Man Arrested After Alleged Theft and Assault on Officers in Hammond
A man is facing multiple charges after a theft incident on May 3 escalated into a confrontation with police officers in Hammond.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Hammond Police Department, officers were dispatched to 2000 block of Wespark Avenue around 12:45 p.m. in response to a theft complaint. Upon arriving at the scene, Officers observed a black 2007 Dodge pickup truck with Illinois registration that matched the vehicle described in the call.
The driver, later identified as Freddy Rafael Ruiz Gutierrez, claimed he did not speak English, prompting officers to request a Spanish-speaking officer. While waiting, Gutierrez reportedly ignored commands to stop reaching around the vehicle. After some initial resistance, he complied and turned over the vehicle keys.
A Spanish-speaking officer from Whiting, arrived to assist in translation. Gutierrez told police that he believed the tires he had taken were discarded in an alley and considered trash. However, another Officer, who spoke with the complainant, reviewed surveillance footage showing Gutierrez entering a fenced backyard and removing tires without permission.
When informed he was under arrest and that his vehicle would be towed, Gutierrez allegedly tried to prevent the impound by sitting inside the truck. Officers say he resisted multiple commands to exit, and once removed, attempted to flee and physically resisted arrest. At one point an Officer was struck in the back of the head with a closed fist during the struggle.
Another Officer also attempted to detain Gutierrez but reported that he swung his arms at her and nearly struck her in the face. A K-9 officer, witnessing the escalating situation, eventually deployed his dog to subdue the suspect. Gutierrez finally complied and was taken into custody.
He was treated at St. Catherine’s Hospital in East Chicago before being booked into Lake County Jail. Gutierrez now faces charges including theft, resisting law enforcement, and battery on a public safety official.
