Sheriff Addresses Last Nights Car Jacking
“I would like to commend officers from seven collaborating police agencies whose combined efforts resulted in the arrest of a pair of auto theft suspects from Illinois,” said Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. “The suspects are from Illinois and were accused of attacking a woman in Munster and stealing her SUV.”
The police officers involved with the arrests were participating in a special enforcement detail targeting stolen vehicles, robberies and other crimes. The detail included officers from the Illinois State Police, Dyer, Highland, Munster, Schererville, St. John and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.
Sometime after midnight on 10/30/2020, the officers received information that the Illinois State Police helicopter was tracking a vehicle believed to be taken during an earlier armed carjacking in Munster. Officers working the detail learned the white Dodge Durango was traveling east on I-80/94. The SUV avoided a rolling roadblock and exited onto south Kennedy Avenue. The SUV attempted to drive around a concrete median to head north, but struck a fully marked St. John Police Department vehicle. The SUV crashed into a ditch on the east side of Kennedy Avenue, and officers observed the driver and a passenger exit the vehicle and flee on foot. St. John police also saw the driver throw a handgun over a fence, climb the fence. He continued to flee toward a hotel in the 2800 block of Carlson Drive. Officers apprehended the passenger when they spotted him hiding underneath outdoor furniture at a nearby brewery. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department Aviation Unit helicopter and Chicago police assisted with apprehending the driver near the hotel. Munster police recovered the stolen SUV.
The driver, identified as a 22-year-old male from Calumet City, IL, and the passenger, identified as a 17-year-old male from Lynwood, IL are both being held at the Lake County Jail.
Officers recovered a fully-loaded handgun believed to be the one tossed by the driver. Two other weapons, a pistol and an AR-15, were recovered from the SUV.
“I am increasingly concerned with the frequency of suspects from Illinois committing auto thefts and other violent crimes in Lake County, Indiana,” said Sheriff Martinez. “We will utilize all of the extensive resources, skills and equipment at our disposal to bring these offenders to justice.”
We, the law-abiding residents of the northwest Indiana region, have also taken notice of the frequency of criminals from Illinois committing violent crimes in Lake County, Indiana. I, for one sleep comfortably at night, knowing the region is well protected by police officers from our local municipalities, county, state, and federal agencies. This news site does a great service to the region, by keeping us informed of criminal activity. Thank you to all the officers involved in the apprehension of the violent and dangerous criminals in this incident, and thank you to all officers that are on duty 24/7 doing their part for the safety of all of us.