Urgent
Joseph S. Pete
VALPARAISO — Northbound lanes of Ind. 49 between LaPorte Avenue and Vale Park Road in Valparaiso are being closed for at least an hour Monday evening after several crashes, including a semitrailer that slid off the busy highway.
"It's being closed because of the road conditions," Valparaiso Police Department Public Information Officer Joe Hall said. "There have been numerous crashes, including a semi in the median."
The Valparaiso Police Department had called for a towing service to remove the semi from the median of the divided highway and tow it away.
Valparaiso received about 0.8 inches of precipitation Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The roads are slick.
"Many vehicles have been slipping," Hall said. "The road is closed because of the weather and the poor road conditions. We've had several slide-offs and crashes."
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Hall said he was not aware of any injuries from any of the crashes.
He encouraged drivers to be careful as winter weather returned after a warm spell this weekend.
"Just take your time," he said. "These conditions are slick, so travel more cautiously."
Suspect ejected in crash after police pursuit, authorities say
- Kale Wilk
GARY — A 23-year-old Chicago man was ejected through a vehicle's sunroof after it flipped several times on an exit ramp during a police pursuit.
Indiana State Police Trooper William Stancy was working near the 2-mile marker of eastbound I-80/94 around 1:51 a.m. Saturday when a black 2019 Infiniti Q50, driven by Varnell Lamont Dixon, was clocked speeding at 95 mph. Stancy activated his emergency lights to perform a traffic stop, but the driver attempted to elude Stancy by swerving in and out of lanes, police said.
Dixon took the exit ramp for Cline Avenue. He lost control while driving, and the vehicle rolled several times before coming to a stop, police said.
Dixon was transported to Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in Gary and treated for minor injuries. Upon being released from the hospital, Dixon was transported to Lake County Jail, police said.
At the crash scene, police recovered a stolen 9 mm Glock handgun and 17 grams of individually packaged marijuana. The Infiniti was a rental car owned by Enterprise Leasing.
Dixon faces felony counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, carrying a handgun without a license and having a previous conviction, resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, theft of a firearm and theft of property. He also faces misdemeanor counts of possessing marijuana with a prior conviction, dealing marijuana, receiving unidentified property, reckless driving resulting in injury and operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license, police said.
Gary Fire/EMS and AC Towing assisted at the scene.
Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail
Suspect robs bank after presenting note demanding money, police say
- Kale Wilk
HIGHLAND — Police are searching for a suspect that allegedly robbed a Fifth Third Bank branch on Friday after displaying a note demanding money to employees.
Police were dispatched to the branch, located at 2203 45th St., shortly before 6 p.m. Bank tellers advised police that a black male approached the teller line and presented the note. No weapon was inferred or displayed. The tellers complied and the suspect left the bank on foot with an unknown amount of money, police say.
The suspect was described as 5 feet, 10 inches and approximately 210 pounds. He was wearing a gray zippered sweater, jeans and black and white gym shoes, police said.
Highland detectives processed the scene, and the FBI assisted in the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Highland Police Detective Cpl. Brian Stanley or Detective Darren Conley at 219-838-3184.
Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail
Detectives investigating possible fraud at Region travel agency, police say
- Anna Ortiz
EAST CHICAGO — Detectives are investigating several fraud complaints at East Chicago Travel Inc., in which reports claim the business is allegedly intercepting funds customers sent to family and providing fake plane tickets, police said.
There have been numerous complaints for fraud occurring at the travel agency at 819 W. Chicago Ave. in East Chicago, according to the East Chicago Police Department.
Customers have told police the travel agency has been accepting payments from customers but not providing services to them, East Chicago Deputy Chief Jose Rivera said.
Some of the complaints include customers using the agency to send money to family members in Mexico and finding out their relatives had never received the funds, Rivera said.
Other customers contacted police reporting they had purchased airline tickets and when they arrived at the airport, they were told the confirmation number was fraudulent, Rivera said. Police said it appears the company is targeting non-English speakers.
The business appears to have no website, but the storefront can be seen advertising phone cards, MoneyGram transactions and other travel services.
The detective bureau is actively investigating the fraud complaints, Rivera said. Police asked anyone who has been a victim of fraud at East Chicago Travel Inc. should call 219-660-0000 to file a report.
Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail
Police investigating early morning shooting on Borman Expressway
- Times Staff
HAMMOND — Police are investigating after a pair of abandoned vehicles, one of them with bullet holes, were discovered on the I-80/94 exit ramp to Indianapolis Boulevard.
Indiana State Police Trooper Alaa Hamed responded to the scene after the Regional Dispatch Center received a report of a multi-vehicle crash around 3 a.m.
Hamed located the pair of abandoned vehicles. A beige 2001 Pontiac had bullet holes in the windshield, ISP said.
The ramp was closed for two hours because of blockage and the police investigation.
Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail
UPDATE: Sunday shootout happened outside strip club, police confirm
- Kale Wilk
HAMMOND — Police have confirmed that Sunday's shootout between two men occurred in the parking area of Wiggles Gentlemen's Club at 2136 Summer St.
Witnesses say two men began arguing with each other and exchanged gunfire early Sunday.
Police responded around 2:15 a.m. to the scene and located one victim, who was identified as a 28-year-old East Chicago man. He was taken to an area hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, Hammond Police Lt. Steven Kellogg said.
