Northwest Indiana Discussion

SOUTH HAVEN -- A 66-year-old woman was charged with battering her mother and brother, ages 86 and 70.

Linda Holland reportedly was yelling at her brother Tuesday and began throwing items. The brother was hit in the head. When their mother tried to calm Holland, according to police, Holland shoved the older woman to the ground. Holland also was charged with resisting police.

South Haven

Burglar hits house, recreational vehicle

A house and the recreational vehicle at the same address in the 600 block of McCool Road were broken into between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

A laptop computer, MP3 player and 19-inch flat-screen television were taken.

The house's front door was pried open, police said, as was the side door of the RV. The loss was estimated at $2,875.

Valparaiso

Man arrested in theft of hospital equipment

Christopher Campbell, 34, of Hebron was arrested for felony theft and possession of drug paraphernalia after allegedly taking an intravenous catheter system from Porter hospital's Emergency Room nurses station just before noon Tuesday.

According to the police report, Campbell said he was going to use the syringe for heroin.

Porter County

Reserve officers train under the guise of train wreck but the truth of the matter they are getting ready for a massive drug raid and getting familiar with their targets and this will be the nations largest drug sweeps ever.

More than 70 reserve police officers from across Indiana gathered at the Porter County Sheriff's Department on Saturday.

VALPARAISO -- A convoluted family drama that played out at Valparaiso High School last week had a prior act at a televised court show, according to police reports.

A 14-year-old freshman showed up at the school at about 7:30 a.m. Friday claiming her mother had attacked her with a hot hair-straightening iron. As the teen was telling a guidance counselor what happened, with burns on her chest as proof, her mother showed up at the office to take her away, police said.

Mabel Goodall, 34, of Valparaiso, admitted to police that during an argument that morning, she was about to strike the girl for using obscene language when the girl kicked her. A wrestling and shoving match followed, and Goodall grabbed a hair straightener to spank the teen. She said she apologized when she realized the girl was burned and asked her to stay home from school.

The victim, however, told police her mother also threw a lamp at her and, when she missed, began hitting her with it, leaving a bruise. The teen had burns on her back and chest.

Goodall was arrested for battery causing injury and public intoxication, misdemeanors.

The 14-year-old and Goodall's two other children, ages 11 and 13, were placed with their grandmother in Chesterton.

Soon after Goodall's arrest by Valparaiso police, her sister-in-law called Chesterton police with unrelated information about the woman.

The sister-in-law said she received a phone call on Jan. 4 from New York, by a man posing as a police officer wanting to talk with her about Goodall. The woman told police she believes she received the call, and fears she will get others, because Goodall asked a former boyfriend to harass her. The reason: The two women had a disagreement about finances settled on the Judge Jeanine Pirro show, in a taping Dec. 12 in Chicago, and Goodall "looked silly in court."

Post-Tribune correspondent
VALPARAISO -- Burglars broke into three houses in the same subdivision overnight Tuesday, according to reports made to Porter County Sheriff's Police. At least two of the victimized families were on long-term vacations out of state.

Similar crimes happened between Dec. 29 and Saturday in Shorewood Forest. There, two homes were broken into while the owners were out of town and footprints were seen around a third temporarily unoccupied house.

Higher price tags were attached to the items stolen in the three more recent break-ins in a subdivision northwest of Valparaiso and off County Road 550N/St. Clair Road.

Although the burglars were unsuccessful in trying use a screwdriver to start a white 1997 Porsche stored in one victim's garage, a neighbor reported the theft of a white 2000 Ford F-250 crew cab pickup worth $25,000. He had tried to protect the truck by disconnecting the battery and turning off the power to the garage where it was kept, according to the police report.

It was not immediately known what else was taken; the houses were ransacked.

Detectives have been assigned to the burglaries but the Sheriff's Department public information officer, Lt. Chris Eckert, was not able to give any more information on Thursday. He said he hoped to be able to release more information later in the week.

The only information about suspects came from a neighbor on Fleetwood Drive. She saw a group of young men in a red Pontiac Grand Am parked near one of the homes earlier this month. They left the area when confronted, she told police.

valparaiso

Man beat friend

for evicting him

A 22-year-old man started a fight and was arrested after his friend said he could no longer stay with him.

