A Chesterton resident was taken into custody on Saturday after the Lake County Sheriff’s Police said that he tried to run down officers in his vehicle during a pursuit.

Jeffery Demmond, 51, was arrested on charges of attempted battery by means of a deadly weapon, a Class C felony punishable by a term of two to eight years; and resisting law enforcement, a Class D felony, punishable by a term of six months to three years.

According to police, at 9 p.m. an officer patrolling in Miller tried to stop Demmond in the area of 10th Ave. and Green Place for no license plate light. Demmond fled, however, and a pursuit ensued, in which multiple officers became involved, police said.

Eventually three officers discharged their duty weapons at the tires of Demmond’s Chevrolet Malibu and managing to flatten its tires, police said. But Demmond continued to flee, putting his Chevrolet in reverse and driving “through lawns and backyards to escape,” police said.

Demmond “narrowly missed officers who had to jump from the path of the vehicle as (Demmond) accelerated in an intentional manner to strike officers,” police said.

Then, in the area of 14th Ave. and Idaho Street, Demmond crashed into a tree and fled his vehicle on foot, until a K-9 unit, Blade, succeeded in apprehending him, police said.

“Demmond has a lengthy criminal history including drug offenses as well as fleeing the police,” police said.

Demmond was also issued a citation of no license plate light.

Posted 9/25/2012