A man accused of leading police on a chase that ended with him being shot by police near Perley Primary Center in South Bend has been charged by prosecutors.
Joseph Stambaugh was charged Monday with 5 counts, including Operating a Motor Vehicle After a Lifetime Suspension of Driving Privileges, Resisting Law Enforcement and Possession of Cocaine Within 1000 Feet of School Property.
Prosecutors say Stambaugh remains hospitalized and they can not speculate when he will be released. When he is released from the hospital, prosecutors say he'll be taken to jail where he will be eligible for bond.
Prosecutors say the St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit is investigating whether the shooting by police were justified.
According to police documents Stambaugh was pulled over on South Bend Avenue Saturday evening and gave the officer a fake name.
That's when a second officer arrived and Stambaugh took off.
Officers chased him and that's when police say he rammed two squad cars with officers inside.
Documents show one officer got out of the car and yelled at Stambaugh to stop.
Instead, police say he hit the gas and that's when officers opened fire on the vehicle.
Police say, Stambaugh's car finally stopped when he hit the sign in front of Perley Elementary school.
Inside, officers say they found cocaine and pot.
Court documents show all of this happened while Stambaugh was driving on a license that was suspended for life.
When we spoke with Stambaugh's brother, Jeremy, he said he doesn't believe Joseph purposely rammed the police cars.
He says his brother would never do that and that he's a good person.
"He's not a model citizen, he doesn't go and give to charity and all that, but he's not a bad guy either," says Jeremy Stambaugh.
FOX 28 received Stambaugh's arrest history.
He's been arrested more than 20 times on more than 50 charges since 1994.
His charges cover a number of things including traffic violations, drug possession, motor vehicle theft, and resisting arrest.
Courtesy: St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department
