A Lakeville man is behind bars after fleeing from a traffic stop Friday night, thanks in part to a bystander who stepped in to help a pursuing officer.
At approximately 9:45 p.m. on Friday, August 7th, Officer Fisher with the Plymouth Police Department conducted a traffic stop at Brothers Stop N Go, 1701 West Jefferson Street, after observing a yellow Mustang whose registered owner showed a suspended license.
The vehicle was slow to stop, and while Officer Fisher was calling out the traffic stop and plate information, the driver — later identified as Joseph Fansler, 25, of Lakeville — exited the vehicle and took off running.
Officer Fisher gave chase on foot. A bystander who was waiting in the Dairy Queen drive-through with his family witnessed the officer pursuing the suspect and heard him ordering the man to stop. The bystander got out of his vehicle, joined the pursuit, and helped Officer Fisher take Fansler into custody.
Fansler was arrested on new charges of resisting arrest and driving while suspended with a prior within 10 years. He was also found to have three outstanding warrants — one each from Saint Joseph County, Starke County, and Fulton County.
Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is a mere 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.
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