UPDATE: Elkhart County police release name of Goshen man shot to death after pursuit

September 26, 2011|By Kelli Stopczynski (kstopczynski@wsbt.com)

GOSHEN – We’re learning more about the man shot and killed by a police officer after leading cops on a 10-minute chase. Melvin Bledsoe III, 47, was pronounced dead at the scene Sunday night. He lived just outside Goshen in Elkhart County.

It started when an Elkhart County sheriff’s deputy pulled Bledsoe over for a traffic violation near State Road 15 and County Road 40 after 10 p.m. Sunday.

Police said Bledsoe took off as the officer walked up to his truck.That officer ran back to his car and began pursuing Bledsoe’s white Ford pickup. Goshen police officers assisted in the pursuit as Bledsoe led officers on the nearly 4-mile chase into the city limits.

Greg Faubion, owner of Faubion Plumbing, Heating & A/C Inc. said police dispatchers called him at home right after Bledsoe crashed his truck into the side of Faubion’s business.

“You can just see where it actually burnt the exhaust right into the studs, sheared off the wires,” he said.

Police said Bledsoe also smashed into two of their cruisers.

Bledsoe apparently tried to outrun police by cutting through Faubion’s parking lot, but instead officers surrounded him.

“You can see the tracks here. He spun in reverse and actually came [into the side of the building], Faubion said, pointing out black marks on the pavement where the suspect’s rear tires spun. “[He] hit this post and then broke into the wall and hit a big support beam here.”

The crash, spinning tires and sirens brought several neighbors outside.

“Then I heard two shots and I went on back in the house,” said Teresa Ratcliff.

“I noticed the Taser cartridge and the wires through the passenger side [door],” Fabion added. “He was lying right across here. Feet right here, these chalk lines. His head down there. He was face up, he was under a sheet. I didn’t want to really look at him too long.”

A man who lives across the street told WSBT his daughter saw it all unfold from her bedroom window. He said his daughter saw Bledsoe shoot at police before they shot and killed him, but police haven’t confirmed that. Bledsoe’s girlfriend of 15 years said he never carried a gun.

Indiana State Police are investigating – protocol during a police action shooting. They still have not released the name of the Goshen city officer who killed Bledsoe.

It is also unclear why the Elkhart County police officer pulled Bledsoe over, or why he decided to run from police.

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