Juvenile Charged with Burglary and Theft

 
 
A 14-year-old boy has been charged with burglary and theft after an incident over the weekend.

LaPorte police received a call that three boys were going up and down an alleyway on F Street. Upon closer observation, the victim told police that two of the boys were riding bicycles that belonged to them. They allegedly took the bicycles from the area of the victim’s garage. It was determined that the boys had entered the unlocked garage and removed two girl’s bicycles.

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Hamlet Man Arrested on Sexual Assault Charges

William T. McGrath
William T. McGrath

A Hamlet man was arrested early Sunday in an alleged attempted sexual assault incident in LaPorte.

The victim told police that a knock on her door woke her up. She answered the door and saw William T. McGrath, 48, of Hamlet standing there. She told police that she recently met him. McGrath allegedly asked the victim if he would stay at her home as he was too intoxicated to drive home. She allowed him to stay.

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LaPorte Officers Investigate Armed Robbery

 
 
Officers from the LaPorte City Police Department are investigating an armed robbery at an apartment complex Sunday afternoon.

The victim told police that he was returning home from work and was walking up to his apartment when two African-American men confronted him. The two men displayed handguns. The men ordered the victim up to his apartment and once inside, the suspects stole a laptop computer, a cellphone, car keys and cash.

The suspects then left the scene in a black or silver Dodge station wagon.

If you have information regarding this crime, call the LaPorte City Police Department at (219)362-9446. You may also submit an anonymous tip by going online to www.lpcitypd.com.

LaPorte PD Welcomes New K9 Unit

 
 
The LaPorte City Police Department last week welcomed a new member to their ranks: Rambo, the department’s new police K9, will assist them in a variety of tasks including tracking, criminal apprehension, drug detection, and other jobs as well. Rambo hails from Shallow Creek Kennels in western Pennsylvania but must undergo a six-week training course before hitting the streets.

The K9 is a 13-month-old German Shepherd, and while that may sound young, he has been trained as a dual-purpose police service dog. Both he and his handler, Specialist Matt Drangmeister, will under go the training course in early October and, if they both pass, will take to the streets in the fight against crime and drugs.

Police Agencies Report Successful Impaired Driving Blitz

 
 

The LaPorte City Police Department and the Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership recently wrapped up the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

Officers from the Knox, North Judson and Hamlet Police Departments, plus the Starke County Sheriff’s Department wrote 63 citations, arrested six on Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated charges, and made eight other criminal arrests. Coordinator Dave Combs from the Knox City Police Department noted that officers worked 136 hours in extra patrols to keep the roadways safe from impaired drivers.

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Hang up on Robocalls

  
 
A new scam is hitting the phone lines that promotes a safety alert system for older adults and diabetics.

When the spammer calls, they spoof a phone number so it looks like a local call on caller ID. A message will come over the phone that alerts you about your eligibility for an alert system, an upgrade, or that someone has purchased a system for you.

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Persistent Juvenile Trespasser Arrested in LaPorte

 
 
A 17-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of criminal trespass after employees of the NIPSCO facility in LaPorte reported the suspect had been escorted off the property multiple times. According to the report, on Monday, Aug. 26, around 7:11 p.m., police responded to the facility at 1501 State Road 2 West to investigate a report of a young male who had been observed inside the fenced-in compound area.

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LaPorte Police Respond to Domestic Battery Incident

 
 
LaPorte city police responded to a complaint of domestic battery at an apartment complex at Country Acres Apartments Monday morning. According to the report, police arrived at the complex around 11:24 a.m. and learned that the victim had gotten into an argument with her ex-boyfriend, which allegedly resulted in him throwing her to the floor and pressing his forearm against her throat. The victim also said he covered her mouth with his hand and punched her in the head.

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LaPorte Police Investigating Two Weekend Incidents

 
 
LaPorte police are investigating two reports of criminal misbehavior in the area that occurred sometime over the weekend. Sometime between the dates of Friday, Aug. 23 and Monday, Aug. 26, an unknown number of suspects entered a vehicle and stole the faceplate from a stereo, and during the same time period, vandals also damaged the rear steel delivery door at Dairy Queen.

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LaPorte Officers Respond to Marijuana Complaint, Infant Found in Environment

 
 
LaPorte city police responded to a complaint of the smell of burnt marijuana emitting from an apartment at 701 Maple Ave. and found that a two month old child was in the environment.

Police were able to determine from which apartment the odor was originating and knocked on the door. The occupants turned down the music playing and locked the door. Officers reportedly heard people scurrying inside the apartment.

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Police Arrest Two Suspects in Storage Facility Burglary

 
 
Two people were arrested in LaPorte for allegedly stealing items from a storage facility. According to the police report, on Monday, Aug. 19, around 9:27 a.m., police responded to Cedar Chest Storage facility at 701 J St. to investigate a reported burglary in progress involving two people who had been seen taking items from storage units and placing them in a red truck.

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Chicago Man Arrested in LaPorte For Intimidation, Resisting Arrest

 
 
After ignoring a warning from police who told him not to operate an off-road motorbike on city streets, Larry Ballard, 25 of Chicago, was stopped a second time in LaPorte around 7:58 p.m. on Tuesday. Ballard reportedly began to yell profanities at the officer issuing him a traffic citation, and when he was issued a disorderly conduct warning, he continued to yell and resisting arrest.

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Witness Chases Off Wheel Cover Thieves at Great Deals on Wheels

 
 

A man reportedly chased off suspects who had been attempting to steal the chrome wheel center covers off of a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado that was parked on the sales lot at Great Deals on Wheels. According to the police report, officers spoke with the witness who told them he walked into the car lot and observed a male underneath the truck and two other males taking the center cap covers off the chrome wheels. There was a fourth suspect that was hidden behind another vehicle, and he ran off when spotted by the witness.

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LaPorte City Police Department Investigates Three Overdose Cases

police badge
 
The LaPorte City Police Department was called to three teen overdoses on Friday.

In one incident, police responded to a home in the 1000 block of Harrison Street for an 18-year-old male who was found lying unresponsive on the bathroom floor. He was breathing and was transported by EMS to IU Health LaPorte Hospital for treatment. Various types of drug paraphernalia and evidence of prescription medication were found in the bathroom.

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LaPorte Woman Loses Nearly $2000 in Internet Scam

  
 

A LaPorte woman fell victim to an internet scam and lost nearly $2,000 in the process.

The victim told LaPorte police that she met a man on the “Zoosk” dating website who identified himself as “John Douglas Frank.” In early July, the suspect advised the victim he was moving to South Africa for a job and asked the victim for money to send his friend and she would be reimbursed. The victim sent two Paypal cards and three Western Union money orders totaling $1,985 to a “Darren Foster” in Florida.

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Two Young Girls In Custody on Stolen Property Charges

 
 
Over $1,067 in stolen property has been recovered and charges have been filed against two 12-year-old girls.

LaPorte City Police responded to a complaint of two young girls breaking into vehicles. When they arrived at West 10th and K Streets in the area of the Roselawn apartment complex, the officers reportedly found two girls carrying large bags and one had a large amount of cash hanging out of her shirt.

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