Law and Order Porter County

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Updated: January 16, 2012 7:31PM

PORTAGE

Woman overdoses in moving vehicle

A 19-year-old woman stopped breathing as she and three friends, all from Michigan City, traveled along Interstate 94 Sunday afternoon, injecting heroin they purchased in Gary or Chicago, police said. The woman’s 11-month-old daughter also was in the vehicle in an unsecured car seat.

Fellow backseat passenger Meagan Lubiniecki, 20, told police that after Nicole Comerford lost consciousness, she had trouble convincing driver Nichole Schultz, 26, to stop and get help. When she did pull over, at about 3:35 p.m. Sunday at the Family Express at 6250 Ameriplex Drive, a 911 dispatcher told them how to perform CPR while waiting for help. A fourth adult in the vehicle identified only as Anthony or Tony left the area.

Police found numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia in the silver 1996 Dodge Intrepid, which they impounded.

After Comerford was treated at Porter hospital in Portage, she was arrested for felony neglect of a dependent and on two misdemeanor charges, possession of drug paraphernalia and visiting a common nuisance. The driver, Schultz, was arrested for maintaining a common nuisance, a felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Lubiniecki was charged with visiting a common nuisance. The man remains at large.

Child Protective Services took temporary custody of the infant, with the intention of releasing her to another relative, police said.

‘Bath salts’ high leads to fight

As a police officer tussled in the snow with an impaired suspect, the two men came close to going over a barrier wall at the Interstate 80/90 overpass at Indiana 249, according to the police report.

Even several stuns from a Taser from the second officer who arrived at the scene did not slow Christopher Mendoza, who was arrested only with the help of multiple officers.

Two of the officers reported minor injuries.

At about 4:35 a.m. Friday, police were told a man was running through traffic and attempting to get into moving vehicles. The first officer who arrived said Mendoza yelled for him to pray with him, then ran toward the overpass barrier wall.

Mendoza, 40, of Portage, was arrested for felony battery to law enforcement and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct. He later was found to possess a designer drug commonly known as “bath salts.”

Five arrested for stealing vodka

Five young adults were arrested for reportedly stealing alcohol at about 6 p.m. Friday from Kmart, 6050 U.S. 6.

In addition to three bottles of Grey Goose vodka, the group also allegedly stole a purse, wallet, costume jewelry and other small items, bringing the total value to $228.88.

Nickolas Gutierrez, 18 and Ashley Randle, 21, both of Portage; Angelina Rodriguez, 18, of Chicago; Rick Saenz, 20, whose address was unavailable; and Arturo Sanchez, 20, of Hammond, all were arrested for felony theft. Gutierrez is charged with underage drinking also.

CHESTERTON

Assault follows mourners’ gathering

A 36-year-old Westville man is accused of assaulting a 33-year-old former girlfriend as she left a gathering to mourn a mutual friend’s death.

According to police, a number of people gathered Friday evening in the 1700 block of Portage Avenue, including the suspect and the victim, a Porter woman.

When she left at about 4 a.m. Saturday, the suspect reportedly followed her outside and jumped into the bed of her pickup and broke its back window to get inside. The woman abandoned the truck and ran back to the house.

The man followed again and, once back at the gathering, he allegedly began hitting her. The woman refused treatment. Prosecutors will determine if charges will be filed.

Battery victim escapes vehicle

A 23-year-old Lake Station woman suffered head and facial injuries after fleeing from a vehicle to escape a 44-year-old Chesterton man who allegedly was punching her as he drove her home.

As she was treated at about 6:50 p.m. Saturday at the Porter hospital emergency station at Porter Avenue and Indiana 49, the woman told police she got away when the suspect let her open the vehicle door to vomit.

Police could not immediately locate the suspect, so prosecutors will determine whether to file charges.

VALPARAISO

Two women join Valparaiso PD

Two new police officers were sworn in Monday morning at City Hall; both begin their new duties immediately.

Cassidy Reeder, 29, graduated from Homestead High School in northeastern Indiana and earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University. She is working toward a master’s degree in criminal behavior.

Casey Pedersen, 22, is originally from Northview, Mich. She graduated from Valparaiso University and completed two internships at the Valparaiso Police Department.