Michigan City Man Charged After Throwing Bags Of Drugs And Phones Over Fence At Westville Correctional Facility
Halton Maleek Duke, 19, of Michigan City, is facing multiple felony charges after court documents allege he was observed throwing two large bags filled with contraband over the fence and into the Westville Correctional Facility during the early morning hours of January 20.
According to the Affidavit for Probable Cause, at approximately 12:20 a.m., prison staff observed Duke along the fence line behind 7 and 8 dorm. As staff continued to watch, Duke allegedly threw two large bags over the fence into the prison grounds.
The affidavit states Duke then ran toward the outer fence line and was seen pulling on the fence line until the lower portion lifted, allowing him to crawl out from underneath.
Law enforcement and facility staff followed footprints in the area and located Duke hiding behind the smoke shop located on US 421, where he was taken into custody. Investigators recovered two bags, a pair of bolt cutters, and Duke’s black GUESS coat, which were submitted into evidence.
Court documents list the items recovered from the two bags as follows:
Duffle Bag:
• 31 individual bags of brown leafy substance
• 16 oz bags of Gambler tobacco
• 16 oz bag of Good Stuff tobacco
• small container with brown waxlike substance
• Sim Card kits
• 14 Cellular Devices
• Vape Cartridges (Nicotine)
• Red Lighter
• bag containing orange gummies
• bag containing green gummies
• Barber kit (combs, guards, electric shaving tool)
• 10 pack of black ankle socks (AND1 Brand)
• pack of black male boxer briefs (AND1 Brand)
• piece screw driver sets
• Bottle of Castor Oil with Biotin and Collagen
• jar of “Baby Don’t Be Bald” scalp cream.
• packs of TOPPS rolling papers (600)
• cell phone charging cords
• cell phone charger adapters
• set of headphones
Black Net Backpack:
• 16 oz bag of Gambler tobacco
• 16 oz bag of TOPPS tobacco
• 13 cellular devices
• individual bags containing green leafy substance, suspected to be marijuana.
• full sheets of paper that appears to have been saturated in an unknown substance
• 32 individual bags of brown leafy substance, suspected to be tobacco.
• tubes of super glue
• piece screw driver set
• packs of TOPPS rolling papers (400)
• bottle of acetone
• Vape cartridges (Nicotine)
• Lighters
• Reebok tank tops
• SIM card kits
• sets of head phones.
Field testing documented in the affidavit showed:
• Orange and Green Gummies — Field tested POSITIVE for THC (139.6 grams)
• Brown wax like substance — Field tested POSITIVE for Meth (38.1 grams)
Charges filed January 22,2026:
• Dealing in Methamphetamine — Level 2 Felony
• Attempted Trafficking With an Inmate — Level 5 Felony
• Attempted Trafficking With an Inmate — Level 5 Felony
