La Porte County Sheriff’s Office released details from an incident that took place Monday, resulting in an arrest.
On Monday afternoon at 3:22pm, La Porte County deputies were dispatched to the 0100 South block of US Highway 421 for a reported multi-vehicle accident.
After initial investigation, it was determined that a gold 2010 Chrysler minivan was traveling north on 421 when it rear-ended a northbound blue 2009 Lexus. Following the collision, the minivan drove left of center into the southbound lane of 421, where it then collided with a southbound white 2018 Ford.
The driver of the minivan was identified as 36-year-old Jeremy D. Catchings of Michigan City. Deputies observed at the crash scene that Catchings was impaired. When he was placed in a La Porte County EMS ambulance for treatment, he was uncooperative and argumentative. EMS eventually began the transport of Catchings to an area hospital, and after arriving requested LCSO Deputies at the hospital. Deputies arrived and learned that Catchings had threatened an EMS employee while holding a pair of scissors that he had accessed from within the ambulance.
Catchings was medically cleared and taken into custody. He was transported to the La Porte County Jail and arrested on the following charges:
Intimidation with a deadly weapon, a L5 Felony
OWI with a prior, a L6 Felony
OWI endangerment, an A-Misdemeanor
Driving while suspended with a prior, an A-Misdemeanor
Reckless driving, an A-Misdemeanor
LCSO notes that no serious injuries were sustained during the initial crash, and that US 421 was closed for approximately 1 hour for investigation and removal of wreckage.
Castings remains housed in the La Porte County Jail and is not eligible for bond.
A reminder that arrests and criminal charges are mere accusations and that every person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
