Hobart Police Chase Ends With K9 Bite & Guns Recovered
Wednesday at approximately 1:50 PM, A Hobart Officer attempted to pull over a red colored Chevy Malibu in the area of 13th Street and Southlake Park Avenue for a traffic violation, according to Captain James Gonzales with The Hobart Police.
When the Officer turned on his emergency lights and siren, the vehicle refused to stop and began traveling at a high rate of speed. The vehicle drove through downtown Hobart to Cleveland Avenue and Route 130 and then continued northbound on Route 51 into Gary and then traveled westbound on Route 20 to I-65 where he crashed, Gonzales said. During the pursuit, the suspect did “side swipe” a Hobart Police car, which caused minimal damage.
The driver exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot from Officers as Officers ordered him to stop. The suspect disregarded Officer’s orders and continued to flee, Gonzales told RNS. A Hobart canine handler warned the suspect that if he didn’t stop, he was going to deploy his K-9, but the suspect continued to run. The Hobart K-9 Officer deployed his K-9 partner and his K-9 partner apprehended the suspect. The suspect is a 23 year old male white that has an address listed in Lowell.
The suspect was taken into custody and transported to an area hospital for treatment for minor injuries sustained by the K-9 apprehension. Officers recovered two firearms on the ground in the immediate vicinity where the suspect’s car was located. The weapons were collected by Officers on scene and are going to be processed for evidence. There were also “spent” shell casings located inside of the vehicle that were collected by Officers on scene and also will be processed for evidence. The vehicle was towed to the Hobart Police garage for safekeeping.
Jim J. Ferguson, 23 of Lowell was identified as the person who led Hobart Police on a chase through three communities. On January 8, 2021, Mr. Ferguson was charged through the Lake Prosecutor’s Office with 1 Count of Level 5 Felon in Possession of a Firearm, 2 Counts of Level 6 Resisting Law Enforcement.
Mr. Ferguson is currently in custody and is being held at the Lake County Jail for the aforementioned charges and Probation violation.
