Woman Arrested After Kicking Trooper On 80/94
Tuesday morning at 2:00 a.m., Trooper Dennis Griffin of The Indiana State Police was patrolling I-80/94 near Calumet Ave. when he observed a black Nissan traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed, according to Sgt. Glen Fifield. A radar displayed the vehicle’s speed at 101 mph. The speed limit is posted 55 mph on this area of interstate.
Trooper Griffin initiated a traffic stop; however, the driver did not immediately pull over, Fifield said. After following the vehicle for almost 2 miles with the emergency lights and siren activated, the vehicle abruptly stopped near the 3 mile-marker. During the initial interaction with the driver and passenger, the trooper observed several open containers of alcoholic beverages in the vehicle.
The driver was then administered field sobriety tests and after failing the tests, she was asked to place her hands behind her back to be handcuffed. The driver, identified as Jasmine N. Gorman, 35, from Michigan City, IN, then became verbally uncooperative with the trooper. Ms. Gorman pulled away from the officer and began to run towards her vehicle. Trooper Griffin was able to regain custody of Ms. Gorman prior to her entering the car. As Ms. Gorman was being escorted to Trooper Griffin’s police car, she proceeded to kick the police car, then turned and kicked Trooper Griffin. She then began kicking both legs, striking a second officer who had arrived to assist with the arrest. Due to her combative actions and her continual refusal to stop resisting, a Lake County Sheriff transport vehicle was requested. Once that vehicle arrived at the scene, she was secured and transported to the Lake County Jail for processing. The officers that were kicked did not require medical attention, Fifield said.
Ms. Gorman is preliminarily charged with the following:
- Battery on Law Enforcement- Level 6 Felony
- Resisting Law Enforcement- Class A Misdemeanor
- Operating While Intoxicated Endangering- Class A Misdemeanor
- Operating While Intoxicated- Class C Misdemeanor
All persons named in this release are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. All charges mentioned are merely accusations, actual charges will be determined by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.
