Details released by authorities in crash that injured two girls
PORTAGE TOWNSHIP | Porter County authorities released a report Thursday on the wreck Tuesday that badly injured two teenage girls.
The crash occurred at 5:12 a.m. on County Road 700 North, near County Road 718 West.
Officials said Maria Peco, 16, of Hobart, was driving eastbound when, for unknown reasons, she swerved across the center line and went off the road to the north. Her Ford Focus entered the ditch on the north side of the road and collided with a fence and a utility pole.
Police said Peco, who suffered severe facial injuries, exited her car. Police said her passenger, Jill Kratkoczki, 16, of Hobart, suffered a head injury and paralysis to her legs, and had to be extricated by firefighters. Police said both girls were airlifted so they could receive specialized medical treatment.
Police spokesman Lt. Chris Eckert said both girls are expected to survive. Police said Peco admitted drinking alcohol prior to the crash. She faces charges.
Cops: Teenager stole alcohol, drove drunk, crashed and fled
VALPARAISO | Valparaiso police said a 17-year-old Valparaiso boy on Wednesday night stole alcohol from Walmart in Valparaiso, struck a vehicle outside the store and then fled without stopping.
Police said they located the teen at nearby Taco Bell and arrested him on charges of drunken driving, underage drinking, leaving the scene of an accident and theft.
Woman says an unknown man said words of violence to her
VALPARAISO | Three women who were at the First United Methodist Food Pantry on Wednesday morning reported that a man they didn't know stated, "I'm surprised that your house hasn't burned down yet" and "I can get a gun."
The woman left without further contact from the man. Police said the women don't know why the man said what he said. The suspect is a white male, about 30 years old, about 5-foot-11, thin, with short, dark hair.
Man arrested after he allegedly breaking into his mother's home
VALPARAISO | A resident of McAfee Drive reported at 3 a.m. Thursday that her son, who she has a protective order against, broke into her home, used her phone to harass his ex-girlfriend, punched a wall, battered her, then damaged a door and a door lock before running from the home.
Police said they found the son, Bruce Stanley, 20, of 502 Union St., inside a child's playhouse in the backyard of his mother's home. Police arrested him on charges of residential entry, invasion of privacy, resisting, criminal mischief, underage drinking and battery.
Reward offered in recent spate of vandalism incidents in Valpo
VALPARAISO | A $1,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for vandalizing two people's vehicles and one person's garage window on June 17 on north Napoleon Street, near Northview Elementary School.
Anyone with information is asked to call Valparaiso police at (219) 462-2135, call the WeTip hot line at (800) 78-CRIME or text the police department at 847411 and type the word Valpo and then the message.
