NEWS

Crash leads to heroics, arrest

Douglas Walker
dwalker@muncie.gannett.com

MUNCIE – As city police tell it, it's a story with both a hero and a villain.

Authorities are crediting a Muncie man's quick response in saving an infant from a vehicle that had landed on its roof in Muncie Creek Wednesday afternoon.

City police Sgt. James Lenox said the baby, yet to celebrate a birthday, could have drowned but for the efforts of 25-year-old Brandon Brooks.

The infant and a 13-year-old girl who was also in the car when it flipped into the creek were treated at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital for minor injuries.

According to Lenox, the baby and teen had been in the Grand Prix outside a home in the northeastside Morningside neighborhood, apparently waiting for the grandmother of at least one of the children.

About 4:40 p.m., the police sergeant said, 27-year-old Brent Allen South allegedly jumped behind the wheel of the car and drove off with the children inside. South's reckless driving was blamed for the car leaving the street on a curve and landing in the creek.

Witnesses said South escaped from the partially submerged car and fled on foot. He was later captured in the same neighborhood, where residents were helpful in providing possible suggestions about his whereabouts, Lenox said.

South was also taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries, and was then to be taken to the Delaware County jail, likely to face charges of leaving the scene of an accident and driving while suspended causing bodily injury, among others.

Investigators were trying to determine what connection, if any, South had to the vehicle's owner.

Authorities have dealt with South before. Since 2012, he had been convicted of possession of cocaine and driving while intoxicated.

In pending cases, he is charged with possession of a narcotic drug, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, false informing, conversion and criminal mischief.

Contact news reporter Douglas Walker at (765) 213-5851. You can also follow him on Twitter @DouglasWalkerSP.