Monroe County sheriff: Armed, dangerous suspect at large, fled through airport then to Greene County, seeking tips from public

Monroe County sheriff’s deputies and other area law enforcement officers are still looking for a suspect they pursued westward, through the county airport and out of the county, in a car chase the afternoon of Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025 (Christmas Day).

The suspect should be treated as armed and dangerous, according to a news release issued early Friday evening.

The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information about the identity and location of the suspect, or with video footage, to send email to mbrowning@co.monroe.in.us.

The chase started around a quarter to five on Thursday afternoon in the vicinity of South Rogers Street and South Rockport Road, according to the release. That’s when sheriff’s deputies spotted a Black Chevy Equinox that had been reported stolen to the Bloomington police department on Wednesday.

The driver of the Equinox refused to yield when deputies attempted a traffic stop, setting off the chase, which headed to the west side of Monroe County, according to the release. At West Gifford and South Kirby Road, the Equinox went straight through the intersection and into the main entrance of the Monroe County Airport, according to the release.

The driver of the stolen vehicle then drove through an interior security gate near the control tower and headed onto the tarmac, then left airport property by driving through the fence along Kirby Road.

Deputies continued the pursuit of the stolen vehicle as it went into Greene County. Deputies tried unsuccessfully to deploy tire deflation devices, according to the release, and then lost sight of the Equinox. That’s when the pursuit ended, according to the release.

Deputies ended up locating the stolen Equinox with no one inside, behind a residence on East State Road 54 in Greene County. A Bloomington police dog was used to try to track the suspect, without success. Bloomington police took the Equinox as a part of their stolen vehicle investigation from the day before, according to the release.

An update received by Monroe County from the Greene County sheriff’s office said that the suspect may have stolen a Ford F250 and might also have a firearm. The suspect is to be treated as armed and dangerous, according to the Monroe County news release.