Cops: Shoplifter returns to steal again, is then nabbed
CHESTERTON | Chesterton police received a call at 2 a.m. Wednesday a man stole a case of beer from the BP station on Indian Boundary Road, then fled on a mo-ped. Police received another call at 3:48 a.m. saying the man returned.
Police said officers watched and saw the man carry a case of beer from inside the gas station, put it on the mo-ped and drive off westbound on Indian Boundary Road. Police said they tried to stop the man, but he refused to stop until he turned onto Calumet Road. Police said the man, who showed signs of intoxication, had to be restrained.
The man, Tyler Kirkman, 20, of Chesterton, was arrested on charges of underage drinking, drunken driving, theft and resisting.
Police said Kirkman said the mo-ped belonged to a friend who made him steal the beer. Police said the mo-ped was impounded. The mo-ped owner, a 17-year-old boy, came to the police station to obtain the release of his mo-ped, but was found to have consumed alcohol. He was referred to juvenile probation.
Authorities: Three caught with heroin returning from Chicago
PORTER | Porter County Sheriff's Officer Jason Praschak was working drug interdiction on eastbound U.S. 20, approaching Ind. 49, at 1 p.m. Wednesday when he stopped a motorist he said was driving erratically.
Police said they found heroin in the car and in the driver's possession. Police said the driver, Dustin Boyd, 19, of Michigan City, admitted going to Chicago with his passengers to purchase heroin.
Police arrested Boyd and his passengers -- Eric McWhirter, 28, of Michigan City; and Sarah Lewis, 23, of Michigan City -- on possession of heroin charges. Boyd was also arrested on charges of possession of paraphernalia and possession of a hypodermic needle.
In a separate incident at 10:46 a.m. Wednesday at Ind. 149 and U.S. 6 in South Haven, Brandy Richie was stopped for an equipment violation and was found to possess paraphernalia used to ingest heroin.
Richie, 26, of Portage, was arrested on charges of possession of a hypodermic needle, possession of paraphernalia and driving while suspended.
Portage cops: Teen ignores city road closing, is arrested
PORTAGE | Portage police said a man tried to continue eastbound on U.S. 6, at Airport Road, even though the intersection was closed to investigate an accident involving serious injuries at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Police said the man ignored traffic cones, signs indicating the road was closed, emergency vehicles and even an officer's commands. Police said he ran over a traffic cone before police got him to stop.
The man, Derek Friday, 18, of Portage, was arrested on underage drinking and drunken driving charges.
Valparaiso police say two stole cell phone at Franklin House
VALPARAISO | Valparaiso police arrested two men who they say were involved in the theft of a woman's cellular phone from her table at the Franklin House, 58 S. Campbell St.
Richard Byers, 57, of Valparaiso, was arrested on a theft charge. Dwayne Reid, 51, of Valparaiso, was arrested on a receiving stolen property charge.
Police said they received a report at 12:46 a.m. Thursday that two unknown men stole Valparaiso resident Isha Leon's cellular phone. Leon told police she and her friends were sitting at an outdoor table when two men sat down at the table. She went inside the bar to get another drink, and she returned to her table to find the phone missing. The men then left.
Police said they located the suspects and Reid stated Byers gave him the phone. The phone was returned to Leon.
Cops: Man tries breaking into ex-girlfriend's home in Portage
PORTAGE | A Portage woman called police Wednesday morning to report her ex-boyfriend tried to break into her apartment on Welcome Way.
Police said they stopped the suspect, Chad Edmonds, 36, of Liberty Township, at U.S. 6 and County Line Road. Police said he gave a false name, but police noticed he had his ex-girlfriend's name tattooed on his arm.
Police arrested him on charges of criminal mischief, criminal trespass, false reporting and habitual traffic offender. Police said he admitted he was lying about his name because his license had been revoked.
Semi trailer hauling ice pops catches fire along U.S. 30
VALPARAISO | A semi trailer caught fire at 7:54 p.m. Tuesday at U.S. 30 and Thornapple Drive, snarling traffic while Valparaiso firefighters extinguished the fire.
Fire officials said some tires on the trailer caught fire and the flames spread to the trailer, which was full of ice pops -- the fruit flavored frozen treats that come in long, plastic pouches. Firefighters used about 1,000 gallons of water and had the operation completed by 8:47 p.m.
The truck by driven by Rod Cloud, of Chatanooga, Tenn.
Port business reports theft of about $8K in iron breaker plates
PORTAGE | Calumite, a company located on Sun Drive in the Port of Indiana, reported Tuesday someone stole 14 iron breaker plates worth a total of $8,050.
Three of the plates were reported stolen Saturday and the remaining eight were reported stolen Tuesday. The 21 1/2- by 2-inch plates were all stamped with 4326-S26.8.
