Danville Police say an investigation has determined there were no explosive materials in a car which crashed Friday during a police chase. The pursuit was initiated by Indiana State Police in Warren County, Indiana. Authorities had been seeking 34-year-old Michael A. Scuteri of Lafayette, who was a suspect in an arson case involving a home in Warren County.
The chase involved numerous police agencies before the suspect vehicle crashed into a concrete retaining wall in front of a church at East Main and Buchanan in Danville.
Quick action of Danville Firefighters when the suspect vehicle burst into flames allowed police to extract Scuteri from the unit. Although Scuteri suffered some burns they are not considered life-threatening according to Danville Police Commander Joshua Webb. The Commander added that earlier online and social media reports that the vehicle exploded from a bomb have proven to be inaccurate and misleading.
Once Scuteri is released from the hospital he will first face charges in Indiana, including arson and resisting arrest. Scuteri also faces charges – including aggravated fleeing and various other traffic offenses in Vermilion County, Illinois.
