The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department investigated a two vehicle accident on Johnson Road at the Indiana Toll Road on Tuesday morning.

Deputies were called to the scene at 8:29 a.m. CT where a 31-year-old driver from LaPorte was stopped at the stop sign, entered the intersection and was struck by a pickup truck. The pickup hit the driver’s side of the car, according to police. The driver and her children were transported to IU Health LaPorte Hospital. One child was subsequently airlifted to South Bend Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injures.

Johnson Road between County Road 400 West and County 500 West was closed for two hours while officers reconstructed the accident scene as part of their investigation.

The driver was cited for failure to yield the right of way.

 

LaPorte County police will be stepping up patrols this week for a traffic safety project called “Operation Stop Arm”.

Sheriff’s deputies have partnered with Michigan City officers and Indiana State Police Troopers to make drivers more aware of school bus loading and unloading during this National School Bus Safety Week.

Driver who disregard stopped buses with stop arms extended and flashing lights can be cited on a Class A infraction of arm signal device: duty to obey. That carries a fine of up to $10,000. A driver can be arrested for a Class B misdemeanor offense of reckless driving if the driver recklessly passes a school bus while loading or unloading students. That offense carries up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

LaPorte officers urge drivers to be patient and to be aware around stopped or slowing school buses. One Indiana child was killed in the 2012-2013 school year when a driver was distracted by a cell phone and struck an eight-year-old child while the child was boarding the bus.

Officers and troopers will have zero tolerance with drivers who disregard stop arms and lights activated on a school bus. Violators will be ticketed or arrested.

The sixth annual Trick-or-Treat and Halloween Safety event is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 31, hosted by LaPorte County Sheriff Michael Mollenhauer.

The event promotes safety for children while trick-or-treating in the community. Children attending the event will receive a reflective trick-or-treat bag with an activity book and crayons. A reflector badge will also be supplied. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served.

Sheriff Mollenhauer invites all to the park north of the sheriff’s office on Washington Street in LaPorte from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. CT on Friday. If there is inclement weather, the event will be moved indoors in the sally port at the sheriff’s office.

 

Law enforcement agencies across Indiana are taking part in an Operation Pull Over blitz through the end of the month. Patrol officers will be looking for drunk drivers and seatbelt violators.

Last November 490 alcohol-related crashes occurred in Indiana, resulting in 224 injuries and 13 fatalities. A total of 735 drivers were arrested statewide for driving under the influence, and 9.504 seatbelt citations were issued to drivers and passengers who were not buckled up.

Locally the LaPorte and Marshall County Sheriff’s Departments, LaPorte Police Department and Indiana State Police are participating in the stepped-up enforcement effort.

 

A Michigan City man was pronounced dead at the scene of a car/pedestrian accident in the 9800 North block of U.S. Highway 12 early this morning.

According to an investigation by the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, Richard Schmuhl, 83, was attempting to cross the street when he suddenly darted out in front of an oncoming passenger car. Schmuhl was struck by the driver’s side of the car. Officers found him in the highway and he was pronounced dead by an official with the LaPorte County Coroner’s Office.

The driver told police that he had seen the victim standing in the passing lane and it was unknown why he moved in front of the car. It was noted in the press release that street lights are not located in the area of the accident and it was dark at the time of the collision. The driver of the vehicle was not found to be at fault.

Kevin Pons

Giancarlo Pons

Two people were arrested in an armed robbery incident in LaPorte this week.

The pair, Giancarlo Pons, 21, and Kevin Pons, 20, of LaPorte, entered the Kentucky Fried Chicken on Pine Lake Avenue, went into the office area and allegedly stole a large amount of money while pointing a handgun at employees. The brothers fled the store on foot.

The LaPorte County K9 was able to track the suspects to the former Allis-Chalmers within minutes. Officers took both of them into custody and transported them to the LaPorte County Jail without incident. No injuries were reported.

A preliminary charge of armed robbery has been filed against both Giancarlo and Kevin Pons.

 

The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department and the coroner are investigating the death of a 57-year-old Michigan City man. The man, whose name has not been released by authorities, was found dead inside his apartment Monday morning. Police were let into the apartment by the manager of the Woodland Crossing Apartment Complex after neighbors had called to report inactivity.

Investigators from the sheriff’s detective bureau were called to assist at the scene, according to a sheriff’s department news release. Investigators do not have any information that foul play was involved based on evidence at the scene. However, police say they are waiting for more information from the coroner before making a final determination.

Relatives of the decedent have been notified.

 

A LaPorte County man was found dead after his ex-wife discovered him trapped under a farm tractor in the backyard of his home on Tuesday afternoon.

