Law and Order Porter County

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Updated: March 23, 2012 8:19AM

PORTAGE

Driver sending texts arrested

After following a vehicle that was swerving repeatedly across three lanes, including into oncoming traffic, an off-duty officer pulled in front of the green GMC Jimmy at a stop light to hold the driver for on-duty units. He immediately approached to determine if there was a medical emergency and was told, by the 8- and 9-year-old girls in the back seat, that the driver was sending text messages.

Laura Heckman, 38, of Portage, was arrested for felony neglect of a dependent during the traffic stop at about 4:55 p.m. Saturday at Crisman and Old Porter roads. Heckman also was ticketed for driving left of center.

Tinted windows leads to pot arrest

Eduardo Diaz, 20, of Gary, was arrested for dealing and possession of marijuana, both felony charges, in a traffic stop at about 7:20 a.m. Saturday at U.S. 6 and Swanson Road. Police pulled over the gray 2003 Ford Taurus because the window tint was too dark and discovered six bags of marijuana in Diaz’s jacket on the front seat, according to the arrest report. As the car was impounded, police found more marijuana, a scale and packaging material in the trunk. The total weight of the seized marijuana was 78.5 grams.

SOUTH HAVEN

Cocaine, heroin found during stop

Felix Olvera, 33, of South Haven, and Bryan Patterson, 35, of Plymouth, were arrested on drug charges during a traffic stop at 12:45 a.m. Monday, for driving left of center and nearly striking a squad car, police said.

When police stopped the 1996 Dodge Intrepid at County Roads 450W and 700N, the driver, Olvera, consented to a search. Police ultimately found several packages of cocaine and heroin hidden on Olvera, drug paraphernalia in the vehicle and prescription sleeping and anti-anxiety pills on his passenger.

Olvera was arrested on three felony charges: two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one of possession of a hypodermic needle. Patterson was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance and a hypodermic needle, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

PORTER COUNTY

Rowdy bar patron arrested on warrants

Staff at the Roadhouse Bar, 4 W. U.S. 6, asked Lanny Gunter and a male relative to leave after being involved in at least three disturbances throughout the evening.

When they refused, police were called and arrested Gunter, 53, of Hobart, on warrants for failure to appear on a check deception charge and failure to appear on a public intoxication charge.

Before he was taken to jail, Gunter was treated at Porter hospital for a 0.37 percent blood-alcohol level, police said.

Drunken driving crash causes outage

An allegedly drunken driver striking a utility pole caused a power outage at about 1:05 a.m. Sunday, in the area of Indiana 130 and County Road 625W in Union Township. James McMaster, 52, of Yukon, Okla., was arrested for driving with a blood-alcohol level just under three times the legal limit. No one was injured.

VALPARAISO

Dresses stolen from wedding studio

Two turquoise dresses, worth $175 and $799, were reported stolen from Cupid Wedding & Portrait Studios, at 151 W. Lincolnway. The business’s owner told police she noticed the first dress was missing on Thursday, and that the hanger and its plastic covering still were on the rack. The second dress was discovered missing on Monday. Both dresses had been on a display rack near the front door.