Traffic Stop Nets Felon With A Gun
On Saturday, November 23rd, 2024 at about 3:42 PM, Cedar Lake K9 Officer Ben Tomko and his partner K9 Johnny were on patrol in the 13900 block of Morse St. Officer Tomko observed a 2020 Jeep Cherokee registered out of Illinois going 56 MPH in a posted 30 MPH zone.
Officer Tomko conducted a traffic stop and came into contact with the driver, Timothy Nance, a male, age 33 from Gary, Indiana, and a female passenger who owned the vehicle. During the stop Officer Tomko could smell and observed in plain view what was suspected to be marijuana.
Both occupants were asked to exit the vehicle based on the discovery of marijuana, upon doing so Timothy Nance advised he was on parole for a prior firearm-related charge and was a convicted felon. Timothy Nance and his female passenger then advised there was a handgun in the center console of the vehicle, which was located by Officer Tomko.
Timothy Nance was transported and lodged in the Lake County Jail, he was ultimately charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon a level 4 felony, and possession of marijuana a class B misdemeanor.
