The Citgo gas station in LaPorte was robbed at gunpoint for the second time in just over a week Tuesday. Police were called to the gas station in the 100 block of East Lincolnway just after 3:00 a.m. Continue reading
La Porte Police Investigating Robberies
Two overnight robberies have La Porte Police searching for answers.
The first incident occurred at 2:25 a.m. on Monday when an armed robbery occurred at the Citgo gas station on Lincolnway in La Porte. A preliminary investigation found that two African American men entered the business, demanded money and brandished guns. Police say the clerk complied with the suspect’s request and they left with an undetermined amount of money. The only available description is that they wore a mask to cover their faces.
Identity Theft is an Issue When Filing Tax Returns
Police continue to take reports of identity theft from residents attempting to file their 2014 income taxes.
An 18-year-old LaPorte man told LaPorte Police that his parents recently attempted to file their tax return with him listed as a dependent. The tax return was rejected, citing that someone else had already claimed the victim as a dependent. The victim also attempted to access his credit score and learned that a credit card, mortgage and home equity loan were fraudulently established using his identity.
LaPorte Man Arrested After Hitting School Bus
A LaPorte man faces drunk driving charges after reportedly hitting a school bus full of children Wednesday afternoon and injuring one of them. The wreck occurred in the 100 block of west McClung Road, according to LaPorte Police. When they arrived, they found a school bus with damage to the rear and a red Pontiac Grand Prix with heavy front end damage. Continue reading
LaPorte Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Youngster at Beach
A LaPorte man police say sexually assaulted an 8-year-old girl at a beach Wednesday afternoon is jailed on a $10,500 cash bond. Gary W. Cooper, 50, of La Porte, is charged with rape and child molestation. Both are Level 1 felonies under Indiana’s recently overhauled sentencing guidelines. Continue reading
LaPorte Woman Falls Victim to Phantom Debt Scam
LaPorte police are warning of a phantom debt scam making its way around Northern Indiana.
A LaPorte woman told police that she received a text message on Thursday from her supervisor that she needed to call 202-239-8194 as soon as possible regarding fraudulent activity with the victim’s social security number. The supervisor received the call at work and notified the victim.
LaPorte Woman Scammed After Computer Purchase
A LaPorte woman who recently purchased a new computer was the victim of a scam Saturday night, according to LaPorte Police. She told the officer she got a call on her cell phone Saturday night from a man with a foreign accent who identified himself as “Mark Williams” from Dell. The caller told her that her new computer had been hacked and said he was going to help her fix it. He reportedly told her to go to SHOWMYPC.com, which she did. The suspect confirmed the victim’s name and email address, which he already knew. Once he did this, he then had remote access over her computer and she was not longer controlling it.
The suspect brought up an 8-digit number which he had the victim read back. He advised her that 80 percent of her computer had been hacked, but he was able to fix it for the next 15 years. He then told her she now had to pay him $99 for the service. The victim became suspicious and told him she was not paying him any money at this time and would call him back. The suspect was reportedly insistent that the victim pay him immediately. His name, ID number and telephone number were listed in a message box on the computer screen. The victim confirmed this information with him before she hung up, but when she called the number back she reached a sex hotline. Continue reading
LaPorte Man Jailed on Murder Charge, Investigation Continues
A LaPorte man is jailed on a murder charge, accused of killing his wife. Officers from the LaPorte Police Department responded to a report of a burglary in progress around 12:30 this morning at a home in the 800 Block of “E” Street. When officers arrived, they found a man, identified as Joseph E. Jemiolo, 60, coming out of the house. They found out Jemiolo lived there and proceeded to search the house. That’s when they found the body of Kathy Jemiolo, 48, who was pronounced dead by the LaPorte County Coroner. Joseph Jemiolo is jailed on a preliminary charge of murder based on evidence at the scene. LaPorte Police stress the investigation is continuing.
LaPorte Police foil shoplifting attempt
Mary Perren
A 17-year-old faces theft and false informing charges after he reportedly stole a piece of aluminum foil from a LaPorte grocery store last night. Store employees at Al’s Supermarket on SR 2 W. saw the male suspect take a box of aluminum foil off the shelf and put it down in a different location. They checked the box and found it opened with a section of foil missing. When the employees approached the youngster, police say he admitted taking some of the foil to use as a television antenna. He then gave them his name and asked if he could be released to his parents. Attempts to contact his parents were unsuccessful, and police discovered he gave them a false identity. He also smelled of burnt marijuana, according to police. The teen was arrested and taken to the juvenile services center.
