Car Salesman Held Hostage On Test Drive Ending In Crash
Wednesday afternoon at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Indiana State Police Lowell Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call from a passenger in a vehicle that was traveling on I-80/94 near the 10 mile-marker, according to Sgt. Glen Fifield of The Indiana State Police. The caller reported that he was being held against his will in a vehicle that had been taken for a test drive by the suspect. The suspect was reported to be driving at a high rate of speed and refused to pull over to let the victim get out of the vehicle. The vehicle, a 2009 Kia Borrego, had been taken for a test drive with the salesperson from a dealership, Bosco Family Motors, which is in Hobart, IN.
While the caller was on 911 with dispatchers, the driver of the Kia rear-ended a semi-trailer at a high rate of speed. The impact resulted in the car catching on fire and the victim being partially trapped inside of the vehicle. The victim was pulled out of the vehicle by Good Samaritans who stopped to help as troopers helped and put out the vehicle fire. The driver of the Kia, later identified as LaDarien D. Gregory, 29, from Hammond, IN, was located walking away from the scene, Fifield said. Both the suspect and victim were transported to Northlake Hospital in Gary for treatment. The driver of the semi was not injured. The victim was later flown to Loyola University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The suspect has since been released and transported to the Lake County Jail.
Friday afternoon, charges were filed against LeDarien Devontae Deshon Gregory as a result of an incident that occurred on August 11, 2021. Detectives from the Indiana State Police Lowell Criminal Investigations Division continued to investigate the incident and as a result the following charges have been filed:
- Kidnapping- Level 2 Felony
- Kidnapping- Level 3 Felony
- Auto Theft- Level 6 Felony
- Identity Deception- Level 6 Felony
- Operating a Vehicle Without Ever Receiving a License- Class C Misdemeanor
During the investigation, it was determined that Mr. Gregory provided false information to Bosco Family Motors to take a vehicle for what was believed to be a test drive. During that drive, the suspect accelerated to over 100 mph before rear-ending a semi-trailer. As a result of the crash, both the suspect and victim, who was a salesman along for the test drive, were injured.
All persons named in this release are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
