VALPARAISO
Cops: Purse snatching related to other cases
Valparaiso police are continuing to investigate the thefts that occurred last Tuesday outside Target, WiseWay north and Town & Country Market.
Police said it appears the incident at Target, in which a woman's purse was snatched from her shopping cart outside the store, is related to similar incidents in Hobart, LaPorte and Michigan City. In each case, a young white male in a white Ford Taurus grabbed the purse and drove off.
The incidents at the grocery stores, which involved items being taken from unoccupied vehicles, are not believed to be related to the theft at Target. Valparaiso police spokesman Sgt. Michael Grennes said the investigation into each of the incidents is progressing.
PORTAGE
City police break up an underage alcohol party
Portage police said they made several arrests when they broke up an underage drinking party at 1:33 a.m. Sunday at 6031 Canden.
Arrested on a warrant was party host Aaron Gould, 26. Arrested on underage drinking charges were Emily A. Smith, 18, of Gary; Joshua Maddack, 20, of 3168 Hickory St., Portage; Douglas Kingston, 20, of 171 S. County Road 450 West, Valparaiso, and Michelle Gonzales, 18, of 6512 Lighthouse, Portage.
PORTER
Police Taser man who faces multiple charges
Porter police -- responding to a report that a white van struck a mailbox on Park Avenue and then left the area at 4:30 p.m. Saturday -- saw a white van run a stop sign at Wagner Road and Michigan Street.
Police said they caught up with van on eastbound U.S. 20 and tried to stop it, but the driver sped up and turned onto Oakhill Road, then pulled into a driveway near Waverly Road.
Police said the driver, Jamie L. Williams, 35, of Chesterton, smelled of alcohol, was found to have a suspended license and was found to be wanted on a warrant. Police said the van had a false license plate.
Police said he resisted officers and was shocked with a Taser. Police said Williams was taken to Porter Valparaiso Hospital Campus, where a blood test showed his blood alcohol concentration to be about four times the legal limit. Police said he threatened to kill police officers.
He was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, intimidation, never receiving a license, reckless driving, driving while suspended, leaving the scene of an accident, resisting and drunken driving.
BURNS HARBOR
FRIDAY
Arrest. Police checked out a vehicle parked in the handicapped parking zone without a handicapped placard or plate at Pilot Travel Center. The suspect, Jesse T. Gutierrez, 54, of Chicago, received a parking citation and was arrested on a public intoxication charge.
CHESTERTON
THURSDAY
Forgery. Laura Lane resident Gregory Koedyker reported a known suspect obtained his $11,715 check from the IRS and forged his name. Koedyker told police the suspect had the check sent to a post office box because the notice about the check came while he was in Iraq.
FRIDAY
Theft. Texas Street resident Cassandra Klump reported a known suspect sold her camera to a pawn shop. The loss is $45.
Fraud. South 7th Street resident Jonathan Butkovsky reported someone hacked into his AIM account and changed it
SATURDAY
Theft. Birdie Way resident William Stone reported he woke up to a noise and saw two males walking away from his truck. He discovered $379 worth of tools stolen from the truck.
SUNDAY
Theft. Porter resident Tracy Dines reported $138 worth of items stolen from his van at WiseWay in Chesterton.
Burglary. The owner of Brown's Storage, 1535 S. Calumet Road, reported several storage units were broke into.
Theft. South Calumet Road resident Harold Barnes reported someone stole a $500 radar detector, $300 worth of compact discs, a $1,000 laptop computer, a $300 camera, $800 saddle bags, $250 leather chaps and $50 gloves from his vehicle.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP
FRIDAY
Vandalism. Buckthorne Court resident Holly Birch reported someone caused $250 damage to her van window.
PORTAGE
FRIDAY
Burglary. Waterside resident Rose Marie Holguin reported a radio and cash stolen from her apartment. The loss is $1,000.
SATURDAY
Arrest. Kyle Hadley, 18, of 5812 Stone Ave., Portage, was arrested on a theft charge after he was accused of stealing money from Schoop's, 3285 Willowcreek Road.
Theft. Christy Street resident Mike Marshall reported $960 worth of power tools stolen from his truck.
SUNDAY
Theft. Misty Breeze resident James Mullin Jr. reported $600 worth of stereo equipment stolen from his vehicle.
PORTER TOWNSHIP
FRIDAY
Theft. South County Road 725 West resident Janet King-Fuller reported someone entered three of her vehicles and took $50 worth of medicine from one.
