Hammond Man Arrested After Armed Robbery In Portage
On Sunday, July 18, 2021 at approximately 1:58 AM Portage Police responded to the Portage Inn located at 6142 US Highway 20 in reference to a subject fighting in the parking lot with a weapon possibly involved.
Upon arrival of officers a witness pointed out a suspect who was kneeling near a open drivers door of a parked vehicle. The suspect now identified as Kyle Josway, 36, of Hammond claimed to have been in a verbal altercation with a coworker and nothing else had occurred, police said. Police also located a victim shortly after and more witnesses near by. The witnesses stated they saw the suspect rob a victim of cash after pistol whipping them across the head. The victim was struck and threw the cash as he ran away from the suspect, a police report stated. The suspect then picked up the cash and threatened the victim and witnesses that he would shoot them before running from the scene.
The victim and suspect both admitted to knowing each other later saying the argument stemmed from a catalytic converter in the backseat of the vehicle. A search of that vehicle turned up a .22 caliber pistol in plain sight that was reported stolen of Porter County. The suspect Mr. Josway claimed he purchased the gun from a person but did not know their name.
The owner of the vehicle was later located and said both parties worked for him but did not have permission to take the car or converter. However the owner did not want to pursue charges.
Mr. Josway was initially arrested for possession of a handgun without a license. During the search of Josway police found the exact amount and denomination of currency as the victim reported stolen.
Charges for Josway include :
Robbery – Level 3 Felony
Intimidation – Level 5 Felony
Carrying a handgun without permit – Prior Level 5 Felony
Battery – A Misdemeanor
Search of the vehicle
