Jamiyah James Woodson, 19, of Gary, allegedly stole a John Deere utility vehicle from the Hammond Sanitary District before police found another person’s passport and gift card in his possession.
Hammond Police responded at approximately 5:45 a.m. August 25 to the area of Highland Street and Columbia Avenue following a report of a recently stolen motor vehicle.
While officers were responding, police reportedly spotted a John Deere UTV matching the description traveling south near 165th Street and Columbia Avenue.
Officers located the UTV in the 7100 block of Columbia Avenue with its amber light activated. Woodson was allegedly standing immediately outside the vehicle when officers arrived. Police ordered him to the ground, and he complied before being taken into custody.
The Hammond Sanitary District’s lead supervisor told police he saw the UTV leaving the district’s property in the 5100 block of Columbia Avenue. The supervisor reportedly knew the driver was not a district employee, followed the UTV and contacted the district superintendent, who called 911 and provided updated location information.
According to court documents, the facility’s gates are normally closed, but recent storms had left the gate keypad inoperable and the entrance open. The superintendent told police Woodson did not have permission to enter the property or take the UTV.
During a search of Woodson, officers allegedly found multiple lighters, change, vaping devices, a U.S. passport and an Illinois identification card issued to other people.
Police subsequently contacted the passport owner, who said her vehicle had been entered while parked in the 1100 block of Indiana Street between the night of August 24 and the following morning. She reported that her passport, a $25 Amazon gift card and several $20 bills were missing.
Police said the passport and $25 gift card were found in Woodson’s front pocket. Officers reportedly did not find the missing $20 bills, although Woodson allegedly possessed some change and a single dollar bill.
During the booking process, police also removed a large Indiana University Northwest Hall of Fame ring from Woodson’s finger. The ring displayed another person’s last name and the year “2025.”
Investigators contacted the apparent owner, who said the ring was supposed to be inside his office but that he had not noticed it missing during the previous several days. Court records do not list an additional charge connected to the ring or Illinois identification card.
Charge filed August 26, 2026:
Auto Theft, a Level 6 felony
Additional charge filed August 27, 2026:
Theft, a Class A misdemeanor
