Indy Man Arrested Following Carjacking, and SWAT Standoff
INDIANAPOLIS — Police arrested 23-year-old Joseph Holmes Jr. after a carjacking and a police chase that ended with a standoff.
On Wednesday afternoon, July 16, officers were called to a neighborhood near N Butler Avenue after a woman said a man tried to grab her car keys while she was putting her cane in the car. During the struggle, the woman was pushed into a parked vehicle and hurt her arm. A bystander tried to help, but the man got away, driving off in her car with her purse and wallet inside.
Later that day, around 4 p.m., police spotted the stolen car near College Avenue and Fall Creek Parkway. When they tried to pull the car over, the driver didn’t stop and took off. The chase ended when the stolen car crashed into another vehicle, injuring someone. Holmes jumped out of the car and ran.
As officers chased him on foot, Holmes forced his way into an apartment building while someone was leaving. The resident tried to stop him, but Holmes went inside and locked the door. Police followed, but Holmes ran out and kept running.
He then broke into another apartment. The resident got out safely and told police no one else was inside, but there were several guns in the apartment. Because Holmes had access to the guns, police set up a perimeter and called in the SWAT team. Holmes was seen holding a large kitchen knife and refused to come out.
After about 75 minutes, Holmes finally came out wearing the resident’s clothes and accessories. He was arrested.
Holmes faces multiple charges, including robbery with injury, battery, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of an accident causing injury, breaking into occupied homes, failing to identify himself, and illegal possession of a firearm.
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will decide the final charges. Remember, an arrest is just an accusation, and Holmes is innocent until proven guilty in court.
