Auto chase ends in arrest

A car chase that began at the Woodbridge Apartment complex Wednesday ended with a Bloomington resident arrested in southern Marion County for theft, car-jacking and resisting law enforcement.\nAt 10:52 a.m., the Bloomington Police Department received a report that a yellow 2002 Ford Mustang was stolen from Woodbridge.\n"It was a crime of opportunity," said BPD Captain Joe Qualters. "The vehicle had been left unlocked and running by its owner."\nTrooper Eric Dunn was headed northbound on the 45/46 bypass when he saw a vehicle driving recklessly and attempted to pull over the vehicle. Before he could, information concerning the missing vehicle was dispatched to him.\n"Low and behold, it happened to be the same one," Qualters said. "Then the chase was on."\nAs Bloomington and Indiana State police attempted to move in on the vehicle on SR 37, the driver accelerated to speeds in excess of 100 miles.\nState troopers from the Putnamville District joined the pursuit as it approached Martinsville. The suspect vehicle continued on city and county roads until the driver lost control north of Martinsville on Blue Bluff Road and went off the roadway. \nThe suspect, identified as Phil White, 31, of Bloomington, then carjacked a 1997 Ford truck that had stopped to offer assistance with the accident.\nQualters said the officers in pursuit of the vehicle had probably fallen behind at this point.\n"One thing you have to understand is that the person trying to get away isn't following the rules, but the officers still have to obey the traffic signals," he said.\nOfficers from various agencies attempted to stop the vehicle with stopsticks, but the vehicle was able to avoid them.\nNear SR 37 and Harding Street, the vehicle struck a State Police vehicle and continued driving.\nThe chase continued into Marion County on SR 37, until the suspect struck a Marion County sheriff vehicle and exited the car. \nWhite attempted to flee on foot and was apprehended by State Police and Marion County Units. Various charges including theft, carjacking, possession of stolen property, resisting law enforcement with a motor vehicle, as well as numerous traffic charges are pending against White in Monroe, Morgan, Johnson and Marion Counties.\nWhite was incarcerated in the Monroe County Jail.