The host arranged for a mutual friend to come to pick up Matthew Wolfe, of Columbus, Ind., before he and his roommate told him at about 9 a.m. Wednesday that he had to leave. Wolfe then allegedly began hitting the walls -- and his 28-year-old host. He also kicked him in the face and stomped on the back of his head in a fight that spilled into the hallway of the apartment building in the 900 block of Golfview Boulevard. Wolfe also reportedly tried to hit the man with a fire extinguisher, but it ended up going over the balcony railing.

porter county

Snowbound car broken-into, vandalized

After it was abandoned for being stuck in the snow, a Ford Taurus was broken-into early Thursday morning. Police found the car at 4:15 a.m. in a snowdrift in the southbound lane of County Road 450E in Washington Township. Its windshield and driver's window were broken out and someone had rummaged through the glove box. Police contacted the vehicle's owner, who said nothing of value was in the car but it had not been damaged when he left.

Valparaiso doctor sought for wire fraud
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January 19, 2009
Post-Tribune staff report
The U.S. Marshals Task Force is looking for a Valparaiso physician who skipped out while on trial for wire fraud in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Dr. Hartley Thomas was named in a Nov. 7 warrant and has defaulted on his bond in the case that charged him with bilking insurance companies and patients through a bogus allergy testing scheme.

Thomas is 56 years old, 5-feet-11 inches tall and weighs 230 pounds. He has gray and brown hair and green eyes.

Thomas' last known address is 510 Wexford Lane, Valparaiso. Task force members think he is hiding in Northwest Indiana, possibly in the Valparaiso area.

Anyone with information on Thomas' whereabouts should call the task force at (888) 805-6119.

Hello to All!

I hope you are enjoying the great weather today, it is a gift after having to deal with many sad occurrences yesterday. The day began with a suicide, followed by the death of an infant, a drug overdose (resuscitated) and then the loss of a 9 year old girl when struck by a vehicle. All in all a taxing day for the men and women of this department. I have said it before and I say it now, since coming here in January of 2008 there are few days that pass in which I am not amazed of all that your officers, reserves and support people do here on a daily basis. Everyone on this department should be proud to call themselves a member of the Portage Police Department and certainly those who live, work or just pass through Portage should know they are kept safe by one of the finest departments in the state.

Arguably, some of yesterday's tragedies could have been prevented and so I pass along a thought that may help you prevent a tragedy of another kind--sexual assault. I recently was referred to a book that deals with steps that can be taken to reduce the chances of young ladies becoming a victim of a sexual assault. It is entitled Not Me by Al Horner and you can obtain your copy at http://www.notmebook.com. If you have a daughter or have a friend who has a daughter, please pass this along.

It is a wonderful book that empowers young ladies with the mental and physical education they need to recognize threats and what action must be taken to remove the threat. After reading this book, this past week my opening question to all I met was "Do you have a daughter?". Please, consider this book for your daughter, most sexual assaults involve young teen age children, take place in comfortable known surroundings (home,car) and in over 75% of the assaults the victim will have known the attacker. Learn when these attacks usually take place, stranger vs known attack data, why you never want to be taken away by an attacker, conditions that lend themselves to an attack, etc... good stuff to know.
(A side note- I having been talking with the author and it is possible that we may be able to bring this presentation to the area, I will keep you informed)

In closing, one of our dispatchers passed along the story and photographs below, a good read and yet another thing for us to look out for.People can be so creative!


Have a great day!

Mark J. Becker Chief of Police Portage Police Department


Officer Awareness—

Stash Lighter with Hidden Compartment

Now big enough to hold 3 or more pre rolled 70mm Cigarettes! This is a fully functional

normal sized pocket lighter that would never raise any suspicion but it has a secret. This

lighter's bottom pops open to reveal a spacious secret stash compartment. The

compartment is perfect to hold various items, keeping it out of sight and safe in the secret

compartment. This hollow compartment can fit cash, keys, medicines or prescription drugs.

Even when an unsuspecting person is using or inspecting the lighter, there are no "red

flags" to give away its secret function. The secret compartment cap clips inside the lighter

for a secure fit that keeps the contents in one place, safe and sound. Most importantly the

stash compartment does not compromise this lighter functionality, this lighter works just as

good if not even better then top brand name lighters such as Bic or jeep lighters, as this

lighter produces a large super hot flame.

Hello to All!

It is that time of year to begin the selection process for this years Citizen's Academy. Last year was our initial class with 14 graduating and every one of them have told of what a great experience it was. This year, starting on May 26 and running through July 28th, we will be meeting each Tuesday evening from 7 - 9 pm during which time those in the academy will be afforded an intimate up-close look at the workings of the Portage Police Department. Of course, it costs you nothing but your time. One evening you may hear about how hostage negotiators go about resolving suicidal or barricaded subjects, how evidence is collected, how polygraphs work, the role of the police chaplain or how detectives investigate cases.

