Law and Order Porter County

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PORTAGE

3 motel guests
arrested in scuffle

Three people were arrested in a drunken disturbance at Country Inn and Suites, 1630 Olmsted.

Police responded to the hotel at about 1:20 a.m. Sunday for a complaint that guest Jesse Smith, 37, of Crown Point, and a friend of his, Paul Powell, 31, of Hebron, were yelling at the front desk clerk.

They were allowed to return to their rooms but, at about 1:50 a.m., the clerk told police Smith returned. When police questioned Smith, he allegedly fought against the officers.

His wife, Ann Norris-Smith, 35, and Powell reportedly tried to intervene with the officers attempting to handcuff Smith.

Police said Smith was stunned with a Taser, kicked an officer in the head, and then was stunned with two more Tasers simultaneously. He received several more shocks before he stopped resisting arrest, according to the police report.

Smith was arrested for felony battery to law enforcement and several misdemeanor charges — resisting law enforcement, disorderly conduct, public intoxication and criminal mischief.

Norris-Smith was arrested for resisting law enforcement and public intoxication, both misdemeanors. Powell was arrested for misdemeanor public intoxication and disorderly conduct.

The officer who was kicked, and who consequently struck his head against the wall, was treated at Porter hospital for jaw pain.

VALPARAISO

Police use Taser on wrong-way driver

Jason Johns, 31, of rural Porter County, reportedly fought with multiple police officers during a 4:40 a.m. Sunday traffic stop in the 4100 block of East Morthland Drive.

Police said Johns had been driving westbound in the eastbound lands of U.S. 30. He was stunned with a Taser at least four times before police could put handcuffs on him.

Police said Johns, who has had numerous drunken driving arrests, was arrested this time for resisting law enforcement, drunken driving and disorderly conduct. His left pinky finger was broken in the struggle.

SOUTH HAVEN

Police arrest driver after crash

Police said Michael Yakel, 37, of South Haven, was drunk when he crashed into a parked pickup and a utility pole at about 6:10 p.m. Friday in the 400 block of Nantucket.

Yakel said he lost control of his SUV when ite slid on a patch of ice. Once police told him there was no ice in the roadway, Yakel reportedly blamed the crash on an epileptic seizure. While at the emergency room, Yakel appeared to be faking repeated seizures, according to the police report.

Yakel was arrested for felony drunken driving with a prior conviction.

Driver IDs himself as his twin

Brian Forst, 37, of rural Valparaiso, was arrested for felony identity deception and misdemeanor possession of marijuana after being stopped for driving with a suspended license.

Police said Forst pretended to be his twin brother during the traffic stop at about 7:55 p.m. Sunday in the 300 block of U.S. 6.

PORTER COUNTY

Drivers go off roads after drinking

Russell Harders, 44, of Wheeler, was injured when he drove off County Road 600N and snapped a utility pole in half at about 11:15 p.m. Friday. Police said Harders admitted drinking about eight beers and had a cut to his head and said he could not feel his left arm. Harders was admitted to the hospital but drunken driving charges will be filed, police said.

Tyler Dittrich, 20, of rural Porter County, was arrested for underage drinking after crashing his pickup into a ditch at about 2 a.m. Saturday, near the intersections of County Roads 500N and 250W. At the time of the crash, Dittrich was out on bond for underage drinking.

Man injured in parenting dispute

Tiffany Derr-Diaz, 40, was arrested for felony domestic battery with a child present, for a fight at about 10:15 p.m. Saturday at her home on Muirfield Drive, in Center Township.

Derr-Diaz allegedly threw a cable box at a 35-year-old man, striking him in the face, as they argued over parenting methods, police said.

The man had a visible injury but refused medical treatment.

VALPARAISO

Snow blower stolen from VFW

A Toro snow blower worth $400 was reported stolen from VFW Post 988, where it was kept in a locked shed on the property at 705 Roosevelt Road.

The theft happened between Jan. 19 and Jan. 28, and it appears the thief had access to a key to the shed, according to the police report.