Schererville Police Nab Habitual Criminal After Pursuit Where A Man Flashed His Fathers Retired Police ID
On March 5th, around 10:30 PM, Schererville Police conducted a traffic stop near US 30 & Cline on blue pick up truck that had one working headlight and no visible license plate, according to court records.
The officer made contact with the driver and advised him why he was stopped. The driver told the officer he was just trying to get home before showing the officer a badge and ID of a retired Lake County Officer whom the driver stated was his father. The driver himself did not have an ID on his person and provided the officer his Social Security card.
The officer returned to his patrol car to run a check of the driver. The return found the driver to have a warrant through Lake County for Possession of Cocaine. As a backup officer was arriving the driver exited out of his car and was told to stay there. The driver then jumped back in his truck and fled the stop. The driver nearly lost control as he fled with speeds around 80 MPH in a 25 MPH zone. The driver lost control of the truck, nearly hitting a home, in the 8400 block of Burr, where officers took him into custody.
Upon conducting a search of the driver, police located a copper wire filter, which is commonly used as a filter for users of crack cocaine. The driver was asked how much crack he had on him, and he said. “nothing, just what’s in the truck.” The driver advised that he needed an ambulance because he slammed his finger in the door while fleeing from the traffic stop.
While paramedics were checking the injury officers began to search the truck. In plain view, officers observed several torn off baggies with a white powdery residue. In the driver’s side cup holder, a white rock-like substance was located which officers immediately recognized through training and experience as crack cocaine. A black dispensary style bag with green leafy substance was also located and believed to be marijuana. Officers also located a small jar of an off white wax like substance, which they recognized this substance to be THC Wax. Two cartridges containing a gold wax like substance were also located, which are believed to be THC cartridges from a THC vape device. Lastly, several broken glass crack pipes with white powdery residue were also located in between the driver’s seat and center console.
The driver was taken to the hospital for treatment to his finger and then lodged in the Lake County Jail. The driver has since been identified as Jonathan Stamate, 40, of Cedar Lake.
Stamate was charged with:
Resisting Law Enforcement with a prior – Level 5 Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement with a vehicle – Level 6 Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement uses a vehicle-
Level 6 Felony
Possession of Cocaine – Level 6 Felony
Reckless Driving – Misdemeanor
Possession of paraphernalia – Misdemeanor
A background check of Stamate showed he has a pending case for Possession of Cocaine, Possession of paraphernalia, and Operating a motor vehicle with fictitious plates. A second pending case for Possession of Meth, Possession of a Legend Drug, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Paraphernalia.
In 2022 Stamate plead guilty to Auto Theft and was sentenced to 2.5 years with time served in Community Corrections and home detention.
In 2021 Stamate was charged with Auto Theft, Resisting Law Enforcement, and striking a law enforcement animal. 5 out of those 7 charges were dismissed. Stamate plead guilty to striking the law enforcement animal and resisting in a vehicle which he served 1 year in Lake County.
Previous to those cases Stamate has about a dozen other cases stretching back to 2014 for multiple offenses.
