Michigan City Man Arrested After Rash Of Sexual Assaults & Home Invasions
During the early morning hours of Thursday July 9, 2020 The Michigan City Police Department responded to three
calls within a 2-hour period of a suspect entering homes and sexually assaulting victims, according to Sgt. Cisco Rodriguez of the Michigan City Police.
The first call was reported at approximately 12:45 A.M. The La Porte County Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call in reference to someone screaming for help in the area of the 100 Block of West Ripley Street. Officers arrived and found a female who reported that a black male had followed her as she walked home and attempted to rape her, Rodriguez said in a release. The victim reported that the suspect carried her to an area, held her down, and forcefully removed her pants and undergarments. The incident was witnessed by neighbors in the area that were alerted to the victim’s screams for help. The attempted rape was thwarted by a neighbor who came outside and yelled, causing the suspect to flee the area on foot. The victim and witnesses were able to provide police with a very detailed description of the suspect.
Approximately an hour later at 1:44 A.M., the La Porte County Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call from a resident in the 1000 Block of Tennessee Street. The caller reported that a black male had broken into her residence and attempted to sexually assault her. Officers arrived and were met by two female victims who stated that they were awakened by knocking at their front door. They did not answer the door and shortly thereafter, the black male entered their residence through a window.
The black male attempted to sexually assault the victims, but they were able to fight back and force the subject out of the house where he fled the area on foot. Both victims were able to give a very detailed description of the suspect, which matched the description given by the witnesses and victim from the 100 Block of West Ripley Street.
At approximately 2:14 A.M., the La Porte County Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call from a resident in the 1300 Block of Kentucky Street. The caller reported that a black male had broken into their residence and attempted to sexually assault two juveniles. Officers arrived and learned that a black male subject had gained entry into the residence through a window. The black male then attempted to sexually assault two juvenile females. The suspect was scared off when the grandparents were awakened. The description of the suspect given by the victims matched the description given in the other two incidents.
Based on the description given by all victims/witnesses, Officers were able to identify the suspect as 30-year-old Demarcus Cortez WILLIAMS. Officers had previously dealt with Williams earlier in the evening on an unrelated call. Officers conducted an exhausted search for Williams overnight, but were unable to locate him, according to Rodriguez.
At approximately 12:00 P.M. Thursday, Williams was taken into custody in the 1200 Block of Tennessee Street. Williams
was arrested by members of the La Porte County Drug Task Force (LCDTF), Fugitive Apprehension Street Team
(FAST) and Detective Bureau.
An arrest warrant was soon issued for Williams with five (5) criminal charges to
include: Attempted Rape, Sexual Battery, Kidnapping, Criminal Confinement, and Resisting Law Enforcement. Williams is being held on a $25,000 CASH ONLY bond.
Additional criminal charges against Williams are anticipated within the coming days.
Chief Dion T. Campbell stated the following in reference to the arrest, “I could not be more proud of the thoroughness and teamwork displayed by the members of the Michigan City Police Department. The midnight shift officers and supervisors did an amazing job in meticulously documenting and investigating these unfortunate incidents. Their hard work paved the way for the Detective Bureau and supplementing divisions to be able to work all morning to not only secure criminal charges on this dangerous individual, but to also ensure the public’s safety by taking Williams off the streets of Michigan City.”
The Michigan City Police Department would ask anyone who may have witnessed these crimes or has surveillance cameras (such as Ring Doorbell Cameras) in the reported areas to contact the lead detective on this case, Detective Arwen LaMotte at 219-874-3221 Ext: 1081.
Police would also like to remind the public that you can contact them via Facebook Messenger, through our crime tip hotline number of 219-873-1488, or you can also call the WeTip Hotline for General Crime (800) 78-CRIME and possibly receive a reward upon an arrest and conviction. All WeTip call information is sent directly to the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office. You can always request to remain anonymous!
