A Hammond man is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after a routine traffic stop in Schererville escalated into a high-speed, multi-agency pursuit that ended with a crash and a foot chase through Wicker Park.
Artavius Jerome Drew, 22, was stopped by police around 9:39 p.m. on January 26 after officers observed a 2023 Mercedes C300 speeding, weaving in traffic, following another vehicle too closely, and displaying an obscured license plate. When officers attempted to conduct the stop, they detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
Police said Drew claimed he did not have his driver’s license and denied having any weapons. As officers illuminated the vehicle, Drew began reaching under the driver’s seat. When instructed to stop and exit the vehicle, he instead fled at a high rate of speed, nearly striking an officer as he accelerated away.
The pursuit continued through multiple jurisdictions, including Griffith, Highland, and Munster. Stop sticks deployed by Griffith police damaged the vehicle’s tires, but Drew continued fleeing, at times exceeding 100 mph, running red lights, and narrowly avoiding collisions with other vehicles.
Near Ridge Road, Drew turned off his headlights while traveling at speeds over 90 mph. The chase ended in the 2100 block of Ridge Road when he lost control of the vehicle, striking a curb and a fire hydrant, causing significant damage.
After the crash, Drew exited the vehicle and ran through Wicker Park, ignoring commands to stop. Officers pursued him on foot, and after he fell, a taser was used to take him into custody.
During the foot chase, police said Drew threw a backpack that was later recovered and found to contain a large quantity of marijuana. Officers also located additional marijuana packaging materials and a second cellphone inside the vehicle. The recovered marijuana weighed approximately 219 grams.
Drew was taken to a hospital for evaluation before being transported to the Lake County Jail.
Charges filed on January 28, 2026, include multiple counts of dealing marijuana, resisting law enforcement, criminal mischief, reckless driving, and other related offenses. Several traffic citations were also issued in connection with the incident.