On June 10, 2026, at 1311 hours, an officer in the Fort Wayne Police Department’s Traffic Unit observed a vehicle speeding and began a pursuit.
Fort Wayne Police Department incident report:
Date: June 10, 2026
Locations:
- Near the intersection of South Clinton Street and East Oakdale Drive, Fort Wayne, Indiana
- the intersection of South Clinton Street and East Foster Parkway, Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Villages of Hanna, near Reed and Creighton Avenue, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Time: 1311 hours
Suspect Arrested: David Lee Smilton II (23 years old) Fort Wayne
Preliminary Charges:
- Resisting Law Enforcement Fleeing in a vehicle – Felony Level 6
- Residential Entry – Felony Level 6
- Resisting Law enforcement (fleeing on foot) – Class A Misdemeanor
- Leaving the scene of an accident – Class B Misdemeanor
- Reckless Driving Unreasonably High Speeds – Class C Misdemeanor
- Unlicensed Driver – Class C Misdemeanor
Active Warrants for Arrest for:
- Elect Monitor Non-Compliance – Class A Misdemeanor
- Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun – Class A Misdemeanor
Details/Summary:
On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at approximately 1:11 p.m., an officer assigned to the Fort Wayne Police Department Traffic Enforcement Unit observed a gray Toyota Avalon traveling southbound on Clinton Street near Oakdale [sic] Avenue (Drive) at 58 mph in a posted 35 mph zone. The vehicle was also observed making unsafe lane changes.
The officer initiated a traffic stop; however, the driver refused to stop and fled. A vehicle pursuit was initiated, with speeds reaching nearly 90 mph. During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle sideswiped another vehicle and continued fleeing the scene without stopping.
The pursuit concluded in the Villages of Hanna area, where the suspect exited the vehicle and fled on foot into an apartment building. The suspect then entered an apartment and jumped from a second-story window in an attempt to evade officers.
Officers later located the suspect south of the Villages of Hanna after he entered a residence that was not his through an unlocked front door. Once inside, the suspect barricaded himself in the attic.
Due to the barricaded suspect, the Fort Wayne Police Department’s Emergency Services Team (EST), Crisis Response Team (CRT), and Air Support Unit (ASU) were called to assist. After an extended incident, the suspect exited the residence and was taken into custody without further incident. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained while fleeing from police and was later transported to the Allen County Jail.
Download the FWPD news release.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
All information is preliminary and subject to change during the course of the investigation.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Fort Wayne Police Department at 427-1201, Crime Stoppers at 436-7867, or use the free “P3 Tips” app.
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