Two Dead in Accident in LaPorte County; Victim’s Family also Dead

Posted on Author WKVI
Fire crews work to put out a vehicle fire after a crash on I-94 in LaPorte County Thursday morning.

There’s more to the story of an accident that killed two people on I-94 in LaPorte County this morning.

LaPorte County Coroner John Sullivan told WKVI that one victim in the accident, 38-year-old Michael Van Der Linden of Belleville, Michigan was driving the wrong way on I-94 and hit a vehicle driven by 45-year-old Juan Nelson of Portage. The impact caused a fire that consumed both vehicles and left the bodies burned beyond recognition. Sullivan said the cause of death for both victims was blunt force trauma and thermal burns.

As Belleville, Michigan police attempted to notify the family of Michael Van Der Linden of the fatal accident, they observed the door to the family’s home open. When police entered the residence, they found that every member of Michael Van Der Linden’s family were murdered. His wife and children were found stabbed.

Investigators now are trying to piece together why Van Der Linden was in LaPorte County and if he is the suspect in the murder.

One Dead, Three in Custody Following Police Pursuit on U.S. 30 in Hobart

Posted on Author WKVI
Multiple police agencies responded to the call near U.S. 30 and Colorado Street. (Photo provided by Gloria Ballard)

A home invasion in Porter County Wednesday led police on a car and foot chase through several jurisdictions before ultimately ending in one suspect’s death and the capture of three others. According to Porter County police, the incident started when three men in a silver car robbed the home of a 52-year-old woman, battering her and stealing cash and guns. She was treated at a nearby hospital, but her neighbor pursued the suspects and kept police informed as to their location as they traveled through Hobart.

Police say the four men left the home in a silver car, heading west on U.S. 30, when they took a sharp right turn onto Colorado Street going too fast and crashed into three vehicles – one of which was an SUV driven by an FBI agent. Three of the men bailed out of the car, fleeing on foot, while the one suspect who remained in the vehicle was taken into custody.

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State Police Remind Hoosiers To Be Wary Of Burning Butts

Posted on Author WKVI

The entire state of Indiana is under severe drought conditions and the Indiana State Police would like to remind Hoosiers that most of the counties are under burn bans, including Marshall and Starke counties.

The state police warns that if a driver throws a lit cigarette, cigar, match or other burning material from a moving vehicle, they will face a Class A Infraction. Those objects can start a large fire if thrown from a vehicle while traveling, especially in these drought conditions. A littering infraction may also be issued.

Troopers will be looking for this type of activity while out on routine patrol. They ask that drivers take these statutes under consideration while on the highways and county roads.

Indiana State Police to Step up Efforts This Holiday

Posted on Author WKVI

The Indiana State Police will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) from now until July 8. Statistics show that so far this year, 36 more people have lost their lives in accidents than this same time last year.

Operation C.A.R.E. is a federally funded program and will allow approximately 150 additional troopers to patrol area roadways during the Fourth of July holiday. Troopers will be targeting impaired drivers and motorists who speed, follow too closely, make unsafe lane changes, drive aggressively or fail to use their seat belt.

Six States To Participate In DUI Enforcement Initiative

Posted on Author WKVI

A six-state project for a DUI enforcement initiative is set for June 29 and June 30, and the Indiana State Police will participate in this effort.

The high-visibility enforcement effort will help reduce DUI-related vehicle crashes. The Indiana State Police will be joined by the Kentucky State Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Pennsylvania State Police, Michigan State Police and the West Virginia State Police in this enforcement effort.

Troopers in Indiana will utilize sobriety checkpoints and high-visibility saturation patrols in an effort to deter impaired driving.

Two State Police Organizations Work To Protect Indiana’s Youth

Posted on Author WKVI

Two teams of dedicated crime-fighters have been working to protect Indiana youth by making an effort to put an end to child enticement, pornography, and other crimes. The Indiana State Police has a team of 14 motivated, dedicated, and highly-trained men and women of the Cyber Crimes and Crimes Against Children Units that focus on tracking down and putting behind bars those that prey on children online.

These specially-trained units conduct investigations involving online child enticement, both on-scene and centralized. Members of these units are also trained Digital Media Recovery Specialists, allowing them to conduct forensically-sound previews and investigations into computers, phones, and other media collected as evidence.

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One Fatality Reported In Yesterday’s Crash

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Police and first responders tend to an accident at U.S. 35 and John Street in Knox

Knox City Police responded to a two-vehicle accident on U.S. 35 and John Street Monday morning. An investigation revealed that a northbound Ford passenger car had crossed the center line, striking a southbound minivan.

Police say the passenger car was occupied by a male and female, and one male was traveling in the minivan. The driver of the passenger car was pronounced dead at the scene and the passenger was airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend in serious condition.

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Injuries Reported in Two Vehicle Accident in Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Police and first responders tend to an accident at U.S. 35 and John Street in Knox

Knox City Police officers and emergency responders were called to a two vehicle accident on U.S. 35 and John Street this morning that resulted in a fatality.

A preliminary investigation shows the driver of a passenger vehicle was traveling northbound on U.S. 35 and crossed the center line, striking a southbound mini-van. Critical injuries were sustained by the occupants in both vehicles, but the driver of the passenger vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. An Indiana State Police reconstructionist has been called to the scene to help in the investigation.

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Trooper Hit on I-94

Posted on Author WKVI
The police vehicle's driver-side door was bent and window shattered from the incident.

An Indiana State Police Trooper found himself in bit of a jam this morning when he was struck by a vehicle after he stopped to assist a stranded motorist.

