Two men arrested after multiple pursuits, shots fired at officers

ELKHART, Ind. -- Two men were arrested Monday morning after a burglary, pursuit, and allegedly shooting at police.

Police say they were called to Howard's Auto Sales on By-Pass Road in Elkhart around 12:30 a.m. Monday for subjects looking into windows and attempting to enter the business.

Police later learned the business had been burglarized and electronics and other items were missing. They were informed a blue car was seen leaving the business on West Lexington Avenue.

Although police did not find the blue car at the scene, they did notice a fresh pair of tire tracks in the snow which they followed to the 1000 block of North Nappanee Street. 

Upon arrival, police found a blue car with two men standing next to it. Officers attempted to speak with the men when they say the men jumped back into the vehicle and began to drive away. 

Police chased the two men, later identified as Lee Underwood and Thomas Mosier, through Elkhart, Elkhart County, and Cass County, Michigan.

During the chase, police say the passenger in the vehicle, later determined to be Mosier, fired multiple shots at them. The shots were fired at police in the area of Mishawaka Street and Michigan Street, County Road 7 and Edwards Road, US 12, and Fir Road. Elkhart Police vehicles were damaged from the gunfire but no one was injured.

According to police, the vehicle pursuit ended when the suspect vehicle crashed near the intersection of North Shore Drive and Turpin Road in Cass County, Michigan. Mosier and Underwood then ran on foot.

Upon searching the vehicle the suspects had abandoned, police found stolen property from Howard's Auto Sales and a small amount of methamphetamine. 

A short time later, police learned the suspects had stolen a 2003 Ford and left the area. Michigan State Police found tire tracks from the stolen vehicle and followed them back into Indiana, to Bristol, and eventually back to Elkhart.

When officers located the stolen Ford being driven by Mosier in the area of West Bristol Street and Johnson Street, they say the vehicle began to drive away from them leading to another pursuit.

This pursuit ended when the car crashed in the area of County Road 15 and County Road 42.The suspects again ran on foot.

Police say Mosier and Underwood attempted to gain entry into peoples homes as they ran, but they were chased away by homeowners. After finding one of the suspects, police heard gunshots from inside a barn in the area.

After surrounding the barn, members of the Elkhart Police Department Special Response Team, Elkhart County Sheriff's Department, and the Goshen Police Department made entry into the barn and took the second suspect into custody.

Lee Underwood, a 26-year-old man from Elkhart, was arrested for resisting law enforcement and possession of methamphetamine.

Thomas Mosier, a 46-year-old man from Cassopolis, Michigan, was arrested for recklessness with a firearm, burglary, receiving stolen property, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and resisting law enforcement, along with having active warrants from the state of Michigan.

The Cass County Sheriff's Department, Michigan State Police, Elkhart County Sheriff's Department, Middlebury Police Department, and Goshen Police Department all assisted the Elkhart Police Department. 

The total pursuit and standoff lasted over nine hours, and approximately 55 miles.