LaPorte Man Arrested Following Traffic Stop; $500 Confiscated
Designate a Sober Driver as Part of Your New Year’s Plans
Major John Boyd from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department told WKVI that the county’s DUI Taskforce officers will be out doing saturation patrols. The DUI Taskforce includes officers from the LaPorte and Michigan City Police Departments. Deputies will also be out with New Year’s holiday celebrations in mind.
The Starke and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Departments will have deputies out on patrol and will be on the lookout for intoxicated drivers.
Make sure you designate a sober driver if you plan on doing any alcohol-filled New Year’s celebrations.
Vehicle Found on RR Tracks in LaPorte County, Owner Denies Knowledge of Incident
On Tuesday evening, Norfolk Southern railroad officials told police that a vehicle was stuck in the middle of the tracks, just east of the Detroit Street crossing. When police arrived at 8:19 p.m. CT, they observed a car sitting abandoned in the middle of the tracks. An Amtrak train was stopped on the south track, just inches from the vehicle that had bottomed out on four track rails on a center track.
LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office Asking Burglary Victims to Reclaim Items
The propery was recovered on Nov. 26 at a residence in rural Coolspring Township through a search warrant. The investigation remains open and ongoing as a collaborative effort between the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office and Michigan City Police Department. The goal remains to locate the victims and owners of the recovered property and return it to them.
Gary Man Jailed Following Michigan City Shooting
A Gary man faces a criminal recklessness charge following an early morning shooting in rural Michigan City Tuesday. Officers from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department were called to the Woodland Crossing Apartment Complex just before 1 a.m. for a report of shots fired. When they arrived they were told a man had been shot and had been taken to St. Anthony Memorial Hospital in a private vehicle. Witnesses gave the officers a description of the suspect’s vehicle, and within minutes it was located in a nearby housing complex. A short time later Daryle C. Anderson, Jr., 23, of Gary, was arrested without incident. Police have not released the victim’s name. He was released from the hospital after being treated for a bullet wound to his lower back. Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Andrew Hynek at (219) 879-3530 ext. 2401.
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Don’t Become a Victim of Theft This Holiday Season
Warrant Issued for Sex Offender
The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a wanted sex offender and is asking for your help in locating him.
Stephen N. Rootes, 31, is wanted on a criminal arrest warrant issued by the LaPorte County Circuit Court for Failure to Register which is a Class C felony.
LaPorte County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse to Participate in Training
The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Posse Unit will be conducting training this weekend and you are invited to watch the training.
The training will be today and tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds. These sessions will focus on short classroom session and practical horsemanship skills and tactics the remainder of each day.
Woman, Pet Rescued From Within Burning House
A woman and her pet were saved by police after being trapped inside a burning home late Sunday night.
LaPorte County emergency first responder agencies were called to 1106 Pennsylvania Ave. after receiving word that a woman was trapped inside the home, along with a pet, and was unable to get out of the home.
Keep Children Safe This Halloween, Check Sex Offender Registry
Help keep your children safe this Halloween by using online tools to learn the location and identity of registered sex offenders in an area where you plan to take your children trick-or-treating.
Go to http://www.indianasheriffs.org to search for registered sex offenders in a two-mile radius of a location entered into the database. A list of offenders, including their pictures, offenses and physical descriptions, is available. You may search any county to learn of any registered sex offenders in proximity to your home.
An online sex offender registry is available for residents of LaPorte County. There are currently 190 registered sex offenders in LaPorte County. 50 of those registered are sexually violent predators and 59 are classified as offenders against children. Visit http://www.laportecountysheriff.com to search through the database. 14,300 people have visited the site to date and all at the sheriff’s office encourages you to help ensure the safety of children this Halloween.
The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department and all sheriffs in the state utilize “OffenderWatch” Sex Offender Management System to manage and monitor registered sex offenders.
Three-Car Accident Injures Two Near LaCrosse
A three-car accident injured two on U.S. Highway 421, north of County Road 2300 South near LaCrosse Friday afternoon.
LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called to the scene shortly before 2 p.m. CT and found that a vehicle traveling south on U.S. 421 crossed the center line of the roadway for unknown reasons and hit the axles of a trailer being pulled by a northbound semi. After the vehicle struck the axles, the vehicle hit another car that was traveling north on U.S. 421.
Boyfriend of Deceased 3-Year-Old’s Mother in Custody for Reckless Homicide
Train Strikes Car Stuck on Tracks; One Fatality in Union Mills
A train/car crash in the Union Mills area that took the life of a LaPorte man is under investigation by the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department. At around 1:59 a.m. CT, deputies from the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office were summoned to the Canadian National Railroad crossing located on State Road 39 south of U.S. 6 in reference to the reported crash. Upon arrival, deputies located a Dodge Caravan that had been struck by a westbound train. The driver, the only occupant of the vehicle, was found deceased in the van, identified as Brian D. Massengill, 40 of LaPorte. He reportedly died of massive blunt force trauma, and officials have stated his blood alcohol content was determined to be 0.393 percent, which could have played a part in the accident.
Two Arrested in Shooting Incident in LaPorte County
A father and son were arrested today after a shooting incident in a parking area of Purdue University North Central.
LaPorte County deputies determined that a disagreement over a narcotics transaction at a residence in the 9500 West block of County Road 125 South led to the shooting incident.
Multiple gunshots were fired at a vehicle parked the residence that was occupied by four juveniles. A 17-year-old juvenile riding in the back seat suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound in his hip as a round penetrated the vehicle. The three other occupants fled to Purdue North Central. The victim was transported to a hospital in Michigan City for treatment.
Police Agencies Continue to Collected Unused, Expired Medications
The unused medications had been collected since April 27 and they were incinerated in a licensed facility.
Look Out for an Impersonator in Your Neighborhood
The man, described as 5’9” and about 180 pounds with dark hair and a mustache, stopped at a home in the 800 East block of County Road 700 North. The homeowner told police that a white van pulled into her driveway and the man stated that he was from the LaPorte County Animal Shelter. He explained that he needed to speak to her about her animals. The man discussed the size of the enclosure for her livestock and warned her that she had 48 hours to make improvements or risk having the animals removed.
LaPorte Man Acted in Self Defense When He Shot Burglar
No charges will be filed against a LaPorte man who shot and killed a burglar in his home on the morning of July 8.
Investigators from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office completed their investigation and submitted their reports to LaPorte County Prosecutor Robert Szilagyi who concluded that Stephen Penny acted in self defense when Jason Rabe broke into his home in the 6700 East block of County Road 1000 North.
Penny had awoken at the sound of breaking glass inside his home. He armed himself with a gun and found Rabe armed with a hatchet. The pair struggled and Penny shot Rabe once in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene from a single gunshot wound.
LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department investigators and the prosecuting attorney have closed this investigation.
Two Arrested after Explosive Device Found at LaPorte County Fairgrounds
Two teenagers were arrested Thursday after LaPorte County law enforcement officials found an explosive device at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds.
Deputies were notified that a potential explosive device was in the possession of a juvenile in attendance at the fair and it was believed that the suspect would detonate the device near the carnival rides.
LaPorte Homeowner Shoots and Kills Intruder
A rural LaPorte homeowner who fatally shot a burglar at his home near the Michigan state line Monday morning is not expected to face charges in the incident. Investigators from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department spent Monday interviewing the man, who was awakened by the sound of breaking glass, grabbed his pistol and found Jason Rabe, 23, of Three Oaks Twp, Mich. inside his home armed with a hatchet. Rabe died of a single gunshot wound that essentially ruptured his heart, according to LaPorte County Coroner John Sullivan. He tells our reporting partner WNDU-TV the wound so severe, Memorial MedFlight and the best heart surgeon couldn’t have saved him. The homeowner suffered a few cuts and bruises but refused medical treatment. He did not know Rabe, whose prior criminal record includes possession of marijuana and retail fraud charges from 2010.
Police believe that the suspect lives in Three Oaks Township, Michigan and the suspect was not known by the homeowner.
Investigators continue to investigate this incident.
