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September 5, 2003

Car chase leads to Purdue student's arrest

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A Purdue University student was arrested after allegedly attempting to evade a police sobriety checkpoint in West Lafayette earlier today (Friday, 9/5).

Steven R. Fannin, 20, a junior in the School of Consumer and Family Sciences from Porter, Ind., was taken to the Tippecanoe County Jail after a chase that led police through campus.

Fannin, who lives at 2243 U.S. 52 W, Apt. 2232A, West Lafayette, faces preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement, criminal confinement, criminal recklessness with a vehicle, consumption of alcohol by a minor, operating a vehicle under the age of 21 with a blood alcohol content of .02 or higher and other traffic violations.

The Purdue University Police Department was participating in a drunk driving checkpoint with the West Lafayette Police Department, the Lafayette Police Department and the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department this morning near the intersection of Grant and State streets.

Purdue police Capt. John Cox said that when officers attempted to wave Fannin's vehicle into the checkpoint, he sped up and drove westbound on Indiana 26 away from police. Officers tried to pull the car over, but Fannin allegedly refused to stop.

Cox said that police cars followed Fannin through campus on Indiana 26 and then northbound on Jackson Highway. The driver lost control of the car near the intersection of Jackson Highway and County Road 350 West, according to the police report. The chase lasted about five minutes and reached speeds in excess of 80 mph.

Cox said Fannin ran from the car, leaving a female passenger behind. Cox said the passenger had repeatedly asked Fannin to stop the car and let her go, but he refused, leading to the criminal confinement charge.

Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department K-9 units were called to the scene and located Fannin in a nearby yard.

Writer: Matt Holsapple, (765) 494-2073, mholsapple@purdue.edu

Source: John Cox, (765) 494-8221, jkcox@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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