Man Standing In Street Nets Drug Bust
On April 21, 2025, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department was working patrol when the Officer encountered two individuals walking on West Ridge Road in Gary.
According to court documents, the two individuals were walking in the middle of the roadway. The officer had to brake and stop the patrol vehicle to avoid them. The officer exited the patrol vehicle and approached the two individuals. One individual was a female and the other individual was identified as Daniel Espinoza, by his own admission.
When questioned why they were walking in the middle of the street, they advised the officer that they were just talking. According to court documents, the officer observed that both had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and appeared to be intoxicated. Daniel Espinoza had a backpack and consented to a search of it. Inside the backpack was a digital scale. At this point, the officer asked if Espinoza had any narcotics on him. Espinoza then fled on foot and took off running. Another Officer from the LCSO was on the scene. The second officer was able to tackle Espinoza and prevent him from running away. Espinoza locked up his body and began resisting attempts to detain him. Espinoza refused to give up his hands. While being handcuffed, Espinoza attempted to kick at officers and not follow commands.
According to court documents, in Espinoza’s right pants pocket, the officers located 27 individually packaged baggies containing the following: (1) substances that weighed a collective 10.8 grams and field tested positive for methamphetamine, (2) white rock-like substances that weighed a collective 3.4 grams and field tested positive for cocaine, and (3) brown-like substances that weighed a collective 6 grams and field tested positive for fentanyl.
While being transported to the Lake County Jail, Espinoza claimed he needed to vomit. The officer opened the rear window of the vehicle. Espinoza took off his seat belt, jumped on the window, broke it, and jumped out of the vehicle, fleeing on foot. The officer was able to catch him and place him back into the vehicle and transport him to the Lake County Jail.
On April 22, 2025, Daniel C. Espinoza was charged with:
Dealing in Methamphetamine: F2 Felony
Dealing in a Narcotic: F3 Felony
Dealing in Cocaine: F4 Felony
Escape: F5 Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement: Class A Misdemeanor
Resisting Law Enforcement: Class A Misdemeanor
Public Intoxication: Class B Misdemeanor
Criminal Mischief: Class B Misdemeanor
