Vigo County—The Indiana State Police Putnamville Post is currently seeking assistance from the public to locate a person suspected of holding a female driver at gunpoint and forcing her to withdraw $400 from an ATM.

Yesterday evening (Friday) around 9:20, the 44-year-old female victim was on her way to work driving her Jeep Wrangler soft top. As she turned east on Battleford Road from Sullivan Place, she encountered a male standing and waving his arms to stop near a bridge. She attempted to dial 911 on her cell phone as she stopped, but the male quickly entered her vehicle from the passenger side, displayed an unknown handgun and struck her in the face. The male suspect took her cell phone and tossed it from the vehicle. The victim was then forced to drive to the ATM at US 41 and Harland Drive and withdraw the cash. During the ATM visit, the suspect had moved to the rear seat of the vehicle and out of view of the camera. After receiving the money, the suspect forced the victim to drive around on several southern Vigo County roadways. The victim’s vehicle then stalled because of low fuel on Colglazier Drive near the Vigo and Sullivan County line. The suspect took the keys, tossed them into the ditch, told the victim to sit there and fled northbound on foot from the vehicle. The victim sat for a few minutes then searched and found her car keys. She was able to start her vehicle and slowly travel south into Farmersburg (Sullivan County) where at 10:45p.m. she encountered Indiana State Police Trooper Brent Robinson on a traffic stop at Main Street and 3rd Street in Farmersburg. With help from the victim, Trooper Robinson was able to determine most of the route she was forced to drive as well as recovered her cell phone. A K-9 unit from the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office was able to track the suspect for some distance from the scene, but he was not located.

The suspect was described as a white male, 5’7” to 5’9”, small build, 140-155 pounds, clean shaven, rough voice, possibly in his early 20’s wearing dark pants, dark jacket, and black toboggan style cap. No other information is available concerning the handgun.

Anyone with information in this case or may have given the suspect a ride is urged to call ISP Trooper Brent Robinson at the Putnamville Post, 765-653-4114.

Assisting were several troopers from the Putnamville Post, the Vigo County and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Offices.

The investigation is ongoing and questions should be directed to ISP Sergeant Joe Watts.

Under the law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.