Two Arrested During Crackdown on Snowmobile Violations in Southern LaPorte County

 

A crackdown on snowmobile violations in southern LaPorte County led to two arrests Friday night. Indiana Conservation Officers, LaPorte County Police, and Westville Police saturated the area of U.S. 421 and County Road 375 South, after a group of snowmobile riders allegedly went there after fleeing from Conservation Officers around 10:30 p.m.

Matthew Clark, 38, of Valparaiso was arrested, after police say he failed to stop for a Westville Police officer on 400 South and turned north into a field. Police from all three departments soon had the field surrounded and Clark surrendered, according to Conservation Officers. He was booked into the LaPorte County Jail on a felony charge of resisting law enforcement with a motor vehicle, as well as misdemeanor charges of operating while intoxicated and operating a snowmobile under the influence of alcohol.

Meanwhile, Virgil Goin, 27, of Portage was arrested on misdemeanor charges, after officers say they found him with his snowmobile ski stuck to a road sign. Police believe he was intoxicated when he crashed the snowmobile into the sign.

Friday’s concentrated patrol effort was organized in response to several complaints from landowners, as well as a number of recent incidents involving impaired snowmobile riders and snowmobiles fleeing from police.