Suspect backs up truck on patrol car before fleeing from IMPD

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis police recently arrested a man with a history of crashing into patrol cars in order to escape traffic stops.

A stolen vehicle investigation led to the arrest of  George Leachman, 39, of Indianapolis, Monday.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department East District Flex Team Officers, with assistance from The IMPD SWAT Team,  took Leachman into custody and transported him to The Marion County Lockup.

Leachman's initial charges include: Aggravated battery, resist fleeing , vandalism and auto theft stemming from the incident during the traffic stop on Aug. 15.

Charges from the Oct. 1,  arrest include: Serious violent felon in possession of a handgun, auto theft, resisting and escape.

Leachman reportedly was also wanted on warrants out of Marion County for domestic battery/fleeing and  Hendricks County for auto theft.

According to an IMPD press release,  Leachman was driving a stolen Ford Dually in a case from last year when he rammed three police cars during a pursuit while attempting to flee.

Leachman had plead guilty to the charges in this case and was sentenced to three years of Community Corrections.

 He did not comply with those terms of release.

"Leachman subsequently cut his GPS anklet off and had been at large for several months," according to the press release.

On Aug. 15, the stolen vehicle investigation led officers from The IMPD East District Day Flex Team to the location  of  a pickup truck that was reportedly used in a theft.   An officer later attempted to make a traffic stop when spotting the vehicle matching the description. 

Leachman allegedly stuck a police car again while fleeing the scene Monday.

"The truck initially stopped, but as the passenger fled on foot the truck backed up over the officer’s patrol car before fleeing the scene.  The truck was found abandoned a few blocks away," according to the report.

Local surveillance video helped police to identify the passenger; however, the driver, later identified as Leachman, was not found at the time.