Munster Police Nab Felon With Gun & Drugs
On September 30, 2023 at approximately 2:25 AM, Munster Police Sergeant Vassar, who supervises the department’s Crime Suppression Unit as well as one of the overnight shifts, observed a vehicle disregard the red light at Ridge Road and Calumet Avenue and also observed it to make an unsafe lane movement. Sergeant Vassar initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle was slow to pullover and the driver was observed to be reaching around inside of the vehicle.
Sergeant Vassar requested another unit and CSU Officer Balich quickly arrived on scene to assist.
The driver was ordered several times to stop reaching around but continued to do so. Probable cause was developed to search the vehicle and its occupants. During the search of the driver, Sergeant Vassar and Officer Balich allegedly located a large quantity of cocaine and ecstasy. Upon searching the vehicle, officers also allegedly located a handgun that had been illegally modified to fire in a fully automatic capacity. Three high-capacity magazines, one fifty round drum magazine, and a small amount of marijuana were also located inside of the car.
The driver was found to have prior convictions for illegal possession of a firearm. The driver was taken into custody and held at the Lake County Jail.
The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office filed the following charges against the driver:
–Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, Level 2 Felony.
–Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, Level 5 Felony.
–Possession of a Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor
–Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor
