Jessie Brown III, 47, of Chicago, has been charged in Porter County following a Chesterton Police Department investigation into the alleged robbery of a Speedway gas station in the 700 block of Indian Boundary Road. 

According to court documents, Chesterton Police were dispatched to the gas station at approximately 2:43 a.m. on July 15. Dispatch advised officers a male suspect had fled the scene in a U-Haul cargo van. 

Police allege Brown entered the store and requested several cartons of Newport cigarettes before selecting additional snack items. Court documents state Brown attempted to pay several times, but his debit or credit card was repeatedly declined. Believing the final transaction had been approved, the cashier began handing him the bagged merchandise before realizing the payment had once again been declined. Investigators allege Brown became angry, grabbed the bag from the cashier, causing it to tear open and spill its contents, then went behind the counter and took four cartons of Newport cigarettes before fleeing in the U-Haul. Police estimated the loss at approximately $548. 

According to court records, investigators used FLOCK license plate reader technology to identify the U-Haul. The vehicle was observed traveling toward the Speedway shortly before the robbery and away from the area shortly afterward. The following afternoon, Brown was stopped on Interstate 94 near Chesterton and transported to the Chesterton Police Department for questioning along with a female passenger. 

Court documents state the passenger told investigators she had rented the U-Haul in Chicago the day before and identified Brown as the person shown in Speedway surveillance images. Investigators also noted Brown was wearing clothing they believed matched the suspect captured on surveillance video. Brown denied committing the robbery, claimed he was in Chicago during the incident, and, when asked where his cellphone location data would place him at the time of the robbery, reportedly responded, “I don’t know.” 

Police searched the U-Haul and recovered the butt of a used Newport cigarette but did not locate the stolen cartons of cigarettes. 

Court records further state Brown has prior Indiana theft-related conviction.

Charges filed July 17, 2026:

Robbery — Level 5 Felony

Theft (Prior Robbery or Burglary Conviction Enhancement) — Level 6 Felony