Compiled by Ken Kosky
Police: Man sexually batters ex-girlfriend
PORTAGE | An Oak Lawn, Ill., man was arrested after he was accused of forcing his way inside his ex-girlfriend's Portage home, then battering her and trying to take off her pants and underwear in an apparent attempted rape.
Andre D. Knighten, 46, was arrested on charges of sexual battery, residential entry and battery. He faces as many as nine years in prison if convicted.
Knighten's ex-girlfriend, a 34-year-old resident of Tulip Avenue in Portage, suffered a black eye and scratches during the altercation, but she was able to call police, causing Knighten to leave, police said. Police said they located Knighten a few blocks from the woman's home.
Man accused of fleeing from police during stop
CHESTERTON | A Chesterton man was arrested on charges of drunken driving, resisting with a vehicle and resisting after he was accused of driving away from the scene of a traffic stop and hiding in some bushes.
Arrested about 7:30 p.m. Friday was Gary Bolcerek, 34, of 112 W. Michigan St., Chesterton.
Police said they stopped Bolcerek at 15th and Broadway, but he took off while police were speaking with him. Police chased him to the town of Porter, where they say he stopped his vehicle near the police station and hid in the landscaping at the library.
Mother, daughters are accused of shoplifting
VALPARAISO | Valparaiso police said a 36-year-old woman, her 17-year-old daughter and her 16-year-old daughter were all arrested together on theft charges after they were accused of stealing nearly $400 worth of merchandise from Kohl's in Valparaiso.
Arrested about 5 p.m. Sunday were Ceanne C. Richardson, of Hanna, and the two juveniles. Richardson was found to be wanted on warrants.
CHESTERTON
FRIDAY
Theft. Lombardy Court resident Anne Cafferty reported the theft of $200 worth of patio furniture.
SATURDAY
Theft. Chesterton resident Donna DeRosa reported her grandson's $50 bicycle was stolen from Chesterton Middle School, 651 W. Morgan Ave.
Theft. Denise Francis, of the 1500 block of Broadway, reported a bag containing manicure and pedicure utensils stolen from her car. The loss is $150.
SUNDAY
Vandalism. Burns Harbor resident Tim O'Reilly reported someone put a syrupy substance in his car's gas tank, causing $2,500 damage to the engine.
Theft. Portage resident Julie Knight reported her purse, which contained a camera and cellular phone, stolen from a table at Registry Bar, 711 Plaza Drive, Chesterton. The loss is $457.
Vandalism. Dairy Queen, 552 Indian Boundary Road, reported $400 damage to a glass door.
Burglary. TNT Gaming, 209 Broadway, reported someone burglarized the business, taking three video game consoles, a camera, a computer tower and a bank bag containing $404 in cash and checks.
PORTAGE
WEDNESDAY
Battery charge. Nicole E. Johnston, 18, of Hobart, was charged Wednesday with residential entry and battery in connection with an incident Oct. 1. She is accused of entering another woman's Portage home without permission and, when finding her boyfriend in bed with the woman, hitting and biting the woman.
SATURDAY
Theft. Melissa Dougherty, of the 6400 block of Savannah, reported $345 worth of parts stolen from her Cadillac.
SUNDAY
Theft. Portage resident Anastasia Book-Thiede reported a $200 GPS system stolen from her car at Wal-Mart in Portage.
Vandalism. Portage resident James Chapman reported $500 damage to his car at Ryan's Tavern, 6340 U.S. 20, Portage.
PORTAGE TOWNSHIP
FRIDAY
Theft. Cinnamon Teal Court resident Jason Mergl reported three sets of golf clubs worth $1,400 total stolen from his car.
SOUTH HAVEN
FRIDAY
Vandalism. Greendale Drive resident Teresa Blissmer reported $250 damage to a window at her home.
UNION TOWNSHIP
SATURDAY
Vandalism. Three light posts belonging to the Shorewood Forest Property Owners Association were damaged on Wilshire Court and Shorewood Drive, a $240 loss.
VALPARAISO
SUNDAY
Theft. Pro Cut, 3006 Grand Trunk Drive, reported the theft of a $500 gas pump.
