Walkerton officer on paid leave after North Liberty shooting

NORTH LIBERTY, Ind. -- A Walkerton Police officer is on paid administrative leave after firing at least one shot at a suspect who allegedly rammed the officer's patrol vehicle following an hour-long chase that ended in a North Liberty cornfield, according to a source.

The pursuit began around 4:30 a.m. Monday in the 24000 block of SR 2, according to a source.

An officer with North Liberty Police attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle after the plates came back as stolen, according to St. Joseph County Police.

During the pursuit, St. Joseph County Police, Walkerton Police, and La Porte County Police assisted North Liberty in the high speed pursuit.

The pursuit ended off Leeper Road and SR 23 around 5:30 a.m. when the suspect, Kevin Meyers, allegedly rammed a Walkerton Police squad car multiple times with his vehicle. The officer fired at least one time and Meyers was shot, reports said.

The officer who fired the shot is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit investigation and review by the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office.

The officer suffered a cut to his hand and was exposed to the suspect's bodily fluid, so he was taken to the hospital for treatment and testing. He has since been released.

The K9 in the officer's vehicle was taken to an area vet to be evaluated. It was released with no injuries.