Hammond Man Steals Two Cars From Munster Before Crashing In Chase
On Friday, 11/06/2020, at approximately 11:00 a.m., a Lake County Sheriff Officer was patrolling the area of 21st Ave. and Grant St. about to turn left when he observed a 2012 Nissan Altima westbound through the light at a high rate of speed. Police pulled straight ahead to follow the vehicle and at that time, the officer observed the vehicle traveling approximately 45 mph in a marked 30 mph zone. The vehicle then began to tailgate a vehicle ahead of it and swerve back and forth. The driver looked in his rear view mirror and then made an abrupt right turn without signalling his intention. The officer observed that the vehicle was occupied by one male. Police activated their red/blue lights to stop the vehicle for the observed traffic infractions. The vehicle pulled to the side and stopped. The officer exited his vehicle and began to approach the vehicle. As he approached the rear passenger door in full uniform, the driver suddenly sped off. The officer ran back to his vehicle and pursued the vehicle with red/blue lights and siren activated while advising dispatch of the fleeing driver.
During the pursuit, the driver recklessly disregarded numerous stop signs and traffic lights as he accelerated in excess of 85 mph through the neighborhood streets of Gary and into Hammond, police said. While eastbound on 19th Ave., the driver entered the left lane and went head on at Gary Police Department vehicles who were attempting to assist, forcing them to stop and narrowly avoiding a collision. The driver cut through several yards and continued westbound on 15th ave. The driver accelerated over 90 mph on 15th Ave. and attempted to force other vehicles off of the road. Upon entering the Hammond area on 169th Ave., the driver began circling the Kenwood area presumably looking for a place to jump from the vehicle and run. The driver then suddenly accelerated westbound through an alley, jumped over a grass divider, and jumped over a curb onto Kennedy Ave. At that time, the driver struck the front passenger side of a pickup truck that was traveling northbound on Kennedy Ave. at 162nd Ave. The driver attempted to exit the vehicle, but could not due to the damage. He was immediately taken into custody. The driver identified as a 21 year old male from Hammond, the Sheriffs Office told RNS.
The vehicle he was driving a 2012 Nissan Altima was reported stolen out of Munster the previous night. The driver was also in possession of a stolen 9mm handgun that was recovered on the driver’s side floorboard and reported out of Hammond. The suspect also has an active protective Order in connection with a domestic battery. The subject was transported to St. Catherine’s Hospital in East Chicago for medical examination prior to being booked into the jail. The driver of the pickup was examined at the scene by medics and refused any further treatment, police told RNS.
While speaking with Munster detectives, it was also discovered that The suspect was likely the subject of an area-wide bulletin to identify a suspect in another auto theft from Munster of a 2014 Ford Explorer.
