Two Chicago men, 23-year-old Jonheym Jonathan Andrews and 23-year-old Steve E. Mitchell, are facing multiple felony charges after police say a theft at the Merrillville Kohl’s store escalated into a wrong-way pursuit on I-65 that ended in a crash and foot chase, according to Lake County probable cause affidavits. Andrews is identified as the driver of a blue Kia sedan, and Mitchell as the front-seat passenger.
Police were dispatched to Kohl’s after loss prevention reported two males running out of the store with stolen fragrance merchandise and getting into a blue Kia. When a fully marked patrol vehicle activated its emergency lights and siren, Andrews looked directly at the police vehicle, made a U-turn, and accelerated away. A registration check confirmed the Kia was registered to Andrews. Officers pursued the vehicle northbound on Mississippi Street and onto I-65, where a PIT maneuver caused the Kia to rotate, but Andrews continued driving, heading southbound in the northbound lanes of the interstate.
Traffic began stopping as the Kia drove toward oncoming vehicles. The Kia nearly struck one fully marked patrol car before colliding with another police vehicle, causing airbag deployment and extensive front-end damage that rendered the police unit out of service. Both Andrews and Mitchell ran from the crash scene down an embankment. Officers apprehended Andrews at the wrecked Kia and captured Mitchell farther down the hill, noting he was purposely dragging his feet and refusing to walk as officers escorted him back up the embankment.…