FORT WAYNE, Ind. — A police pursuit through a busy north-side shopping center took an unexpected turn Friday afternoon when a bystander — uninvolved in the chase — allegedly stepped outside a pet store, put his family into their truck, and opened fire at the fleeing suspect’s vehicle, according to newly filed court documents.
The incident happened around 1:14 p.m. on Nov. 14, 2025, and now involves two separate criminal cases.
According to police, officers began chasing Cole Thimlar after he fled in a cream-colored Cadillac CTS. The vehicle sped through the Northcrest Shopping Center, onto Noble Drive, and through parking lots along Coldwater Road, including the retail area in front of JoAnn Fabrics and The Shoppes. Bystander video later posted on Facebook shows the Cadillac weaving between rows of parked cars with Fort Wayne Police officers close behind. Investigators say Thimlar did not fire a weapon, and no officers discharged theirs during the pursuit. He was later arrested and is charged with resisting law enforcement, driving while suspended, and reckless driving…