by A South Bend man found himself in hot water after a late-night encounter with an Indiana State Trooper. The incident unfolded on Wednesday, Feb. 21, around 11 p.m. when a state police trooper pulled over a tan Chevrolet for an equipment violation near the intersection of Bendix Drive and Cleveland Road.
As the trooper approached the driver’s side of the Chevrolet, the driver suddenly hit the gas and took off, heading westbound on Cleveland Road. The chase was short-lived, however, as the driver tossed something out of the car near the intersection of Cleveland Road and Ralph Jones Drive before coming to a stop on Ralph Jones Drive.
The driver, later identified as Clifton Vortice, a 43-year-old South Bend resident, was promptly arrested. Vortice was exhibiting signs of drug intoxication during the encounter and was taken to the hospital for a certified test, with results still pending.
A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a bag containing approximately 15 grams of suspected ecstasy that Vortice allegedly threw out during the pursuit. Additionally, troopers found what appeared to be marijuana inside the car.
Vortice was charged with a laundry list of offenses, including Dealing a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Obstruction of Justice, Resisting Law Enforcement, Driving While Suspended-Prior, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia, and Operating While Intoxicated. He was then transported to the St. Joseph County Jail to await further legal proceedings.
The incident took place in the bustling city of South Bend, where law enforcement officials work tirelessly to keep the community safe from criminal activities. This serves as a reminder of the importance of obeying traffic laws and cooperating with law enforcement officers to ensure public safety.
