Local man arrested after high-speed chase

A Bloomington man was arrested Thursday morning after a vehicle pursuit with the Indiana State Police came to an end.

Indiana State Police Trooper Jason Cobb first spotted Joshua W. North, 23, of Bloomington driving southbound on State Road 37, according to an ISP press release. At about 10:15 a.m., Cobb said North’s vehicle speed registered at 79 mph in a 60 mph driving zone.

Cobb followed North in a red 2004 Chevrolet Impala. North turned in “The Woods” housing edition and then headed northbound on State Road 37, according to the press release.

Cobb turned on his emergency lights, but North did not stop his vehicle, according to the press release.

Indiana State Trooper Doug Hutchinson threw stop sticks at the vehicle near Zikes Road.

The sticks hit the vehicle, but North continued toward Bloomington.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department told the troopers the vehicle North was driving was reported stolen earlier Thursday morning, said ISP Sgt. Curt Durnil.

As the vehicle traveled on Old State Road 37, Bloomington Police Officer Lucas Tate threw stop sticks on Walnut Street near Pinewood Drive, according to the press release.

Durnil said by this time, two of the vehicle’s tires were completely gone. The other two tires were starting to deflate.

The vehicle finally stopped between Rogers Road and Country Club Drive, according to the press release.

Police tested North’s blood alcohol level and found he was driving above the legal limit, Durnil said.

Police arrested North on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement, operating while intoxicated, a class D felony for possession of stolen property and an infraction for driving while suspended, according to the press release.

North was transported to the Monroe County Jail.