Law and Order Porter County
September 4, 2012 5:00PM
PORTER COUNTY
Unknown caller was watching homeowner
An unknown man repeatedly called a house in rural Porter Township Monday night, scaring a 53-year-old woman by describing the home and noting when she shut off a light. The man, who muffled his voice and used an application to make it appear the calls were coming from an area hospital, police said, even made comments about seeing squad cars pull over vehicles in the subdivision while they unsuccessfully searched for the caller.
The first call came at about 10:40 p.m., when the man asked to speak to the woman’s daughter, who does not live at the home, and said, “well, you better get ahold of her because she better pay me my money,” before hanging up. The man called back numerous times over approximately an hour.
SOUTH HAVEN
Attempt made to enter occupied home
At about 5 a.m. Saturday, someone attempted to break into a home in the 700 block of Heritage Road while one of its residents slept. At about 5 a.m., the 29-year-old man told police, he heard sounds he described as like “someone slapping glass.” He then heard glass breaking and searched the house, finding a broken window in another bedroom and muddy shoeprints on the back door. Police have information on a possible suspect.
VALPARAISO
Man punched bouncer during bar fight
Keithan Dillard, 30, of Hammond, was arrested at about 3 a.m. Sunday for alleged battery to a bouncer at the Franklin House, 58 Campbell St.
The 29-year-old victim told police Dillard punched him in the face as he tried to break up a fight outside the bar. Dillard told police someone hit him first — he did not see who — so he started swinging. Police requested a warrant to arrest a 26-year-old Valparaiso woman, whom a witness said was the one to hit Dillard from behind, for battery.
Driver hit three vehicles in parking lot
Jeremy Roberts, 35, of Valparaiso, was arrested at about 12:50 a.m. Monday for drunken driving, a felony because of a prior conviction, when he reportedly struck three vehicles while driving through the parking lot of the Franklin House, at 58 Campbell St.
Police said Roberts denied driving and claimed he could not perform field sobriety tests because his back was broken. Roberts also had a suspended driver’s license and was wanted on a warrant, police said.
Teen who ditches class found with pot
A 16-year-old male was arrested after he and a juvenile female reportedly left school property at about 7:20 a.m. Friday to smoke.
Police found the two along Foggy Glenn Drive, walking north from Valparaiso High School. The male dropped a wadded-up tissue, which contained suspected marijuana. He tried to pull away when police put handcuffs on him but stopped when threatened with a Taser, police said.
He was charged with felony possession of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school zone and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement. The juvenile girl was released back to class.
CHESTERTON
Excessive speeders jailed as habitual violators
• Shawn Bryant, 31, of Hebron, was arrested on a felony charge of driving despite being a habitual traffic violator, when he was stopped at about 2 p.m. Saturday for allegedly going 47 mph in a 30 mph zone on 11th Street. Police said the infraction occurred near the entrance to Westchester Intermediate School while a number of children were present for a Pop Warner football game.
• Marcus Gilbert, 32, of rural Valparaiso, was arrested on a felony charge of driving as a habitual traffic violator, when stopped at about 5:05 a.m. Friday for going 79 mph in a 55 mph zone on Indiana 49, at County Road 900N.
