On Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at approximately 6:37 p.m. an officer with the Culver Police Department was on routine patrol on School Street within the town of Culver. Observing a vehicle exceeding the speed limit on School Street, a traffic stop was initiated on SR 10 near the Family Dollar store, where the vehicle came to a stop within the parking lot.
During the traffic stop it was found the sole occupant of the vehicle was the driver, identified as 27 year old Lance A Walter. While speaking to the driver, the officer discovered items believed to be associated with manufacturing methamphetamine within the vehicle.
The driver was asked to exit the vehicle, during which time the officer was informed the subject had on his possession a razor blade. Shortly thereafter the subject was not complying with demands by the officer and a struggle ensued between the officer and subject which led to a physical altercation between the two.
During the altercation on the ground the subject grabbed the officer’s firearm holster on his duty belt. The officer maintained to secure the firearm within the holster and at the same time obtained pepper spray from his duty belt. The officer attempted to spray the subject with pepper spray as the subject was going toward the drivers door of the vehicle.
With the winter weather conditions, the wind caused the officer to be succumb by the pepper spray in the air. The subject got back to the vehicle and fled the scene in the vehicle.
The officer notified the Marshall County Central Dispatch Center of the vehicle description and direction of travel, but was unable to continue pursuit due to complications from the pepper spray. An area dispatch alerted surrounding police units.
The Culver-Union Township Fire Department and EMS were dispatched to the area due to a two vehicle crash that took place at the same time on SR 10. It was later discovered the contributing factor of the accident was a result of passerby motorists observing the altercation and slowing to stop to assist the officer.
A short time later, law enforcement officers from the Rochester area, which included Rochester Police, Fulton County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police located and were involved in a vehicle pursuit with the same vehicle. The pursuit ended near the area of East 9th Street in Rochester and the driver was taken into custody.
Officers of the Culver Police Department traveled to Rochester and confirmed the driver involved was the same individual involved in the altercation within the town of Culver.
The driver, Lance Walter, was arrested in Fulton County for charges relating to Resisting Law Enforcement as well as numerous drug charges pertaining to methamphetamine.
A report by the Culver Police Department was submitted to the Marshall County Prosecutors Office for review of charges stemming from the incident in Culver.
Formal charges from Marshall County include felony counts of: Escape From Lawful Detention, Attempting to Disarm a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting Law Enforcement as well as infraction violations pertaining to the reason for the traffic stop.
The Marshall County Police Department, Argos Police Department and Starke County Sheriff’s Department responded to the request for assistance in Culver.
The Culver Police Department on behalf of the officer involved would like to express gratitude to the passerby motorists who were gracious enough to stop and assist the officer. They did not immediately know the circumstances involved, only that an officer appeared to need assistance at which time they were willing to help.
Listeners and readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made
