The city of Lebanon is located approximately 30 miles northwest of Indianapolis.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the jewelry store robbery.
