East Chicago Police Execute 15th SWAT Takedown
Thursday morning, East Chicago Police Gang and Narcotics Division executed a State of Indiana search warrant for narcotics at 4006 Euclid Avenue, according to Chief Jose Rivera.
The target of the investigation, 26-year-old, Martel Mendoza, of East Chicago, was taken into custody without incident. Mendoza had several outstanding felony warrants for:
– Robbery
– Unlawful Carrying of a Firearm by a Felon
– Dealing in a Scheduled I Controlled Substance
During the search, narcotics and several firearms were recovered from the residence, Rivera stated. Mendoza is currently being held at the East Chicago Police Department Jail pending additional charges.
Further investigation revealed that 4006 Euclid Avenue is an unregistered rental property in East Chicago. Code Enforcement was notified and will reach out to the property owner for violating our nuisance property ordinance and for failure to register the property as a rental property as required by city ordinance.
East Chicago extended their gratitude to the Northwest Regional SWAT Team for their continuous support and assistance with the execution of this search warrant. Today’s search warrant marks the 15th search warrant served this year at a nuisance rental property. “We will continue to hold absentee landlords accountable and rid our city of nuisance properties to make East Chicago a safe place to live,” Rivera said.
If you are aware of a nuisance property in your district please contact the anonymous tipline at 219-391-8500.
