Motorcycle Pursuit Ends in Arrest, Drugs Seized in Porter County
PORTER COUNTY — A high-speed motorcycle pursuit spanning multiple counties ended in an arrest Tuesday evening after the suspect lost control of the vehicle and was taken into custody near the I-94 overpass.
Around 7:10 p.m. on July 29, a police officer observed a green Honda Grom motorcycle traveling westbound on U.S. Highway 20 near County Road 300 East. The motorcycle, which matched previous reports of a reckless driver involved in pursuits in LaPorte County and Berrien County, Michigan, had no visible license plate.
When officers attempted a traffic stop at US-20 and Tremont, the rider, later identified as Nathaniel R. Velasquez, refused to pull over and led police on a dangerous pursuit. Velasquez weaved between lanes, crossed into oncoming traffic, and ignored multiple traffic signals as he sped through US-20, State Road 49, US-12, and Wagner Road.
The chase came to an end when Velasquez lost control of the motorcycle near the westbound on-ramp to I-94. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Velasquez reportedly told police he fled because he thought driving without a valid license was a more serious offense than it actually is. Officers also learned he admitted to possessing marijuana, though it was not immediately found on his person.
During processing at the Porter County Jail, jail staff discovered a variety of THC products inside a backpack Velasquez had been wearing during the pursuit. The inventory included:
• 7.05 ounces of marijuana
• 27 THC cartridges
• 5 containers of THC wax
• 6 bottles of THC-infused liquid
• 3 bottles of THC-labeled syrup
• 6.6 ounces of THC edibles
The motorcycle had no registration or visible VIN, and was impounded by Joe’s Towing for further investigation.
Velasquez was medically cleared at the scene and later again at Valparaiso Medical Center before being transported back to the Porter County Jail. He now faces multiple charges, including:
- Resisting Law Enforcement (Level 6 Felony)
- Possession of Marijuana (B Misdemeanor)
- Reckless Driving (C Misdemeanor)
More charges are expected. Burns Harbor Police completed a crash report for the motorcycle, and the case remains under review with connections to investigations in both Long Beach and Berrien County.
