High-Speed Pursuit in Hammond Leads to Arrest of Wanted Fugitive
Hammond – A late-night police pursuit on Interstate 80 ended with the arrest of a Hammond man wanted on multiple warrants across several states, according to the Indiana State Police.
Around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 13, Trooper Aidan Baker observed a silver 1997 Mercury Villager speeding at 96 mph in a posted 55 mph zone near the 0.8 mile marker on I-80 eastbound in Hammond. The vehicle, bearing Illinois license plates, was also seen weaving between lanes, disregarding traffic control devices, and crossing the center line.
When Baker attempted to stop the vehicle, later identified as driven by Kevin Glen Bandy, 52, of Hammond, the minivan accelerated to more than 100 mph. Bandy led officers on a chase onto northbound Cline Avenue, reaching speeds of 97 mph before exiting too fast near the Indiana Toll Road. The van left the roadway, struck a guardrail, and became stuck in gravel.
Bandy fled on foot, prompting a chase down an embankment and across a fence. With the help of Lake County Sheriff’s deputies and K9 “Zero,” officers located Bandy hiding in tall grass. Police say he resisted arrest, struck the police dog, and kept his hands tucked under his body before officers were able to place him in handcuffs. He sustained multiple K9 bite injuries during the struggle and was treated by medics on scene.
A search of the area where Bandy was found turned up a bag containing a glass pipe with drug residue, copper mesh, and several identification and Social Security cards that did not belong to him. Police also confirmed the vehicle’s plates were registered to a different vehicle, a white 2015 Mercedes-Benz, raising further concerns.
Bandy was taken to Methodist Southlake Hospital for medical clearance, where officers say he was combative with staff, refused to provide his name, and threatened to spit on a trooper. Hospital staff sedated him for treatment before he was transported to the Lake County Jail.
Authorities confirmed Bandy was wanted on six active warrants: two from Lake County, Indiana, two from Minnesota, one from Illinois, and one from Georgia.
Bandy now faces additional charges in Lake County including:
Level 6 Felony- Resisting Law Enforcement-uses a vehicle
Class A Misdemeanor – Resisting Law Enforcmnt
Class A Misdemeanor – Striking a Law Enforcement Animal
Class A Misdemeanor – Criminal Recklessness
Class B Misdemeanor – Leaving the Scene of an Accident Driver fails to immediately stop at the scene
Class B Misdemeanor – Violation of In-State Registration Requirement
Class C Misdemeanor – Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated
Class C Misdemeanor – Possession of Paraphernalia; Introducing a Controlled Substance into Body
Class C Misdemeanor – Reckless Driving Drive at unreasonable high or low speed so to endanger safety
Class C Misdemeanor – Refusal to Identify Self
Class B Misdemeanor – Violation of In-State Registration Requirement
Infractions for the following: Failure to Signal Turn, Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Financial Responsibility, Driving too Fast for Conditions, Disregarding an Official Traffic Control Device, Speeding, Unsafe Lane Movement, Driving While Suspended, No Valid Driver’s License, No Operator’s License in Possession, and Operating a Motor Vehicle with a False Plate-Plate Belongs to Another Vehicle.
