Thursday night at approximately 11:30 pm, Mt. Carmel Police attempted to stop an orange vehicle for multiple traffic violations on Walnut Street. The vehicle failed to stop and continued into Indiana on Highway 64.

Gibson County authorities were notified while the officer, with the assistance of a Wabash County Deputy, continued to pursue. The suspect driver primarily drove on the secondary roads in the East Mt. Carmel, Lyle Station and the Patoka area while still failing to stop. Gibson County authorities took over the pursuit and were able to deploy stop sticks to stop the vehicle in the Patoka area.

The driver was found to be Michael I. Perkins, age 52, currently of East Mt. Carmel, to be the driver. Perkins was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail.

Mt. Carmel Police will seek an arrest warrant for Perkins for Aggravated Fleeing and Attempting to Elude and Driving While License Revoked as well as other potential charges.

In May 2022, Perkins pled guilty to Delivery of Methamphetamine in Wabash County from a 2020 case and was placed into the Wabash County Drug Court program.

MCPD Chief Mike McWilliams said, “The Mt. Carmel Police sincerely thank all Gibson County law enforcement agencies that assisted along with the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office. Due to the mutual teamwork on this incident, we were able to reach a safe conclusion while keeping the public safe”.