KOSCIUSKO COUNTY, IN — Indiana State Police say a Friday morning traffic stop in Kosciusko County turned into a motorcycle pursuit and ended with a 53-year-old Claypool man being found in a cornfield. Troopers said the rider was clocked going 26 mph over the posted speed limit while on patrol in northern Indiana near Fort Wayne. When the officer tried to stop him, police said the driver slowed, made a U-turn and then sped away. The pursuit ended after the rider left the motorcycle behind and ran on foot.
How the pursuit unfolded
According to state police, the motorcycle was abandoned on the side of County Road 500 West near the intersection of County Road 900 South. From there, the suspect fled into a nearby cornfield, turning the search into a foot chase in rural terrain. Police used K-9 officers to help locate him. The man was identified as Franklin Seeley, 53, of Claypool. Troopers said he was taken into custody without further incident after being found in the field.
Charges filed by troopers
Seeley was charged with resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, resisting law enforcement and driving while suspended, Indiana State Police said. Those charges came after the attempted stop, the brief chase and the decision to flee on foot. The case centers on the sequence that began with the speeding violation and escalated when the motorcyclist did not stay stopped for officers. Police did not report any injuries connected to the arrest. The encounter happened early Friday morning.
Jail status after arrest
State police said Seeley was being held at the Kosciusko County Jail following his arrest. However, online jail records indicated he was no longer in custody. The source did not provide further details on whether that reflected a release, transfer or another change in status. The report also did not include information about a court appearance or attorney. As described by police, the arrest was completed without further incident once the suspect was located in the cornfield.
What the case shows
The incident highlights how a routine speeding stop can quickly become a larger enforcement effort in rural areas, where fields and open ground can give a suspect places to run. In this case, troopers relied on a patrol stop, a pursuit, a foot search and K-9 assistance to bring it to an end. The location in Kosciusko County, in northern Indiana, placed the scene in a largely rural part of the state. Police identified the suspect and the charges, but did not say whether more details would follow.
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