Mom, sister arrested with alleged drunken teen after ISP pursuit

ICN file photo

​

Bendekovich/Vigo Co. Jail

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central New

A Terre Haute woman was arrested, along with her two teenaged children, after police say she attempted to interfere with her son being transported to the juvenile center for allegedly drinking and driving early Saturday morning.

Taken into custody:

• Barbara Bendekovich,  49, of Terre Haute, was  booked into the Vigo County Jail at 2:45 a.m. Her charges include resisting law enforcement (misdemeanor); criminal mischief (misdemeanor); disorderly conduct (misdemeanor); interfering with custody (misdemeanor)
• The male juvenile, 14,  was taken to Vigo County Juvenile Center. His charges include battery on law enforcement (felony); resisting arrest with a vehicle (felony); resisting arrest (misdemeanor);, minor consuming (misdemeanor); OWI (misdemeanor); reckless driving (misdemeanor); disorderly conduct (misdemeanor)

• The female Juvenile, 17, was taken to Vigo County Juvenile Center. Her charges include resisting arrest (misdemeanor); minor consuming (misdemeanor); disorderly conduct (misdemeanor); and public intoxication (misdemeanor)

According to Indiana State Police Trooper BJ Patterson, Trooper Rondell Shelton attempted to stop the vehicle for disregarding a stop sign just after midnight. The 14-year-old male juvenile suspect allegedly  ignored his emergency lights and siren.

The teen driver continued fleeing until losing control of the vehicle during the police pursuit.

"At one point during the pursuit the vehicle stopped, let out a passenger and the vehicle took off. The passenger of the vehicle put up his hands and did not resist.  Trooper Shelton continued to pursue the vehicle until the driver of the vehicle missed a turn and struck a telephone pole," Patterson said.

He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for a medical evaluation.following the crash. The juvenile’s blood alcohol level reportedly tested .119. It was at this time , Bendekovich and the female juvenile appeared at the hospital, along with several other people.

The teen's mother and sister allegedly became verbally argumentative towards law enforcement and hospital staff. Meanwhile, the juvenile suspect reportedly attempted to flee from the hospital. Patterson said he was quickly apprehended by Trooper Brad Fyfe who responded to the scene. 

Several law enforcement officers, along with hospital security, helped control the situation after Bendekovich allegedly struck Trooper Shelton’s patrol vehicle with her purse and became physically aggressive due to not wanting her son to be taken to the juvenile facility, according to the report.

The mother was taken into custody, while the sister of the juvenile allegedly attempted to get in Trooper Shelton’s patrol car and tried to  prevent him from taking her brother to the juvenile center. She was also arrested at the time.

 Trooper Courtland Woodruff, several Terre Haute City Police officers, along with hospital staff, assisted at the scene.

---