Parents Arrested On Warrants After Pursuit With A Child In The Car Thursday
On Thursday July 11, 2024, Highland Police officers were assisting other police agencies with a Lake County Saturation Patrol when Highland Officer observed a black 2006 Lexus traveling northbound on Broadway going over I-80/94. The officer’s attention was drawn to the car due to loud noises coming from the vehicle, according to Highland Police.
The vehicle then stopped in the lanes of travel and the officer went to check on the vehicle. The officer advised the driver that he was now being stopped for obstructing traffic as the vehicle was blocking the lanes of travel on Broadway. It was ultimately found that the vehicle had a mechanical problem where part of the front panel area was scraping on the ground.
The officer asked for the driver’s license and he first gave a name to the officer. The officer also observed that there was a small child (3 year old) who was not secured in a child safety seat in the rear driver’s side seat, as well as a female passenger (24 year old female from Gary) in the front passenger’s side seat. Ultimately, when the license check did not come back as the driver had identified himself, the driver was asked again for his correct information at which time the driver put the vehicle into gear and fled the traffic stop.
Officers pursued the vehicle at slow speeds north on Broadway onto some local streets and then the vehicle made its way back to Broadway and then onto westbound I-80/94. The Lexus then began to gain speed as it continued west. The Highland officer terminated the pursuit for the safety of the child in the car. Other police units in the area then took over the pursuit and ultimately, the driver stopped his car on the interstate and he fled the Lexus. He was captured by officers on the opposite side of 80/94.
The Highland officer then went to the scene where the Lexus has stopped and identified the passenger. The passenger was found to have an active warrant out of Hamilton County, Indiana for Burglary. She was taken into custody and transported to the Lake County Jail. The male driver (39 year old male from Gary) was found to have multiple active warrants out of both Indiana and Illinois. He was transported to Lake County Jail.
Charges are pending and the investigation continues against the male driver for the additional charges of: Operating with expired plates, Failure to Identify, Child Restraint Violation, Reckless Driving Neglect of a Dependent and Resisting Law Enforcement.
The 3 year old child was released to his aunt, who responded to the scene to pick him up. Indiana Child Protective Services was also notified regarding this incident, Highland Police said.
