Multiple law enforcement agencies in LaPorte County recently targeted known sex offenders before Halloween.
The operation, coined “Shock-toberfest,” sent officers from the Michigan City and LaPorte Police, LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, and the Michigan City Fugitive Apprehension Team to check the addresses of registered sex offenders.
Reasons for making the visits were two-pronged: to check compliance with the requirements of the Sex Offender Registry and to strongly discourage convicted offenders from participation in Halloween activities.
Officers targeted 84 individuals during “Shock-toberfest,” with one man arrested for non-compliance. Zhavaun Savado, 22, of Michigan City is facing a Level 6 Felony charge of Failure to Register.
A total of five others were found to be non-compliant. Arrest warrants are being sought in the cases. Officers say two of them were described as convicted sex offenders, and two others were considered offenders against children. LaPorte County Sheriff’s Officials say they want to arrest the individuals before children are walking community streets for Halloween.
Parents and guardians of children participating in Trick-or-Treat activities are encouraged to visit the OffenderWatch website. It may be accessed through the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department and shows registered sex offenders who live within a certain radius of a given address.