Police say that at approximately 1:16 a.m., Master Trooper Jeff Council had stopped behind a disabled vehicle on I-94 eastbound, roughly 2 ½ miles west of the Michigan City exit. Both vehicles were pulled completely onto the shoulder and Council’s cruiser had all emergency lights activated as he got out of his car to approach the disabled vehicle.

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State Police Release Meth Lab Seizure Stats For 2011

Posted on Author WKVI

The Indiana State Police recently released statistics of methamphetamine lab seizures in the state for 2011.

With 24 seizures, Starke County had the most in Area 1 District 13, followed by Pulaski and Jasper counties reporting eight, LaPorte County with seven and Lake and Porter counties with five each. In Area 2 District 24, Marshall County had 41, Kosciusko County had 58, and Elkhart County had 71.

The county with the most dismantled methamphetamine labs by state police officers in 2011 is Vanderburgh County with 72. There were no meth labs seized in Warren County.

Three Arrested In Marshall County Following Four-Month Investigation

Posted on Author WKVI

Three suspects were arrested in Marshall County as a result of a four-month undercover narcotics investigation.

Around 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 21, the Undercover Narcotics Investigation Team of Marshall County executed a search warrant at 15572 Cook Lake Trail. Multiple items associated with the manufacturing of methamphetamine were found in the residence.

Terry Kovacs, Jr., Christa Padilla, and Jenny Heeton were arrested as a result of the search on charges related to the manufacturing of methamphetamine. The team was assisted by the Marshall County Police, Bremen Police, Plymouth Police, and Indiana State Police.

Indiana State Police to Conduct Sobriety Checkpoint

Posted on Author WKVI

The Lowell District of the Indiana State Police has announced plans to conduct a sobriety checkpoint during the late evening hours in Jasper County on Wednesday, May 23. Drivers who encounter the checkpoint will be required to produce a valid license and registration, and if all information is correct and officers find no reason for detainment, they will be released. Motorists that are not impaired can expect short delays of two to three minutes while passing through the checkpoint.

Troopers encourage all motorists to call 911 or the closest Indiana State Police Post when they observe a driver that they feel maybe be impaired. Be prepared to give a description of the vehicle, location, and direction of travel.

The Indiana State Police is committed to traffic safety and they have announced they will continue saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints in an effort to apprehend impaired drivers and deter others from drinking and driving.

Click It Or Ticket Campaign To Begin May 18

Posted on Author WKVI

Indiana State Police Troopers announced their involvement in a seat belt enforcement blitz that begins May 18.

This national mobilization will take place over the Memorial Day holiday when more than 250 law enforcement agencies will conduct special seat belt patrols, day and night, and will identify and ticket unrestrained motorists and passengers. The blitz will end June 3.

“Click It or Ticket” has been credited with increasing Indiana’s seat belt usage rate from 63 percent in 1995 to an observed usage rate of 93 percent in 2011. In 2011, 3322 crashes occurred that involved unrestrained motorists and passengers and 202 fatalities. Police say statistics show wearing your seat belt increases your chances of surviving a crash by more than 50 percent.

North Judson-San Pierre Student Dies

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson-San Pierre student body is experiencing the loss of one of their own today. Superintendent Lynn Johnson made the announcement today (Thursday) at Noon.

“We are very saddened by the death of one of our students,” said Mrs. Johnson. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and their loss. Right now, our focus is assisting our students, staff and families during this difficult time.”

The school is not releasing the name of the student and an investigation into the student’s death is being conducted by the Starke County Coroner and the Indiana State Police.

Funeral arrangements are pending with the O’Donnell Funeral Home in North Judson.

Plymouth Man Killed in Accident in Marshall County

Posted on Author WKVI

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department investigated a fatal accident late yesterday afternoon.

82-year-old Donald Ferguson, of Plymouth, was killed instantly when his car was struck from behind by a semi-trailer tanker truck on U.S. 30 and Cedar Road in Bourbon. Ferguson was making a right hand turn onto Cedar Road when the accident occurred. Ferguson’s wife was injured in the accident and she was transferred to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Plymouth.

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Indiana State Police Partners with DEA For Drug Take Back Initiative

Posted on Author WKVI

It’s time to clean out those medicine cabinets. The DEA is sponsoring their Fourth Annual “Prescription Drug Take Back” initiative, giving citizens the perfect opportunity to dispose of those unwanted or unused prescription medication. On Saturday, April 28th, citizens that wish to participate in the program may drop off their prescription drugs for disposal at any State Police Post throughout the state, except the Toll Road Post.

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Large Heroin Bust takes Bite out of Drug Market

Posted on Author WKVI
Heroin was seized as part of the investigation

On the evening of April 10, 2012, officers with the Indiana State Police and the South Bend Police Department Special Operation Section worked in concert to remove more than 10 pounds of powder heroin from the streets. The multi-jurisdictional investigation that led officers to the estimated $400,000 in heroin stemmed from an investigation that started in Indianapolis during the summer of 2011.

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Two Wanted Felons Arrested in La Porte

Posted on Author WKVI

A wanted fugitive was arrested in LaPorte after police received word of his whereabouts and a potential meth lab at the location.

Detectives went to the residence and arrested 19-year-old Blake Brown of La Porte for an outstanding theft warrant. Ryan Goethals, 29, was also at the residence and police took him into custody as he had an active arrest warrant for purchasing ephedrine. They were both taken to the La Porte County Jail.

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