LaPorte County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a residence in the 16000 South block of State Road 39, approximately three miles south and east of Hanna. The ex-wife of the victim had gone to check on the 78-year-old man’s well-being and found him on the property.

Two investigators determined that the homeowner had been working on an old farm tractor in the backyard. They believe that the tractor began moving forward, and the man became caught between the rear of the tractor and the drag box attached to the rear of the tractor. The tractor traveled approximately 200 feet before coming into contact with a tree. The deputies believe the victim became asphyxiated, but the LaPorte County Coroner will determine the official cause of death.

No evidence of foul play was found at the scene.

The victim’s name has not been released.

 

Two Munster residents were arrested late Tuesday night after the driver of the vehicle got into a physical confrontation with the arresting officer.

According to a release from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, a car driven by Travis Dade, 23, was traveling at 80 mph in a 55 mph zone. Sgt. Brett Swanson stopped the vehicle at Range Road and U.S. 6 near the town of Kingsbury. Sgt. Swanson asked Dade to step out of the vehicle after the officer smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

After exiting the vehicle, Dade began to fight when Sgt. Swanson attempted to handcuff Dade. Dade used his elbow to strike Sgt. Swanson in the throat and punched him in the face, according to police. Sgt. Swanson received abrasions to his left hand. The officer retreated to his car to radio for help while Dade attempted to flee in the vehicle. Dade was unable to get away as the keys were removed from the car. Another officer arrived on scene and used his taser in order to gain control and handcuffed Dade.

Police say a search of Dade’s vehicle found marijuana in several forms.

Dade was booked into the LaPorte County Jail on preliminary charges of battery by bodily waste, a Level 5 felony, and Level 6 felony charges of battery of a public safety official and resisting law enforcement. He is being held in the jail on a $15,005 bond. More charges could be filed after a narcotics investigation.

Sgt. Swanson was treated and released for his injuries at IU Health LaPorte Hospital, and he was also evaluated due to the claim by Dade that he was HIV positive. The passenger in the car, Shannon Hembree, 22, was arrested and has a preliminary charge of refusal to aid an officer which is a Class B misdemeanor.

 

A pair of suspects was arrested Wednesday in connection with a burglary investigation.

The initial investigation began as an unauthorized control of a vehicle. Police officers had been looking for a vehicle that was stolen by Stephanie Pahl, 28. She had allegedly taken the car from her mother. Pahl was wanted on a warrant for possession of a controlled substance.

Pahl was known to be with Shawn Allen, 30, who was a suspect in burglaries in LaPorte County, according to the news release.

Police spotted Pahl’s vehicle in Michigan City in the 700 East of Barker Avenue. Police say the pair were found hiding in the home and taken into custody without incident. Drug paraphernalia was reportedly seized.

Stephanie Pahl and Shawn Allen were booked into the LaPorte County Jail. Pahl is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of paraphernalia. Allen is charged with one count of burglary.

Sheriff’s Detective Aaron Banic is the lead investigator in the case, and he stated in the news release that other burglaries may be tied to Allen including some in Porter County. The investigation continues and other charges may be filed.

 

A scholarship will be offered to a LaPorte County student planning to study criminal justice. The scholarship is in honor of the memory of Patrolman Neil Thompson. Thompson is the only LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department officer killed in the line of duty.

A fund was established, and a scholarship created to honor fallen policeman. The $1,000 scholarship had been awarded to family members of the sheriff’s department, but Sheriff John Boyd is opening up the opportunity to students outside the department.

Applications for the scholarship can be obtained from the sheriff’s department. Applicants are required to write an essay of 500 words or more on what their goals are in being a police officer. Proof will need to be submitted that they have been accepted to a college and enrolled in course-related classes involving criminal justice and/or law enforcement. The deadline to apply is April 15.

The winning applicant will be recognized at the annual Peace Officer Memorial held by the Sheriff’s Office in May.

For more information, contact LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department Captain Michael Kellems at (219) 326-7700 extension 2327.

 

A .22 caliber bullet was found in the girls PE locker room at South Central High School, which caused a lockdown of the school at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday.

The bullet was placed into the custody of a staff member, and the school’s resource officer was notified. A search ensued. Members of the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department responded to the school and served as security as staff members looked through every student locker. The PE lockers were also thoroughly searched. Nothing of a suspicious nature was located. The lockdown was lifted after two hours.

LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd said the department will continue to aggressively investigate this incident along with a similar incident at New Prairie High School on Tuesday. He stated in a press release that officers have received assurances from the schools that they will take action against anyone guilty of bringing ammunition into the school. He added that all schools should have a heightened sense of awareness of these issues.

