NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — A man who died after police say he used a Noblesville police patrol car and a stolen car to lead them on a chase that ended in Montgomery County has been identified.
Noblesville police say an off-duty police officer was in her marked patrol car with her father when she was flagged down to assist with a disturbance between a man and a woman in a parking lot in the 14100 block of Blanket Flower Lane — that’s near 141st Street and State Road 37 — around 12:34 p.m.
When she and her father got out of the vehicle to assist, a man identified as 45-year-old Edward Albright managed to get into the officer’s vehicle and attempted to drive away. The officer and her father tried but failed to pull Albright out of the vehicle, and Albright battered them both and sprayed a chemical on them, according to the department.
Albright left the scene in the police car, then confronted a driver in the parking lot of the Sherwin-Williams Paint Store, 14064 Britton Park Road, pulled the driver from the car and drove the wrong direction on eastbound 141st Street before turning onto State Road 37.
Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office were setting up at exit 39 of State Road 32 when the suspect began to exit I-74 and hit a 2005 Buick passenger car, then struck the back of a semi-trailer. The driver of the Buick was taken to a hospital with injuries that did not appear life-threatening. The driver of the semi-trailer was not injured, the sheriff’s office said.
Albright was driving the stolen 2006 Toyota Avalon when the crash happened. The Avalon sustained heavy front-end damage, and Albright died at the scene, the sheriff’s office said.
The off-duty Noblesville police officer and her father were treated for minor injuries from the incident, Barnes said.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the crash. Noblesville police are handling the criminal investigation.
Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen released this statement:
“Our city is incredibly proud of the quick response by our officers during this afternoon’s incident. The first officer on scene was off duty and we are thankful that even while out of uniform, our officers are committed to serving our community and keeping us safe. We are relieved the officer involved sustained only minor injuries and will be back on duty protecting and serving our city as she so aptly did today.”
Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen
