Cop resigns after joy ride crash

MUNCIE, Ind. – A city police officer has resigned following his suspension for crashing his squad car while giving three female Ball State University students a ride.\nJason Lyons, a six-year veteran of the police force, submitted his resignation letter last week, Police Chief Joe Winkle said.\n“He was very apologetic and decided to move on,” Winkle said.\nLyons, 38, might still have to deal with criminal charges after taking the students for what Winkle has called a “joy ride” on Aug. 28.\nThe officer met the freshmen students at a near-campus convenience store before 1 a.m. and one of them asked him for a ride back to their residence hall, according to statements from Lyons and the students. Lyons then drove down a couple streets before crashing into a light pole on campus.\nThe crash did several thousand dollars in damage to the squad car, and one of the students suffered a head cut.\nWinkle has said Lyons drove fast enough to scare the teenagers and “was basically showing off for three college girls.”\nLyons could not be located for comment as no telephone number was listed in \nhis name.\nWinkle said he planned to turn the case over to the Delaware County prosecutor’s office for a decision on whether Lyons will face any charges.