A suspect in a trio of armed robberies was apprehended Tuesday night near Greensburg after a shoot-out with police.

An employee at the Batesville Shell gas station close to I-74 reported a robbery during a 911 call at about 9:15 p.m. Nov. 3.

It was reported by the passenger of the vehicle driven by Dustin Wise, 27, Fortville, that they had stopped there so the passenger could use the restroom, said Batesville Detective Mike Benjamin.

After the passenger left the store, Wise entered and he also used the restroom. Then Wise “brandished a handgun, demanding money, and left with an undetermined amount,” reported Batesville Maj. Jeff Thielking.

The alleged robber “walked calmly to his vehicle (and left) ... without the passenger having any knowledge of the crime,” Benjamin explained.

The duo headed west on I-74 in a small dark-colored vehicle, according to the Batesville Police Department news release.

An Indiana State Police trooper and two Greensburg police officers positioned themselves on the highway, hoping to spot the vehicle matching that description that was involved not just in the Batesville crime, but possibly two Dearborn County robberies earlier that evening, said Sgt. Noel Houze, Indiana State Police Versailles District public information officer.

An armed robbery occurred at Whitey’s Liquor Store, Greendale, at 6:42 p.m., according to Greendale Sgt. Kendle Davis. Employees told him “a white male came into the store and displayed a handgun and asked for all the cash in the register .... (he) made off with a total of $342,” heading west in a black vehicle, the news release stated.

Lawrenceburg police responded to the Whitey’s Liquor Store there at 7:20 p.m. “After making a purchase, the suspect took a handgun out from his pocket and placed it on the counter,” making the same demand, reported Detective Jeremy Shepherd. After grabbing the cash, he fled westbound on U.S. 50.

About five minutes after the Batesville crime was reported, a Greensburg officer got behind the suspected vehicle. As they traveled westbound on I-74, the other Greensburg officer and the trooper joined the pursuit, Houze reported. “Officers attempted to make a traffic stop near Greensburg on I-74. The suspect vehicle exited at State Road 3 and continued north. At approximately 9:27 p.m. the suspect vehicle stopped” about 2 miles north of the city near County Road 400 North.

Then officers found themselves on the receiving end of gunfire coming from inside the car, said Greensburg Police Chief Brian Heaton. Immediately, they began returning fire. “We’re not releasing the names of the officers” who fired shots, Houze said, but he believed both the trooper and one Greensburg policeman were involved. None of the officers were injured during the confrontation.

The vehicle’s passenger exited, immediately complied with the officer’s orders and was taken into custody.

Houze noted, “As officers approached the driver’s side of the vehicle, they could see the driver had suffered an apparent gunshot wound.” Wise was transported by Decatur County EMS to Decatur County Memorial Hospital, Greensburg, and later helicoptered to Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, where he remained in critical condition Wednesday afternoon.

Houze said investigators were not revealing where or how many times Wise was shot. The Batesville major said it was initially unclear if his injury was self-inflicted or caused by a police bullet.

As the investigation continued into Wednesday’s early morning hours, police determined the passenger, a friend of Wise’s who lives near Fortville, had not been involved in any of the robberies and he was released, Houze said.

Batesville police are investigating the gas station incident. Indiana State Police are looking into the officer-involved shooting.

No charges have been filed, Benjamin said late Wednesday.

If he survives, where will Wise be tried in court? Thielking answered, “He has to answer to the charges in each county separately.”