After allegedly reporting a ‘cat running across the ramp’ as the cause for a single-vehicle crash, a North Judson man was reportedly arrested on multiple charges Thursday evening.
According to authorities, around 9:20 p.m. on Thursday, April 18th, Indiana State Police Trooper William Carlson responded to a single vehicle crash on I-94 east bound to the Porter/Chesterton exit (U.S. 20 exit ramp).
Trooper Carlson’s preliminary investigation into the incident apparently revealed that 23-year-old David R. Sutphin of North Judson was driving a 2009 Saturn when he lost control on the ramp and went into a ditch.
Upon talking with Sutphin, police report that he initially provided the cat excuse stated above before another statement for the crash gave indicators of impairment.
The Trooper conducted a certified Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE), which is a type of law enforcement officer training that assists in recognizing impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs, other than, or in addition to alcohol. The results of the DRE evaluation on Sutphin allegedly indicated and showed impairment.
The vehicle’s 20-year-old female passenger, also of North Judson, was said to have a medical emergency. The passenger, who is unnamed in the crash report, was revived by responding personnel from Chesterton EMS. She was transported to Porter Regional Hospital where she was later released.
Two children, ages 10 months and 2 ½-years-old, were also in the car in child restraints at the time of the crash. The ISP report notes that the kids, who were the children of Sutphin and the female passenger, were uninjured and later released to their grandparents
Police say that Sutphin was transported and incarcerated at the Porter County Jail in Valparaiso.
The official crash report states that he was charged with two counts of the Level 6 Felony of neglect of a dependent, one count of the Level 6 Felony of operating while intoxicated with a passenger less than 18-years of age, the Class C Misdemeanor of OWI/ controlled substance and the Class A Misdemeanor of OWI endangerment.
The ramp was closed for approximately an hour for the crash and criminal investigation and removal of the car and passenger. Trooper Carlson was assisted by Chesterton EMS and Fire, ISP Trooper Eric Madry and Bryan Elias-Espinoza and Waffco Towing.
Readers are reminded that all criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
