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VALPARAISO — Gary resident Carl Echols not only had to watch as his proposed plea agreement and immediate release from jail were rejected Tuesday, but he also heard some humbling words from the police officer injured in his case.

"I stopped you because I’m good at recognizing criminal behavior. I caught you because I’m better than you," said Porter County Sheriff's Police Officer Paul Czupryn.

"The two worst things a policeman can be is scared and prejudiced," Czupryn said.

"If I was either of those I’d surrender my badge and my pistol. You don’t get to accuse me of either of these just because I bested you. Save your excuses for why a nearly 40-year-old policeman wearing 26 pounds of gear caught you for when you get to prison, not this courtroom."

Echols, 24, taken into custody June 30 following a vehicle and foot chase with police from Portage into Gary, according to court documents.

"I caught you," Czupryn said. "And when I was grabbing you, I blew out my knee. Then I had to wrestle you with the only thing holding on the lower part of my right leg, being one tendon and the skin — everything else being torn."