Law and Order Porter County

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PORTAGE

Three arrested for swiping purse

Three men are charged with felony theft after allegedly swiping a purse in the Wal-Mart parking lot, at 6087 U.S. 6. The 52-year-old victim told police she was loading groceries into her vehicle, at about 7:30 p.m. Monday, when three men grabbed the purse from her shopping cart and left in a red Jeep Cherokee. Police are familiar with a suspect who drives that vehicle, so they went to his home and, after questioning them, arrested Michael Dwyer, Kelly Rushing, and Charles Nafus, all 18, and of different addresses in Portage. Nafus also was arrested for allegedly giving police a false name and on a warrant for felony burglary.

PORTER COUNTY

Man was drinking beer while driving

Richard Arciniega, 46, of Gary, was arrested for felony drunken driving after being stopped for speeding at about 8:20 p.m. Monday in the 900 block of North Calumet Avenue. Arciniega admitted he was drinking beer from a cooler while driving and had four or five prior drunken driving convictions, police said.