UNION TOWNSHIP
FRIDAY
Accidental property damage. NIPSCO reported a vehicle struck a ground transformer at 387 Devon Road, then left the scene. The damage is $5,000.
SATURDAY
Burglary. North County Road 350 West residents Richard and Kathleen Phillips reported someone burglarized their home, causing $850 damage. Stolen were a $1,200 television, $300 worth of video game items, $300 worth of iPod items, $1,250 worth of sunglasses, a $150 DVD player, $1,000 worth of clothing, $100 worth of toothbrushes and other items.
SUNDAY
Burglary. Someone burglarized Leanna Lane resident Richard Blaha's home, taking cash and medicine. The damage is $250.
VALPARAISO
SATURDAY
Vehicle theft. Daytona Beach, Fla. resident Melissa Rompola reported someone stole her black 2005 Honda Civic, which is worth $5,000, from outside Franklin House, 51 S. Campbell St. She recovered the car Sunday on Chestnut Street, but $900 worth of compact discs were taken from it.
Burglary. KFC, 2402 Calumet Ave., reported someone burglarized the business and stole cash.
SUNDAY
Theft. Chicago Street resident Lindsey Modrowski reported $4,800 cash, $50 worth of chargers and a $300 mp3 player stolen from her car.
Theft. Elm Street resident Debra Thompson reported a $57 Motorola ear piece stolen from her vehicle.
Theft. Valparaiso resident Jo Hughart reported documents stolen from her vehicle at Monroe Street and Garfield Avenue.
ARRESTS
Jan. 9-12
Alcohol charge | Joshua Maddack, 20, 3168 Hickory, Portage; Douglas Kingston, 20, 171 S. 450 W., Valparaiso; Emily Smith, 18, Gary; Michelle Gonzales, 18, 6512 Lighthouse, Portage
Battery | Timothy Ericksen, 25, Hobart; George Mullens, 34, 5160 Bell, Portage
Battery, public intoxication | Mabel Goodall, 34, 1103 E. Evans, Valparaiso
Conversion | Roger Story Jr., 27, Merrillville
Disorderly conduct, public intoxication | Kyle Conley, 25, 260 W. Jefferson St., Valparaiso
Driving while suspended | Crystal Serrano, 29, Hammond; Billy Williams, 21, Gary; Mark Cox, 22, Westville
Drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended, drunken driving | Lane Barendsen, 23, 5408 3rd Ave., Valparaiso
Drunken driving | Darrin Watt, 42, 2900 Blake, Portage; Cristal Miller, 25, 410 Bronze Ave., Portage; Desiree Carrillo, 32, Hobart; Jamie Mounts, 24, Dyer; Todd Pulsoni, 28, 2733 Engle St., Portage; Donald Lentz, 21, 2228 Poinsettia, Portage
Drunken driving, intimidation, resisting law enforcement, driving while suspended, hold | Jamie Williams, 35, Chesterton
Failure to appear | Claudia Sanchez, 30, 2380 Sloan, Portage; Dawn Hielema, 38, 1710 Vale Park Road, Valparaiso; Dustin Byrem, 20, 607 N. Valparaiso St., Valparaiso; Nanette Wood, 41, 2355 Marshall Drive, Valparaiso
Failure to comply | Kenneth Tharp, 24, 2794 Elmwood, Portage; Patrick Knight, 27, Crown Point
Home detention violation | James Cline, 49, 6410 Fallen Timbers, Portage; Richard Burns, 37, 307 Beige, Portage
Invasion of privacy | Max Richerson, 34, 5800 Mulberry, Portage; Shawn Walker, 19, LaCrosse
Leaving the scene of an accident | Aaron Gould, 26, 5940 Old Porter Road, Portage
Operating while being a habitual traffic violator, drunken driving | Michael Vrancks, 47, 5227 Bell Ave., Portage; David Timmerman, 50, 6101 McCasland Ave., Portage
Public intoxication | Jesse Gutierrez, 54, Chicago
Public intoxication, disorderly conduct | Josette Sirovica, 36, 227 Abington St., Valparaiso
Public intoxication, false reporting | Lance Blatsioris, 24, 2885 Parker St., Portage
Residential entry | Jillyan Armstrong, 26, 6097 Mulberry, Portage
Revocation of probation | Mark Stevens, 32, Indianapolis
Strangulation, battery | Yohinnest Herrod, 18, 3290 Denise, Portage
Theft | Carlos Moreno, 28, 1008 Elizabeth Drive, Valparaiso; Kyle Hadley, 18, 5812 Stone, Portage; Richard Wheeler, 61, 2410 Primrose Drive, Valparaiso
