Vigo County---Around 11:30 this morning, members of the US Marshal’s Service Fugitive Task Force consisting of officers from the US Marshal’s Service, Indiana State Police, and the Terre Haute Police Department, were in the area of 25th Street and Ohio Boulevard looking for a man wanted on a Vigo County Division 6 warrant for Failure to Appear. The suspect allegedly failed to appear in court for four counts of Fraud on a Financial Institution, Class C felony.

Arrested: Shawn Michael Bass, age 25, of Terre Haute, IN. In addition to the original fraud charges, Bass will be preliminarily charged with felony Resisting Law Enforcement as a result of the fleeing from law enforcement in a vehicle. The bond on the fraud charges was $10,000. The additional bond amount is unknown at this time.

As the officers were in the area looking for Bass, they spotted him exit a residence near 25th Street and Ohio Boulevard at 11:45AM, and get into the driver’s seat of a white, 1998, Plymouth, Breeze 4-door. Indiana State Police Sergeant Chris Effner attempted to stop the vehicle with his emergency lighting and siren. The white Plymouth fled northbound on 25th Street and across Wabash Avenue. Bass allegedly traveled onto various side streets and alleyways before crashing into a tree at the rear of 2407 1st Avenue at 11:49AM. Bass then fled on foot northeast from the crash and in between several houses. Bass was apprehended moments later by ISP Sergeant Chris Effner and Terre Haute Police Officer Ted Lemke. Bass was transported to the Vigo County Jail for incarceration.

Two other males in the car were briefly detained and later released with no charges pending. No injuries or other damage to property was reported. The maximum reported speed of the chase was 50 miles-per-hour and traveled over an estimated ten to twelve block area.

The crash was investigated by ISP Master Trooper Jason Owen. Assisting in the pursuit and apprehension were various ISP troopers and officers from the Terre Haute Police Department.

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty