Law enforcement officials are still actively searching for a male suspect who fled from Ferdinand Police earlier yesterday in a stolen vehicle. The incident unfolded on Tuesday morning when the Ferdinand Police Department and the Dubois County Sheriff’s Office received information about a stolen vehicle from Knox County, Kentucky, potentially being present in the town. A police officer located the driver and the stolen vehicle in a hotel parking lot on Industrial Drive at approximately 9:40 a.m. An attempt to initiate a traffic stop was met by the suspect fleeing in the vehicle. During the pursuit, the suspect collided with a Ferdinand officer’s police vehicle and eventually crashed near Third and Missouri Streets, fleeing on foot. Law enforcement deployed K-9 units and launched drones in their search for the suspect, described as a male in his mid-30s wearing a red T-shirt and black shorts. Despite extensive collaborative efforts, which included tracking by K-9s and aerial searches with drones, the suspect has not been located in the immediate area. Chief Blessinger has expressed the belief that the individual may have arranged for someone to pick him up. Law enforcement officers discovered two pitbull puppies in the stolen vehicle. These animals will be cared for at the department for five days before seeking new homes, unless their owner comes forward. To further the investigation and confirm the suspect’s identity, authorities are in the process of securing a search warrant for the vehicle. During the incident, local schools were placed on a soft lockdown as a precautionary measure.
