Terre Haute man tased and arrested after police chase

A Terre Haute man, 69-year-old Edwin B. Phillips, was arrested on Friday after a vehicle pursuit initiated by an Indiana State Police (ISP) trooper. The incident began around 6:20 p.m. when the trooper pulled over Phillips for not wearing a seatbelt on Maple Avenue near 19th Street.

Upon the stop, the trooper detected the smell of alcohol and administered several field sobriety tests, which Phillips failed. While the officer was briefly occupied retrieving equipment for the investigation, Phillips managed to lock his car doors and flee the scene in his vehicle. This initiated a short pursuit through the alleys of Terre Haute.

The chase concluded when Phillips stopped behind a residence and exited his vehicle. Despite the trooper's repeated commands for him to stop, Phillips attempted to walk away, prompting the officer to deploy a taser to subdue him. Following the taser strike, Phillips was taken into custody but resisted by lunging and kicking at the officer.

After being apprehended, Phillips was transported to a local hospital for medical clearance before being booked at the Vigo County Jail. He is facing several preliminary charges, including operating a vehicle while intoxicated, resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, battery against a public safety official, and resisting law enforcement.

The event highlights ongoing issues with impaired driving and the challenges law enforcement faces in ensuring public safety.