Damage of derailment estimated at $250,000
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP | The derailment of four train cars at 9 a.m. Wednesday on the CSX tracks in the area of County Road 50 West and County Road 900 North caused an estimated $250,000 damage, Porter County police said.
A witness told police the train passed eastbound at about 40 mph, then started making a loud pounding sound. The last four cars then leaned to the left and derailed.
Russ Shirley, environmental coordinator for Porter County, responded because one of the cars was marked with the word danger, but he determined the car was safe.
Police warn residents of scams in the area
PORTER COUNTY | Police are warning people of some common scams, including two that were attempted on area residents recently.
In Chesterton, resident Joseph Labate told police his daughter responded to a newspaper advertisement calling for mystery shoppers. Labate told police he received a check for $2,250 and a letter that asked him to cash the check and then wire money to Canada.
Police warn that scam artists send bogus checks that initially clear, but then come back as fake after the victim has already wired the money.
In Valparaiso, resident Leo Simon reported he received a notification that he won $3.7 million in the Australian Lottery. Police warn people that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Man charged with not providing child support
A Kodak, Ind., man was charged Tuesday with not providing child support to his son in Porter County.
Thomas Powrozek, 39, is accused of failing to pay more than $26,000 in child support between 1993 and 2007, after having been ordered to pay $35 a week.
CHESTERTON
WEDNESDAY
Theft. Chesterton resident Wilberta Cudney reported a license plate and $10 stolen from her car at Joe's Towing, 111 Waverly Road. A Joe's Towing official said plates were stolen from six other vehicles, including those belonging to William Ayres and Jeri Johnston.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP
WEDNESDAY
Theft. 49er Drive-In, 675 N. Calumet, reported a 50-inch Grasshopper lawn mower stolen from the business. The loss is $7,500.
Suspicious incident. Mosier Drive resident Rosemary Chambers reported receiving a UPS envelope containing five blank $500 traveler's checks from someone she doesn't know.
OGDEN DUNES
WEDNESDAY
Burglary charges. Charges were filed Wednesday against three men accused of burglarizing Ogden Dunes resident Jeff Fleeger's home on May 7 and stealing $400 cash. Charged are Daniel Chavez, 18, of 2643 Teresa St., Portage; Joseph A. Sinks, 21, of Hobart; and Matthew W. Lankford, 19, of Hobart.
PORTAGE
WEDNESDAY
Theft. McCool Road resident Susan Zdankiewicz reported a $250 camera and a wallet containing $20 stolen from her vehicle.
Burglary. Brentwood Avenue resident Karen Hott reported someone burglarized her home. She wasn't sure exactly what was taken.
Theft. Valparaiso resident Robert Likavec reported a satellite radio stolen from his vehicle on Old Porter Road in Portage.
PORTAGE TOWNSHIP
WEDNESDAY
Theft. Chesterton resident Glenn Patton reported medicine stolen from his bag while it was at a location on Harmony Terrace.
Theft. Valparaiso resident Marty Rogness reported $500 worth of lumber stolen from a construction site on North County Road 477 West.
SOUTH HAVEN
TUESDAY
Vandalism. Paul Saylor Elementary, 331 Midway Drive, reported $500 damage to the message board sign on the south side of the school.
WEDNESDAY
Theft. Old Forge Road resident Linda Rollins reported the theft from her yard of four truck rims worth $250.
Fraud. Norfolk Road resident Dennis Alonzo reported his debit card account was used to make more than $2,500 worth of purchases in Los Angeles, Calif.
UNION TOWNSHIP
TUESDAY
Vandalism. Sassafras Drive resident Mary Watts reported $800 damage to her home's siding and a window.
THURSDAY
Vandalism. County Road 550 North resident Donald Jones reported $120 damage to a truck tire.