Anyone with information about either incident is encouraged to leave an anonymous tip by calling (219) 326-7700 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-342-STOP.

 

A Wisconsin man was taken into custody in LaPorte County from an incident stemming in Illinois Friday night.

Vincent J. Toliver, 34, reportedly fired shots inside a Walgreen’s store in Broadview, Illinois. Indiana State Police troopers continued a pursuit of his vehicle on I-294 and I-80 into Indiana. Stop sticks were deployed several times across I-80 onto I-94, but Toliver was able to avoid hitting them. LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department deputies attempted to deploy stop sticks, but Toliver was able to escape them as well. Troopers slowed eastbound traffic, and Toliver’s SUV slowed to a stop near the Michigan City exit. Toliver then began traveling slowly eastbound and turned around going west in the eastbound lanes on I-94 before coming to a stop.

Toliver refused commands to exit the vehicle when commanded to do so by officers. A negotiator from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the scene to talk Toliver out of the car and Toliver eventually exited the vehicle with a handgun in his hand, according to a press release. Police say he aimed the gun at his head and then put his hands up. He did not surrender the gun as he stood in the middle of I-94.

The LaPorte County SWAT team arrived to assist with negotiations. After an hour, Toliver was hit with a non-lethal weapon and was taken into custody. No injuries were reported. He was transported to IU Health LaPorte Hospital and then booked into the LaPorte County Jail on charges of possession of stolen property and resisting law enforcement. The handgun in Toliver’s possession was reportedly stolen out of Tennessee.

Further charges are pending. The case remains under investigation.

An early Spring snow caused several accidents in LaPorte County, including one involving a school bus.

A bus carrying 33 students was traveling north on County Road 600 West and stopped to turn into the South Central School Corporation campus driveway. A passenger vehicle could not stop in time and rear-ended the school bus. There were no injuries reported and the bus sustained very little damage. LaPorte County police believe that slick road conditions played a part in the accident.

Deputies from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department investigated 12 calls of slide-offs between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Monday morning. The crashes occurred in the far southern portion of LaPorte County to the northern half. The deputies reported that the roadways became ice covered during the morning traffic rush.

Three separate crashes closed U.S. 35 near 400 North and diverted traffic so the vehicles could be removed. The road was closed for approximately an hour.

 

Detectives with the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department are investigating an incident of criminal mischief that occurred at the Kingsbury Industrial Park.

Police say that a fire hydrant was opened sometime between 11:30 p.m. and midnight on Friday, March 20 and water ran out of the hydrant for several hours. Officials from the Kingsbury Utility Corporation estimate that more than 300,000 gallons of water flooded the area around the Bye-Mo’r business on Fourth Line Road. The business did not suffer any damage. Deliveries could not be made to or from the business due to a flooded loading dock, according to the news release.

Detectives say that whoever is responsible disrupted a public utility as the Kingsbury Utility Corporation is a supplier of water for area fire departments. Tampering with that supply could lead to a tragedy if firefighters needed fire suppression in the event of an emergency. Businesses in the industrial park also rely on that water supply in order to conduct day-to-day operations.

LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd encourages anyone with information to call Detective Aaron Banic at (219) 326-7700 ext. 2407. Information can also be delivered anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-342-STOP. Crime Stoppers will pay a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of individuals in this incident.

 

A high-speed pursuit that started in LaPorte County just after 9 last night ended near New Buffalo, Mich. when the suspect rolled his SUV. A LaPorte City Police Officer tried to stop a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a suspected traffic violator on the downtown overpass. A LaPorte County Sheriff’s Deputy joined the pursuit as the motorist fled north on Pine Lake Avenue and eventually north onto State Road 39 past the city limits.

The driver then broke the cross arm on the west entrance to the Indiana Toll Road, according to a sheriff’s department news release and continued to the 22 mile marker near Portage at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. At that point police say he did a U turn and headed east. He allegedly got off the toll road at the 49 mile marker, broke the cross arm and turned north onto State Road 39. A Michigan State Line Sheriff’s Sergeant used a pursuit intervention technique to stop the vehicle. It caused the driver to lose control of the SUV and slide off the west side of State Road 239 just south of New Buffalo, Mich. It rolled twice before coming to rest on its roof in a water-filled ditch.

The lone occupant, Leroy Michael Cortez, 47, was arrested by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Police on a preliminary charge of driving while intoxicated. The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department and LaPorte Police plan to file numerous charges against Cortez and seek his extradition. Cortez refused medical treatment at the crash site and was medically cleared at a nearby hospital before being taken to jail.

