CENTER TOWNSHIP — A 23-year-old Illinois driver topping speeds of 80 mph, ignoring a red light, passing a truck in a no-passing zone and turning out his headlights while followed by police later said he was on his to Valparaiso University to see his girlfriend, according to the incident report.
Riding Shotgun with the Gary Fire Department
The Porter County officer said he spotted the eastbound vehicle on Ind. 130 around 3:05 a.m. Thursday and clocked it at 80 mph in a 55-mph zone.
The vehicle continued to speed up through a 35-mph zone in the downtown Wheeler area, police said. When the vehicle turned off its lights, the officer prepared for a pursuit but eventually caught up with the driver.
The driver, Julio Rodriguez of Bridgeview, Illinois, reportedly told officers he was speeding to get to his girlfriend.
Police said they found 2 grams of marijuana in the vehicle, a glass smoking pipe and other paraphernalia.
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Rodriguez faces criminal charges of possessing marijuana and reckless driving.
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Toni Young
Arrest date: March 16, 2023
Age: 43
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number: 2301150
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Todd Wasily
Arrest date: March 16, 2023
Age: 47
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2301148
Charges: Intimidation, felony
Elbe Rice III
Arrest date: March 16, 2023
Age: 39
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301152
Charges: OWI, felony
Autumn Hammock
Arrest date: March 16, 2023
Age: 46
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2301156
Charges: Domestic battery, felony
Jon Tannish
Arrest date: March 15, 2023
Age: 23
Residence: Chesterton, IN
Booking Number: 2301135
Charges: OWI w/ endangerment, misdemeanor
Kevin Steele
Arrest date: March 15, 2023
Age: 49
Residence: Chesterton, IN
Booking Number: 2301130
Charges: Battery, misdemeanor
Cole Schatz
Arrest date: March 15, 2023
Age: 19
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2301145
Charges: Possession of cocaine, felony
Philip Reiner III
Arrest date: March 15, 2023
Age: 28
Residence: Lake Station, IN
Booking Number: 2301137
Charges: Residential entry, felony
Rachel Fite
Arrest date: March 15, 2023
Age: 49
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301141
Charges: Domestic battery, misdemeanor
Michael Cruz
Arrest date: March 15, 2023
Age: 41
Residence: East Chicago, IN
Booking Number: 2301143
Charges: Theft, felony
Delvon Coleman
Arrest date: March 15, 2023
Age: 22
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2301140
Charges: Domestic battery, felony
Dakota Chavas
Arrest date: March 15, 2023
Age: 22
Residence: Wanatah, IN
Booking Number: 2301131
Charges: OWI w/ endangerment, misdemeanor
Amber Wood
Arrest date: March 14, 2023
Age: 53
Residence: Porter, IN
Booking Number: 2301124
Charges: Auto theft, felony
Madison Morales
Arrest date: March 14, 2023
Age: 19
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301121
Charges: Domestic battery, misdemeanor
Pete Skoutaris
Arrest date: March 14, 2023
Age: 42
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301120
Charges: Habitual traffic offender, felony
Richard Kozecar
Arrest date: March 13, 2023
Age: 33
Residence: Knox, IN
Booking Number: 2301103
Charges: Theft, felony
Yahkeem Fernander
Arrest date: March 13, 2023
Age: 22
Residence: Rochester, NY
Booking Number: 2301116
Charges: Possession stolen firearm, felony
Jason Dekker
Arrest date: March 13, 2023
Age: 50
Residence: Crown Point, IN
Booking Number: 2301114
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Kyiell Cowart
Arrest date: March 13, 2023
Age: 32
Residence: Rochester, NY
Booking Number: 2301113
Charges: Possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, felony
Jed Saunders
Arrest date: March 12, 2023
Age: 43
Residence: Westville, IN
Booking Number: 2301095
Charges: OWI, felony
Jonathan Pollock
Arrest date: March 12, 2023
Age: 41
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301100
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Deon Newell
Arrest date: March 12, 2023
Age: 23
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2301097
Charges: Domestic battery, felony
Nicholas Lewis
Arrest date: March 12, 2023
Age: 29
Residence: Hobart, IN
Booking Number: 2301101
Charges: Resisting law enforcement, felony
Craig Williams
Arrest date: March 11, 2023
Age: 31
Residence: Hobart, IN
Booking Number: 2301082
Charges: Possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, felony
Austin Utley
Arrest date: March 11, 2023
Age: 24
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2301070
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Juan Tomas
Arrest date: March 11, 2023
Age: 31
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301090
Charges: Domestic battery, felony
Scott Spruitenburg
Arrest date: March 11, 2023
Age: 53
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301071
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Haley Shidler
Arrest date: March 11, 2023
Age: 24
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301073
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Blagojce Prentoski
Arrest date: March 11, 2023
Age: 28
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2301074
Charges: Possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug, felony
Brian Noonan
Arrest date: March 11, 2023
Age: 23
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2301069
Charges: Strangulation, felony
Oscar Lerma-Orrantia
Arrest date: March 11, 2023
Age: 33
Residence: Hammond, IN
Booking Number: 2301083
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Elijah Hicks
Arrest date: March 11, 2023
Age: 30
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Booking Number: 2301087
Charges: Habitual traffic offender, felony
2301087
John Gross
Arrest date: March 11, 2023
Age: 21
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301076
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Stacey Erdelac
Arrest date: March 11, 2023
Age: 45
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2301086
Charges: Theft, felony
Michael Cauley
Arrest date: March 11, 2023
Age: 34
Residence: Chesterton, IN
Booking Number: 2301081
Charges: Domestic battery, misdemeanor
Carolyn Arndt
Arrest date: March 11, 2023
Age: 27
Residence: Chesterton, IN
Booking Number: 2301089
Charges: Domestic battery, misdemeanor
Julio Rodriguez
Bob Kasarda
Porter/LaPorte County Courts and Social Justice Reporter
Bob is a 23-year veteran of The Times. He covers county government and courts in Porter County, federal courts, police news and regional issues. He also created the Vegan in the Region blog, is an Indiana University grad and lifelong region resident.