ARRESTS
Oct. 24-27
Alcohol charge | Jeremy Higgins, 20, 4703 Andover Court, Valparaiso
Battery | William McNamara, 24, 209 S. 15th St., Chesterton; Mark Harting, 23, 3001 Winchester Drive, Valparaiso; Mark Harting, 23, 3001 Winchester Drive, Valparaiso; Steven Yakel, 36, 2785 Brown, Portage
Battery, residential entry, sexual battery | Andre Knighten, 46, Oak Lawn, Ill.
Conversion | Virgen Nunez, 44, 14151 U.S. 20, Wanatah
Criminal mischief | Robert Bretthorst, 25, 116 Ind. 2, Valparaiso
Disorderly conduct, public intoxication | Lisa Serio, 40, 6969 Fox Tail, Portage; John Bielec, 47, 723 7th St., Portage
Driving while suspended | Ricky Barber, 29, 308 Jacobs Place, Portage; Stephen Woldhuis, 26, Remington
Drug paraphernalia, alcohol charge | Timothy Cagle, 20, Griffith
Drug paraphernalia, failure to appear | James Hankins, 17, 303 Burlington Beach Road, Valparaiso
Drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana | James Henderson, 24, 632 Oxford Road, Valparaiso
Drunken driving | Timothy Hardison, 47, 2947 Parker St., Portage; Sarah Eckstrom, 26, 2710 Glen Eagles, Valparaiso; Matthew Phillips, 21, 194 E. 400 S., Valparaiso; Sharon Goodall, 49, 1657 Port Cove Drive, Porter; Michael Ford, 21, 5951 Sundance, Portage; Jonathan Skube, 27, 115 N. Jackson Blvd., Chesterton; David Kozinski, 18, 900 W. Park Ave., Porter; Todd Reid, 50, 610 Woodlawn, Porter
Drunken driving, criminal mischief | Joseph Cusson, 27, Lake Station
Drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident | Steven Dudek, 21, 434 E. Ind. 2, Valparaiso
Drunken driving, never obtaining a license | Carrie Nobles, 22, Burns Harbor
Failure to appear | Esteban Chabes, 22, 2819 Irving, Portage; Joshua Stanek, 21, 606 W. Old Faithful, Hebron; Kevin Hankins, 36, DeMotte; Scott Saponaro, 45, 255 Franklin St., Valparaiso; William Page, 41, 706-1 Governor Road, Valparaiso
Failure to comply | Deborah King, 33, North Liberty; Edward Gonzalez, 23, Hammond; James Valpatic, 31, Zionsville
Failure to comply, possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia | Charles Matheny Jr., 42, 430-1 Prescott Road, Valparaiso
Failure to comply, public intoxication | Robert Gregory, 45, 207 Arrowhead Trail, Porter
Fraud, hold | Michael Gill, 19, Hobart
Harassment | Nathan Wright, 32, 2104 Glendale Blvd., Valparaiso
Harboring a non-immunized animal | Chad Edmonds, 34, 220 Woodlawn Ave., Porter
Intimidation, false reporting | Robert Bretthorst, 25, 116 Ind. 2, Valparaiso
Operating while being a habitual traffic violator, drug paraphernalia | Jason Pittman, 34, Knox
Possession of marijuana, alcohol charge | Elisha Jones, 18, Gary
Public intoxication | Thomas Brownfield, 42, 734 7th, Portage
Public intoxication, false reporting | Michael Sommers, 22, 421 Sunnybrooke Court, Chesterton
Reckless driving, alcohol charge, possession of fake identification | Brittany Davidson, 19, Chicago
Resisting law enforcement, drunken driving | Gary Bolcerek, 34, 112 Michigan St., Chesterton
Strangulation, battery | Joseph Rodriguez, 30, 57 Bass Drive, Portage
Theft | Gregory Gibson, 19, 2403 Inverness Drive, Valparaiso; Samantha Vereb, 18, 1044 N. 350 E., Chesterton; Linda Martin, 51, Michigan City; Angela May, 38, Knox
Theft, failure to appear | Ceanne Richardson, 36, Hanna
