South Bend man sentenced after fleeing state trooper and crashing

Indiana State Police: Trae Lottie


UPDATE: On June 13, Lottie was sentenced in St. Joseph County to a total of two years in community corrections, followed by three and a half years on probation.

He received two years and in community corrections and two years of probation for the charges of resisting law enforcement, operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated: prior conviction within seven years.

He was sentenced to 18 months of probation for the charges of criminal recklessness and attempt to commit battery by means of a deadly weapon.

ORIGINAL: SOUTH BEND, Ind. - A 28-year-old South Bend man was arrested Friday night after he fled from an Indiana State Trooper and crashed into a parked car and then the porch of a house in the 2000 block of Beverly Place.

On Friday around 9:00 p.m., Indiana State Trooper Matt Drudge was on patrol when he saw a gray 2007 Audi, later found to be driven by Trae Lottie, with two equipment violations traveling north on Portage Avenue. 

Drudge followed Lottie and attempted to make a traffic stop near the intersection of Portage Avenue and Woodlawn Boulevard.

According to Drudge, when he turned on his police lights Lottie allegedly sped away, and a chase began.

Documents state Lottie fled down several city streets and eventually, on Beverly Place, Lottie crashed the Audi into a parked car. 

Officials then say the Audi continued across the street, crashing into the wooden porch of a house on Beverly Place.

After the crash, Lottie was identified as the driver and taken into custody.


Police say their investigation revealed Lottie was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and driving with a suspended license.

Lottie was taken to a local hospital to be medically cleared from the crash and to submit to a chemical test.  Authorities say the results of the test are pending. 

After Lottie was medically cleared, he was arrested and taken St. Joseph County Jail for resisting law enforcement, operating while intoxicated-prior, operating while intoxicated-endangerment, driving while suspended-prior, and reckless driving.

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