Alleged Amber Alert Suspect Stopped By Indiana Police Friday
A 39-year-old man suspected in the fatal stabbing of a 33-year-old woman, wounding an 11-year-old boy and the kidnapping of an 8-year-old boy in Chicago is in custody at the Lake County Jail after leading police from several agencies on a pursuit this morning.
An Amber Alert had been issued for 8-year-old Tristan Gaters overnight in Illinois; saying he was last seen in a silver 2022 Ford Escape SUV driven by 39-year-old Marcus Bausley.
At approximately 9:30 AM, Lake County Sheriff’s Department police officers were alerted by our license plate reader system about the vehicle included in the Amber Alert.
At about 9:40 AM, the LPR system located the vehicle at I-65 and U.S. 30 in Merrillville. Indiana State Police along with the Lake County Highway Interdiction and High Crime became engaged in a pursuit.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Department Aviation Unit assisted with tracking the vehicle from the air.
The fleeing driver headed south on I-65 and multiple police officers used an immobilization technique to box the suspect vehicle in and slow it to a stop. The suspect was ordered to exit the vehicle but refused while putting a knife to his neck.
The suspect was placed into custody then taken to a local emergency room for evaluation and treatment of a superficial wound to the neck.
The vehicle was transported to Lake County Sheriff’s Department and is being held for a Chicago Police Department investigation. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department is investigating other elements of the case.
“I would like to thank the numerous agencies that assisted in helping to bring a dangerous suspect into custody,” Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr said.
