Detectives with the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department are investigating an incident of criminal mischief that occurred at the Kingsbury Industrial Park.
Police say that a fire hydrant was opened sometime between 11:30 p.m. and midnight on Friday, March 20 and water ran out of the hydrant for several hours. Officials from the Kingsbury Utility Corporation estimate that more than 300,000 gallons of water flooded the area around the Bye-Mo’r business on Fourth Line Road. The business did not suffer any damage. Deliveries could not be made to or from the business due to a flooded loading dock, according to the news release.
Detectives say that whoever is responsible disrupted a public utility as the Kingsbury Utility Corporation is a supplier of water for area fire departments. Tampering with that supply could lead to a tragedy if firefighters needed fire suppression in the event of an emergency. Businesses in the industrial park also rely on that water supply in order to conduct day-to-day operations.
LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd encourages anyone with information to call Detective Aaron Banic at (219) 326-7700 ext. 2407. Information can also be delivered anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-342-STOP. Crime Stoppers will pay a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of individuals in this incident.