We will put a gun in your hands that is tied to a computer and then unfold a situation on a screen in front of you and see what you would do in any one of a variety of situations that face police on a daily basis.

Then of course there is the ride along night when we will partner you up with one of our finest for the ride of your life, as they say, it is the greatest show on earth.

When you have completed the course you will have experienced what only a handful have shared, a glimpse into one of the finest police departments in the state.

This program offers you stories, sights and an adventure that only a few can be privy to, so don't wait, please send your application in today.

All applicants must submit to a limited background check, so that is why we request your date of birth.

Application may be made by providing the information requested below to Assistant Chief Larry Jolley via his email --- ljolley@portage-in.com

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Assistant Chief Jolley at (219) 762-3122. Name Address Telephone Number Date of birth Employer Years of Employment Current Position Briefly describe why you would like to be included in the Citizen's Academy

Have a great day!

Mark J. Becker

Chief of PolicePortage Police Department

Movie theater receives bomb threat
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February 11, 2009

Post-Tribune staff report

A threat called into the Valparaiso Cinemark Theater led to what turned out to be a fake bomb, according to a Valparaiso Police Department release.

Someone called the theater around 7:35 p.m. Tuesday telling employees where they would find the supposed bomb.

Employees found an item wrapped with duct tape with wires and called police, according to the report.

Police evacuated the building but discovered the item was not explosive, according to the report.

Police continue to investigate the incident.

PORTAGE | A South Haven man was trying to scare a group of children early Monday evening when he lost control of his vehicle and killed 9-year-old Elizabeth Miller, police said.

Elizabeth and at least two other children were playing outside an unoccupied home at 5224 Concord Ave. that is owned by Richard McCall, 30, of 764 Devonshire Road.

McCall drove to the site shortly before 5:30 p.m. after receiving a call that the children may be damaging the property, Portage police Sgt. Keith Hughes said.

McCall sped up to about 50 mph upon arriving at the site to scare the children and tried to slow down when his 1999 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck slid on wet pavement and struck Elizabeth and then a porch on the home.

McCall has been charged with a felony count of reckless homicide and could face further charges pending the results of toxicology tests, police said.

Elizabeth Miller's mother, Lisa Miller, said she ran the short distance from her home to the crash site and found her daughter lying near the road unconscious but still alive.

"She still had a pulse," she said.

Someone attempted CPR, but the Aylesworth Elementary School second-grader was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy was performed Tuesday morning, and release of the results are pending notification of the family, Porter County Coroner Vicki Deppe said.

Lisa Miller said her 9-year-old niece witnessed Elizabeth being struck by the truck. Miller said the children were not vandalizing the house.

"She was killed so senselessly," Lisa Miler said.

Lisa Miller said her daughter was always full of energy and "always smiling and happy."

Elizabeth Miller's aunt, Dawn Hielema, of Valparaiso, said the girl had undergone heart surgery when she was just a month old.

"She survived that at one month old and now this," she said.

She said Elizabeth had a 16-year-old brother and loved to swim.

"She was such a great kid," Hielema said. "I just don't understand how somebody could do this to a little kid."

Staff at Aylesworth Elementary met Tuesday morning with Elizabeth's classmates to discuss her death, and additional counselors were brought in for assistance, Principal Mary Tracy said.

Tracy said Elizabeth was a "good child," and she will be missed by her classmates.

"The kids in class spoke so fondly of her," she said.

Times staff writer Lauri Harvey Keagle contributed to this report.

Police: Girls sexually assaulted on school bus


PORTAGE | Three Portage High School boys used threats and fear to take over the school bus they rode and then spent much of the school year sexually touching girls, using aerosol cans to make blowtorches and doing other horrible acts, police said.

The "pattern of unspeakable depravity" finally ended when a girl came forward after one of the boys tried to push her face into the exposed genitals of another of the boys, said Portage police Cpl. Troy Williams, school resource officer. An investigation showed that girl and two other girls reported the boys touched their breasts on prior occasions.

Williams said all three suspects immediately were locked up at the Juvenile Detention Center, and school Superintendent Mike Berta said all three have been suspended from school, pending expulsion.

"As soon as we found out about it, we took swift and immediate action," Williams said.