Later, another victim walked into the same hospital with gunshot wounds that occurred at the same location. The victim was identified as a 26-year-old Gary man, Kellogg said.
The conditions of both men are unknown, Kellogg said.
An investigation is ongoing, police said. Police ask anyone with information to call Hammond Police Detective Sgt. James Onohan at 219-852-2997.
Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail
Weekend Region crime roundup: Suspect ejected in crash after police pursuit, authorities say
A roundup of crime stories from throughout the Region during the past 48 hours.
Suspect ejected in crash after police pursuit, authorities say
- Kale Wilk
GARY — A 23-year-old Chicago man was ejected through a vehicle's sunroof after it flipped several times on an exit ramp during a police pursuit.
Indiana State Police Trooper William Stancy was working near the 2-mile marker of eastbound I-80/94 around 1:51 a.m. Saturday when a black 2019 Infiniti Q50, driven by Varnell Lamont Dixon, was clocked speeding at 95 mph. Stancy activated his emergency lights to perform a traffic stop, but the driver attempted to elude Stancy by swerving in and out of lanes, police said.
Dixon took the exit ramp for Cline Avenue. He lost control while driving, and the vehicle rolled several times before coming to a stop, police said.
Dixon was transported to Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in Gary and treated for minor injuries. Upon being released from the hospital, Dixon was transported to Lake County Jail, police said.
At the crash scene, police recovered a stolen 9 mm Glock handgun and 17 grams of individually packaged marijuana. The Infiniti was a rental car owned by Enterprise Leasing.
Dixon faces felony counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, carrying a handgun without a license and having a previous conviction, resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, theft of a firearm and theft of property. He also faces misdemeanor counts of possessing marijuana with a prior conviction, dealing marijuana, receiving unidentified property, reckless driving resulting in injury and operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license, police said.
Gary Fire/EMS and AC Towing assisted at the scene.
Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail
Suspect robs bank after presenting note demanding money, police say
- Kale Wilk
HIGHLAND — Police are searching for a suspect that allegedly robbed a Fifth Third Bank branch on Friday after displaying a note demanding money to employees.
Police were dispatched to the branch, located at 2203 45th St., shortly before 6 p.m. Bank tellers advised police that a black male approached the teller line and presented the note. No weapon was inferred or displayed. The tellers complied and the suspect left the bank on foot with an unknown amount of money, police say.
The suspect was described as 5 feet, 10 inches and approximately 210 pounds. He was wearing a gray zippered sweater, jeans and black and white gym shoes, police said.
Highland detectives processed the scene, and the FBI assisted in the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Highland Police Detective Cpl. Brian Stanley or Detective Darren Conley at 219-838-3184.
Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail
Detectives investigating possible fraud at Region travel agency, police say
- Anna Ortiz
EAST CHICAGO — Detectives are investigating several fraud complaints at East Chicago Travel Inc., in which reports claim the business is allegedly intercepting funds customers sent to family and providing fake plane tickets, police said.
There have been numerous complaints for fraud occurring at the travel agency at 819 W. Chicago Ave. in East Chicago, according to the East Chicago Police Department.
Customers have told police the travel agency has been accepting payments from customers but not providing services to them, East Chicago Deputy Chief Jose Rivera said.
Some of the complaints include customers using the agency to send money to family members in Mexico and finding out their relatives had never received the funds, Rivera said.
Other customers contacted police reporting they had purchased airline tickets and when they arrived at the airport, they were told the confirmation number was fraudulent, Rivera said. Police said it appears the company is targeting non-English speakers.
The business appears to have no website, but the storefront can be seen advertising phone cards, MoneyGram transactions and other travel services.
The detective bureau is actively investigating the fraud complaints, Rivera said. Police asked anyone who has been a victim of fraud at East Chicago Travel Inc. should call 219-660-0000 to file a report.
Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail
Police investigating early morning shooting on Borman Expressway
- Times Staff
HAMMOND — Police are investigating after a pair of abandoned vehicles, one of them with bullet holes, were discovered on the I-80/94 exit ramp to Indianapolis Boulevard.
Indiana State Police Trooper Alaa Hamed responded to the scene after the Regional Dispatch Center received a report of a multi-vehicle crash around 3 a.m.
Hamed located the pair of abandoned vehicles. A beige 2001 Pontiac had bullet holes in the windshield, ISP said.
The ramp was closed for two hours because of blockage and the police investigation.
Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail
UPDATE: Sunday shootout happened outside strip club, police confirm
- Kale Wilk
HAMMOND — Police have confirmed that Sunday's shootout between two men occurred in the parking area of Wiggles Gentlemen's Club at 2136 Summer St.
Witnesses say two men began arguing with each other and exchanged gunfire early Sunday.
Police responded around 2:15 a.m. to the scene and located one victim, who was identified as a 28-year-old East Chicago man. He was taken to an area hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, Hammond Police Lt. Steven Kellogg said.
Later, another victim walked into the same hospital with gunshot wounds that occurred at the same location. The victim was identified as a 26-year-old Gary man, Kellogg said.
The conditions of both men are unknown, Kellogg said.
An investigation is ongoing, police said. Police ask anyone with information to call Hammond Police Detective Sgt. James Onohan at 219-852-2997.
Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail
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Joseph S. Pete
Business Reporter
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