At 3:48 p.m. on Friday, Noblesville police officers responded to the Home Depot, located at 3300 Conner St., in reference to a report of an alleged theft occurring inside the store.
Officers quickly arrived on the scene and attempted to make contact with the alleged suspect in the parking lot. A few moments later the suspect reportedly got into a waiting vehicle and fled from officers.
Ratliff
Lechner
Officers reported pursuing the suspect westbound on Conner Street and then southbound on State Road 37. Officers indicated that the suspect stopped his vehicle on southbound SR 37, just north of Greenfield Avenue, and witnessed a male suspect flee on foot into a nearby wooded area. A female suspect was apprehended inside the vehicle while police and police K-9 units pursued the male suspect. The male suspect was taken into custody a short time later by a police K-9 unit in the wooded area.
The male suspect was transported by ground ambulance to Riverview Health (Noblesville) and was treated for wounds he received from the K-9 unit. The subject was subsequently released from Riverview Health and transported to the Hamilton County Jail. The female suspect was also transported to the Hamilton County Jail.
The suspects were booked on the following preliminary charges:
Travis J.L. Lechner, 28, Indianapolis was charged with Theft (I.C. 35-43-4-2 [a][1][A]), Level 6 Felony; Resisting Law Enforcement w/ Vehicle (I.C. 35-44.1-3-1[b][1][A]), Level 6 Felony; and Resisting Law Enforcement (I.C. 35-44.1-3-1[a]), Level 6 Felony.
Tessa M. Ratliff, 28, Greenwood, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (I.C. 35-48-4-7), Level 6 Felony; and Possession of a Syringe (I.C. 16-42-19-18) Level 6 Felony.
A charge is merely an accusation and the defend ant(s) is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.