A routine traffic stop attempt in Whitestown turned into an hours-long manhunt early Thursday after a driver sped off, crashed near a rural intersection and ran from officers while allegedly trying to ditch a gun. Police say 19-year-old Peyton Bellinger of Indianapolis is now facing a stack of felony and misdemeanor charges after the vehicle he was driving, and a firearm found at the scene, both turned out to be stolen.
The incident began around 2:27 a.m. Thursday when a Whitestown officer tried to pull over a white passenger vehicle for several traffic violations, according to Clinton County Daily News. Instead of stopping, the driver took off at a high rate of speed, according to the seed report from WRTV. Police say the driver then headed the wrong way through a roundabout at Main Street and Mills Drive before crashing near County Road 525 South and County Road 700 East, per FOX59.
Driver Ran, Allegedly Tossed a Gun
After the crash, police identified the driver as Bellinger, who ran from the vehicle on foot. Officers watched as he allegedly tried to discard a firearm during the brief pursuit, FOX59 reported. That prompted officers to establish a search perimeter and call for a K-9 team and drone operator, per the WRTV report.
With help from the Zionsville Police Department, a drone was used to locate and track Bellinger, according to the Clinton County Daily News account. Officers issued warnings over a public address system, directing nearby residents to stay inside while also telling Bellinger to surrender, the outlet reported. Bellinger kept running even after that warning, according to WRTV, and a police K-9 was ultimately deployed to apprehend him.
Medical Treatment and a Released Passenger
Once Bellinger was in custody, officers provided him medical aid before he was taken to a local hospital for injuries sustained during the crash and his apprehension, WRTV reported. FOX59 similarly reported that he was brought to an area hospital for treatment of injuries from the incident. A passenger in the vehicle was also treated for crash-related injuries, then briefly detained for questioning before being released, per the same Clinton County Daily News account…