UNIONVILLE, Ind. — A man who was sought by Bloomington police for theft charges was arrested after trying to escape policy by swimming away in a lake on Friday morning.
On October 13, 2023 around 4:00 a.m., deputies with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office conducted a warrant service at a house in the 8700 block of E. Midview Drive in Unionville for 37-year-old Matthew Fischman.
Fischman had active warrants for misdemeanor theft in Monroe County and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement in Marion County, according to police.
Deputies reported they saw Fischman in a vehicle on Southshore Drive. Fishman allegedly refused to stop when police tried to initiate a traffic stop and a pursuit ensued.
That pursuit traveled into Brown County along Southshore Drive and came back into Monroe County on E. State Road 45.
Fischman abruptly turned onto Shuffle Creek Road from East State Road 45 and as a result, one squad car sustained minor damage.
As Fischman was turning onto Southshore Drive from Shuffle Creek Road, police claimed he swung too wide and had to back up to complete his turn. As he accelerated in reverse, he struck two additional squad cars.
Fischman then escaped through a window and began swimming away in Lake Lemon, according to police.
Deputies claim they called for Monroe Fire Protection District’s boat for a water retrieval as Fischman tried to swim away. They also said they constructed a throwing device for Fischman as he began to exhibit signs of struggling in the water and he was rescued to the shore.
Fischman was medically evaluated and taken into the Monroe County Correctional Center on the following charges:
- Battery By Means of a Deadly Weapon - Level 5 Felony
- Two Counts Resisting Law Enforcement w/ Vehicle - Level 5 Felony
- Resisting Law Enforcement - Class A Misdemeanor
- Driving While Suspended - Class A Misdemeanor
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident - Class B Misdemeanor
- Reckless Driving - Class C Misdemeanor
- Two warrants Monroe and Marion County
One additional squad car received damage from a deer during the pursuit. Four squad cars sustained damage in total.
All damage was minor and there were no injuries from any involved party reported, BPD claimed.