LaPorte County police are investigating an ongoing littering issue in Galena and Springfield Townships.

On Wednesday, workers in the Community Work Program picked up trash alongside County Road 125 E., County Road 800 N., County Road 900 N., Fail Road and County Road 1000 N. A truck bed quickly filled up with extra large trash bags full of garbage.

The Community Work Program involves low-risk inmates that perform various work projects around the county.

Some of the trash found poses a health hazard to the community.

LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd is asking patrolman to increase their presence in those areas to deter littering. If residents witness a person littering, they are asked to call the sheriff’s department and report the issue with as much detail as possible in order to detain those responsible.

 

Officers from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department conducted over 129 hours of additional enforcement during an Operation Pull Over event in March.

The enforcement focused on occupant restraint law compliance.

Seat belt tickets numbered 80 while 56 citations and 173 warnings were issued. The officers conducted 229 stops for speed related offenses. Nine suspended drivers were arrested. One motorist received a citation for violating the open container law, and one driver was arrested for driving under the influence. A total of 390 violator contacts were recorded.

The effort of the sheriff’s department continues to be the reduction of the number of motor vehicle crashes and injuries.

Operation Pull Over is a federally funded enforcement initiative administered by the Traffic Safety Division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

The explosion at the Co-Alliance grain elevator in LaCrosse critically injured four employees, two of whom were airlifted to Fort Wayne. The others were taken to Porter Memorial Hospital in Valparaiso.

It didn’t take long for emergency responders to arrive to the scene of an explosion on Thursday morning in La Crosse.

The 911 Center in La Porte County received a call of an explosion just before 9:00 a.m. An Indiana State Trooper was in the area and heard the explosion before arriving on scene.

An initial investigation revealed that a grain elevator – used for hog feed year-round – had exploded. The La Crosse Fire Department, and LaPorte EMS and EMA Departments responded to the scene.

LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd says triaging the patient’s injuries was essential.

“At this point, we don’t know how many employees were working at the Co-alliance at the time, but all have been accounted for,” says Boyd.

The grain elevator in question is operated by Co-Alliance – which owns grain elevators around the state. That structure is on Howard Street in La Crosse.

Four workers at the site experienced injuries in the explosion – all of which critically. Two were flown from the scene to a hospital in Fort Wayne. Two others were transported to Porter Memorial Hospital in Porter County.

At this time, emergency officials have not determined the cause of the explosion. Minor flames were present at the scene. It took fewer than 30 minutes to extinguish. Chemicals were also present, but none were compromised.

Boyd says additional concern came for nearby residences.

“La Crosse High School is approximately one block away and that would have been a real concern for us if we needed to evacuate those students,” says Boyd. “But of course because there was no leak, there was no compromise of any of those chemicals, there was no need for an evacuation.”

The investigation, as part of routine procedure, has been turned over to the Bureau of Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives and OSHA.

Now that the situation has largely been contained, a collapse of the grain elevator is considered the biggest concern. Co-alliance may be responsible for providing fencing and security at the site to prevent additional injury. The grain elevator structure will likely need to be taken down.

Representatives of Co-alliance will be at the scene throughout the day. The remaining workers may be transferred to other grain elevator sites in the state to continue work.

The names of the injured workers are not being released at this time.

More photos from the explosion are posted on the WKVI Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152708811806507.1073741850.369157981506&type=3&uploaded=23

A grain elevator explosion in LaCrosse this morning critically injures four employees. Jonah Pacione, 19, and Emilio Galicia, 43, were airlifted to St. Joseph Burn Center in Fort Wayne. Craig Chase, 34, and Chris Fort, 26, are patients at Porter Memorial Hospital in Valparaiso. All four sustained burns, but none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening. Co-Alliance CEO Kevin A. Still says company personnel will be on-site at the hospitals to provide support and assistance to the employees and their families.

LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Captain Mike Kellams says the explosion occurred just before 9 a.m. Central. The cause remains under investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office and OSHA. Kellams says foul play is not suspected. He adds early indications are it was an industrial accident. The facility makes hog feed from rolled corn, and grain silos are historically volatile.

“It was a very large explosion, and there is a large amount of structural damage to the building. Right now our concern is structural collapse, so they are keeping everyone away from the building,” Kellams said during a media briefing.

A neighbor who lives to the west of the structure said he thought the loud boom he heard was thunder until he heard the sirens. Another thought it may have been an earthquake. Streets in the immediate area remain closed for safety’s sake and will be for the foreseeable future. The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department will have a presence there through the night to maintain security.

An album of photos is posted with this story on https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152708811806507.1073741850.369157981506&type=1