On 8/24/2022 at approximately 1:45pm, Mt. Carmel Police received a complaint of a suspicious blue Chrysler van with Kentucky registration parked on 3rd & Cherry Street, near Mt. Carmel High School and occupied by a white male. The complainant asked the individual if he needed assistance, but the driver denied assistance and claimed his vehicle was overheated. The complainant then reported the individual to the Mt Carmel Police Department. An officer arrived in the area to investigate further when the van drove away upon seeing the police approach by vehicle.
Shortly after that, an officer conducted a traffic stop in the 100 block of W 5th Street due to a traffic violation and to further investigate the complaint. The driver would not provide any information about his identity and was verbally aggressive with the officer. At one point, the driver opened the driver’s door aggressively and struck the officer before eventually fleeing towards Walnut Street in his van.
A pursuit ensued into Indiana but ended near the East Mt. Carmel area due to the van running out of gas. Officers attempted to gain compliance by ordering the driver away from the vehicle; however, he refused to obey the officer’s commands, standing next to his vehicle with the door open and one hand still inside the van. The male then released a pit bull dog from his van that aggressively charged toward the officer resulting in the officer discharging his firearm when the dog came within a few feet.
The male subject then began to move across the highway, still disobeying officer commands. The male subject was then tased and taken into custody. Officer’s later realized the male was armed with a 9-inch knife that fell to the ground. Officers were then able to secure the subject in handcuffs.
During this time, Dickerson made a statement that he was going to kill the police officers. It is with sadness to report that the dog could not be saved from the gunshot injury.
The subject’s identity was found to be Lonnie L. Dickerson, age 53, currently from Princeton, Indiana, who was transported to the Wabash County Jail after refusing medical treatment. Dickerson was charged with Aggravated Battery to a Peace Officer, Aggravated Fleeing and Attempting to Elude, and Resisting a Peace Officer, along with several traffic citations.
Dickerson provided no reason for his resistive behavior or why he released the dog at the officer when the police stopped him. Another dog in the vehicle was later taken to the animal shelter.
MCPD was assisted by the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office, Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, Owensville Police Department, Wabash County Animal Control, and the Wabash General Ambulance Service.
