Man arrested after firing shots at officer in South Bend, driving off

SOUTH BEND — A man was arrested on suspicion of firing gunshots at an officer during a Sept. 29 encounter in South Bend.

It happened while the Indiana State Excise officer was working a special detail at local convenience stores, according to a news release from Indiana State Police, which is now investigating the shooting.

The officer was following the suspect, who was driving a silver vehicle — possibly a late 90s Honda Civic — about 9:30 p.m. northeast on Rockne Drive. The suspect then led police to the intersection of Rockne Drive Drive and North Jacob Street, where he got out of his vehicle.

He then fired several shots at the front of a vehicle driven by the officer. The officer returned fire, at which point the suspend fled on foot and sped off in the silver vehicle. The officer did not chase the suspect.

Police have said they weren't sure whether the suspect was wounded during the exchange of gunfire. The officer was not injured.

On Oct. 4, ISP announced that a 20-year-old South Bend man had been arrested following an investigation. Evidence led officers to a Mishawaka apartment, where they served a warrant and took the suspect into custody on suspicion of attempted murder.

He was taken to St. Joseph County Jail.