Pair — including former county victims advocate — charged in drug case
A man and woman — including a former Lake County crime victims advocate — were charged Wednesday in a drug case.
A third man is mentioned, but not currently charged in public filings.
Howard Geib, 54, of Merrillville is charged with dealing in methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony, and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement. He is in custody, held without bail. A lawyer is not listed.
Niki Fitusis, 55, of Crown Point, had a small bag of cocaine in her wallet, plus two needles and paraphernalia in her SUV's center console, records show.
She is charged with possession of cocaine, possession of a narcotic drug, unlawful possession of a syringe, all Level 6 felonies, plus one misdemeanor.
Her lawyer Mike Woods, of Stracci Law Group, declined comment Thursday. During a hearing Thursday, an arrest warrant was recalled and her $2,500 bond was ordered refunded, filings show.
Fitusis worked for Lake County until 2019, according to Indiana Gateway, a public employee salary database. She was a longtime Lake County Prosecutor's Office victims advocate — who helped them navigate their court cases.
Indiana Department of Natural Resources Det. Alex Neel was patrolling April 24 by the Little Calumet River and Clark Road in Gary when he spotted a Blue Infiniti SUV down a NIPSCO service road near brush, court records show.
He saw a man — later identified as Geib — walking away with a bunch of copper wire. A second man was standing next to the SUV, while Fitusis was sitting in the back seat.
The man with Fitusis said Geib wasn't with them, before saying he picked him up at a gas station, but didn't know his name.
Fitusis zipped her purse.
When Neel radioed dispatch, Fitusis said she didn't want her name over police radio.
The man with her said the trio was there to 'burn wire.'
Neel called in a K-9 police dog, who tracked Geib. After Geib ran briefly from the cops, he told police he had an active warrant for a meth dealing case.
'I love you guys,' Geib said to Fitusis and the other man.
Police found two syringes, a scale, a mirror with cocaine, a razor, a straw and crystal-like substance in the console. They also found 56 grams of meth in Fitusis' purse that Geib said he put there. They also found Hydrocodine — a prescription pain killer — in another pill bottle in her purse.
Geib denied anything in the console was his.
Later, police found the 2.5 grams of cocaine in a bag in Fitusis' wallet, plus a metal spoon and 'broken smoking device' elsewhere in the vehicle.
A further court date for Geib is not yet scheduled. Fitusis' next hearing is May 30.
mcolias@post-trib.com
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A man and woman — including a former Lake County crime victims advocate — were charged Wednesday in a drug case. A third man is mentioned, but not currently charged in public filings. Howard Geib, 54, of Merrillville is charged with dealing in methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony, and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement. He is in custody, held without bail. A lawyer is not listed. Niki Fitusis, 55, of Crown Point, had a small bag of cocaine in her wallet, plus two needles and paraphernalia in her SUV's center console, records show. She is charged with possession of cocaine, possession of a narcotic drug, unlawful possession of a syringe, all Level 6 felonies, plus one misdemeanor. Her lawyer Mike Woods, of Stracci Law Group, declined comment Thursday. During a hearing Thursday, an arrest warrant was recalled and her $2,500 bond was ordered refunded, filings show. Fitusis worked for Lake County until 2019, according to Indiana Gateway, a public employee salary database. She was a longtime Lake County Prosecutor's Office victims advocate — who helped them navigate their court cases. Indiana Department of Natural Resources Det. Alex Neel was patrolling April 24 by the Little Calumet River and Clark Road in Gary when he spotted a Blue Infiniti SUV down a NIPSCO service road near brush, court records show. He saw a man — later identified as Geib — walking away with a bunch of copper wire. A second man was standing next to the SUV, while Fitusis was sitting in the back seat. The man with Fitusis said Geib wasn't with them, before saying he picked him up at a gas station, but didn't know his name. Fitusis zipped her purse. When Neel radioed dispatch, Fitusis said she didn't want her name over police radio. The man with her said the trio was there to 'burn wire.' Neel called in a K-9 police dog, who tracked Geib. After Geib ran briefly from the cops, he told police he had an active warrant for a meth dealing case. 'I love you guys,' Geib said to Fitusis and the other man. Police found two syringes, a scale, a mirror with cocaine, a razor, a straw and crystal-like substance in the console. They also found 56 grams of meth in Fitusis' purse that Geib said he put there. They also found Hydrocodine — a prescription pain killer — in another pill bottle in her purse. Geib denied anything in the console was his. Later, police found the 2.5 grams of cocaine in a bag in Fitusis' wallet, plus a metal spoon and 'broken smoking device' elsewhere in the vehicle. A further court date for Geib is not yet scheduled. Fitusis' next hearing is May 30. mcolias@