ARRESTS
MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY
Alcohol charge | John Small, 18, 3906 Maplewood, Valparaiso; Elise McNabb, 18, 1371 Camelot Manor, Portage; Matthew Phillips, 19, 194 E. County Road 400 South, Valparaiso; Lauren Carr, 19, 1521 Essez, Porter; Lisa Christensen, 19, 531 Riverview, Porter; Jenna Perry, 19, 589 Lake Park, Valparaiso
Alcohol charge, drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident | Dustin Caughell, 20, 11 E. County Road 150 South, Valparaiso
Alcohol charge, intimidation | Scott Ales, 18, 756 Fox River, South Haven
Alcohol charge, possession of drug paraphernalia | Johnathan Lemons, 20, 520 Michigami, Porter
Battery | Edward Hartmann, 46, 1976 Green Valley, Crown Point; Yousef Karajah, 34, 2005 Worthington, Valparaiso; Shawn Yancey, 39, 3215 Arlene, Portage; Robert Andrews Jr., 42, 310 Iroquois, Chesterton
Battery, criminal confinement | Dennis Wilson, 50, Gary
Battery, criminal confinement, criminal recklessness | John Schoon, 36, 2195 Kennedy, Portage
Battery, intimidation | Randall Hepp, 44, 1165 Camelot Manor, Portage
Battery, interference with reporting a crime | Francisco Romero, 46, 3068 Mallory, Portage
Check deception | Dierdre Landers-Brials, 35, 1702 Wood, Valparaiso; Michael Wineteer, 31, 5311 Concord, Portage
Criminal mischief, driving while suspended, failure to appear | Christopher Hall, 31, 1151 Park, Valparaiso
Criminal mischief, intimidation | Matthew Sullenger, 21, 205 Brown, Valparaiso
Dealing cocaine, maintaining a common nuisance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana | Joseph Woolridge, 22, 54 Bogata, Valparaiso
Disorderly conduct | Clarianne Yancey, 37, 3215 Arlene, Portage
Disorderly conduct, drunken driving, intimidation | Shawn Hosking, 28, 909 Jefferson, Valparaiso
Driving while suspended | Ronald W. Price, 34, Hudson, Ind.
Driving while suspended, failure to appear | Benjamin Fontez Jr., 29, 2145 Freedom, Portage
Drunken driving | George Pezan, 68, Hobart; Wally R. Gardner, 28, Gary; Timothy Trinosky, 35, 5842 Springfield, Portage; Clint Duszynski, 23, 5834 Creekview, Portage; Teresa King, 43, 3001 Virginia, Valparaiso; Robert B. Charleston, 63, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Failure to appear | Dina Simmons, 40, Wheatfield; Juan L. Marino, 20, LaPorte; James Back, 24, 484 Ridgeland, Valparaiso; Trina Broderick, 21, 5828 Creekview, Portage; Denise D. Morris, 47, Hobart; Christopher Long, 40, Hobart; Jason Olivarri, 30, 628 Sixth, Portage; Renee Hertaus, 22, 501 Camelot Manor, Portage; Crystal Noak, 49, 401 North St., Wheeler; Julie Beck, 22, 555 Locust, Valparaiso; Andre Smith, 34, Gary; Michael Brawley, 39, 2377 County Line, Portage; Joshua M. Graham, 18, of Lake Village; Daryl T. King, 38, Gary; Jeffrey Smith, 25, of 5965 Sundance, Portage
Failure to appear, habitual traffic offender, leaving the scene of an accident | Joseph Chase, 38, 2795 Edgewood, Portage
Failure to comply | Enrique Gonzalez, 21, Hammond; William T. Barclay, 47, DeMotte; Joseph Zych, 30, 139 Shore, Portage; Matthew W. Huttle, 24, Hobart; Kevin Hodges, 28, 5260 Mulberry, Portage
Habitual traffic offender, reckless driving, resisting | Charles Ristau, 32, 766-1 Fox River, South Haven
Home detention violation | Keri Bross, 21, 80 E. Oakhill, Chesterton; Dannie Wireman III, 25, 357 S. Ind. 49, Valparaiso
Maintaining a common nuisance, possession of an altered firearm, possession of cocaine | James Hayden, 26, 54 Bogata, Valparaiso
Maintaining a common nuisance, possession of paraphernalia | Austin Miller, 23, 54 Bogata, Valparaiso
Possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia | Robert Allen Jr., 22, 2508 Oakwood, Valparaiso
Possession of marijuana | Thomas McKamey, 18, 519 N. Ind. 149, Valparaiso
Possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia | Clifford S. Gardner II, 22, Mishawaka; Nathan Schultz, 18, DeMotte; Kaitlin Hansell, 23, 188 Northwest Hills, Valparaiso
Possession of marijuana, unlawful use of a police radio | Michael Hutcheson, 18, 1502 Boca Lago, Valparaiso
Pretrial violation | Jerry A. Coates, 31, Hobart
Probation revocation | Glenn Ballor, 30, 2769 Locust, Portage
Public intoxication | Mariann Fusko, 43, 3116 Evelyn, Portage
Theft | Richard L. Wichowski, 44, Crown Point
Weapons charge | Raymond D. Walters, 18, South Bend