Two of the juveniles remain in detention and one was released on a house arrest arrangement based on his involvement, said Chris Buyer, assistant chief of the county juvenile probation department.

A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, he said.

Berta said the acts occurred on a school bus that serves the northwest part of Portage. The acts began shortly after the school year began and ended when the boys were arrested Feb. 6, Williams said.

The boys, a 16-year-old and two 17-year-olds from Portage, all face charges of criminal recklessness, harassment, sexual battery, disorderly conduct and battery or strangulation. Some of them also face intimidation and public indecency charges.

Williams said the students on the bus didn't come forward sooner because of fear.

"I'm grateful this information finally came to someone who was in a position to do something about it ... and appropriate action was taken right away," Berta said. "As an educator, (what occurred on the bus) is extremely upsetting."

Police finally learned about the situation when a 16-year-old Portage girl called her stepfather after one of the boys grabbed her neck and tried, but failed, to force her face into the exposed genitals of another of the boys on the bus on Feb. 5. The stepfather showed up at a bus stop and the boys tried to provoke a fight, police said.

Police said the stepfather addressed the matter with the bus driver, but the bus driver didn't contact anyone for further investigation. The driver has been removed from his job, pending a decision on final discipline, Berta said.

Police were called that evening and, the next morning, Williams met the boys as they got off the school bus at school. The boys denied wrongdoing, except that one of them admitted another exposed himself. All three boys were arrested, and Williams began interviewing at least a dozen students who ride the bus.

The students said the boys used aerosol body spray to make blowtorches, lit paper on fire and threw it out the bus windows. Williams said three girls -- ages 15, 16 and 17 -- reported the boys grabbed their breasts on the bus. In addition, numerous other students were bullied, harassed or were the victims of lewd comments. One of the boys is accused of threatening to kill another student, while another of the boys is accused of threatening to rape another student.

Williams said the investigation continues and more charges are possible. He said it will be up to prosecutors to determine if the boys will face any adult charges.



Teens face charges for school bus terror in Portage


February 13, 2009

By Teresa Auch Schultz
Post-Tribune staff writer

PORTAGE -- Three Portage High School students who police say terrorized their peers on a school bus for months face numerous charges, including sexual battery and strangulation.
The charges include incidences of the teens groping other students' breasts and threats of rape and murder, Portage Police Department Sgt. Keith Hughes said.

The problems came to light Feb. 5 when one of the males, a 16-year-old, exposed himself on the school bus going home and another male, a 17-year-old, tried to force a girl's face to touch the other boy's genitals. The girl escaped before contact was made, however, according to a police report, and she called her stepfather from a cell phone.

The stepfather filed a police report, and that's when officials started learning more.

Hughes said police discovered the two boys and another one, who is also 17, had been causing problems on the bus since a few weeks after the school year began. They would use a body aerosol spray to light pieces of paper on fire. They assaulted three girls in separate incidents, groping them, and at one time one of the 17-year-olds put his hand inside a girl's shirt.

The 16-year-old boy threatened to rape one of the girls and put his hands around the neck of a girl, and one of the 17-year-old boys threatened to kill another girl and pushed one down, Hughes said.

"These are charges that if they were adults ... they would be facing some serious time," Hughes said.

Capt. Troy Williams, who covers the high school, said after talking with students he found out they were all too afraid of the three boys to say anything to authorities.

The three boys have all been suspended, Superintendent Michael Berta said, and face expulsion. All three have also been arrested and charged as juveniles with eight to nine counts each of charges including criminal recklessness, harassment, strangulation, intimidation, public indecency and sexual battery. One of the 17-year-olds was also charged with disorderly conduct when he tried to fight the girl's stepfather, who met the bus at the stop to see what was going on, Hughes said.

"The behavior of those students is completely unacceptable," Berta said. "I can't imagine what it would be to be a student riding that bus and have this kind of action occurring by those three boys."

The school system also is investigating whether the bus driver, who was removed from duty the day of the incident, ever saw any of the events.

Contact Teresa Auch Schultz at 477-6015 or tauch@post-trib.com.

The bus driver didn't know? BS! That driver needs to be charged as well-aiding and abedding. The worst part of this is that it was allowed to go on for so long, and they should be charged as adults if they are going to commit adult crimes. Ridiculous.

You would think the bus driver would have reported it or wrote it up.

What is the bus companies policy?

I think anyone willing to put up with a bus load of wild children has some serious issues.