Latest news with #PorterCountySheriff'sDepartment
Chicago Tribune
05-08-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Hebron man charged with leaving fatal crash
A Hebron man is facing charges after allegedly killing a motorcyclist, then taking off. Leevi Taylor, 26, is charged with one count of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death to another person, a Level 4 felony. He is in custody, held on a $2,500 cash bond. The victim was identified as Jared Klassen. The crash happened just before 11:30 p.m. Aug. 2 near W. 133rd Avenue and Cleveland Street in Crown Point. Police concluded Taylor rear-ended Klassen on a motorcycle, then fled. Klassen died at the scene. Porter County Sheriff's Department arrested Taylor at his home. His gold Ford Ranger had extensive front-end damage. Taylor told officers he thought he hit a deer going home from a friend's home where he had a few beers. He voluntarily had his blood drawn for toxicology tests. The results are still pending. A field breathalyzer registered a .082% blood-alcohol level, documents show. He told police he wasn't sure why he didn't stop to check what he hit, or call police. He added he didn't wear his glasses while driving home. Officers wrote he was 'remorseful' and 'continued to ask if anyone was hurt and that he really hoped he didn't hurt someone.' A Ring video recorded the sound of a loud crash.
Chicago Tribune
22-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Prosecutors ask for bond increase for man charged in Portage murder later arrested on gun charges
The Porter County Prosecutor's office is asking a judge to increase the bond to $25,000 cash for Montrell McLaurin Jr., charged in a Portage murder and released on his own recognizance before being picked up twice for reportedly having a handgun. 'McLaurin continues to drive around this County while possessing firearms, which is something he is clearly prohibited from doing under Indiana Law,' since he was charged in Porter County with allegedly killing someone with a firearm, documents state. 'McLaurin is a danger to the citizens of this County and his Bond should reflect this increased danger he poses.' Deputy Prosecutor John Holmen filed the petition Friday, the day after McLaurin, 21, of Portage, was arrested by deputies with the Porter County Sheriff's Department during a routine traffic stop in which he was the driver. Police reportedly found a Glock 31C handgun under the passenger seat and within McLaurin's reach, according to court documents. Police also recovered a Diamond DB 15 firearm from the vehicle, and he was charged with two Class A misdemeanor counts of unlawful carrying of a handgun. McLaurin, according to court documents, was also arrested by Portage Police on May 22 on misdemeanor counts of unlawful carrying of a handgun and marijuana possession, and was released on $800 bond. McLaurin is out on pre-trial release for the April 29, 2024, murder of Darion Anderson in Portage. McLaurin allegedly killed Anderson 'with a Drako firearm that fires powerful 7.62 cartridges,' documents state. 'This Murder weapon was recently found by the Chicago Police Department during an arrest of juveniles in the City of Chicago.' He was charged with murder, murder in perpetration of a robbery and attempted robbery in that case. Prosecutors have requested a firearms enhancement for the charges. He has pleaded not guilty. McLaurin filed a motion for an early trial release on July 26, 2024, and was released on his own recognizance on Sept. 25, because his trial was not going to occur within a 180-day window after his arrest, as required by state law. Holmen, in his petition to increase bond, notes that a defendant is not entitled to release without bond when 'the arrestee is on pretrial release for an offense that is not related to the incident that is the basis for the present arrest.' The state can be granted a bail alteration when there is 'a showing of good cause' to support changing bail, documents state. 'It is the State's position that good cause exists based on the Defendant arrests for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm while being on pre-trial release for the same offense, and while also on release for the serious offense of Murder,' documents state. The state has already filed a motion to revoke bond in the May case, which had not been ruled on when the petition to increase bond was filed. A hearing on the motion to revoke bond from the May arrest is slated for Aug. 5 before Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Thode. A bail review hearing for the most recent charges is scheduled for July 29 before Porter Superior Court Judge Rebecca Buitendorp, according to online court records. McLaurin is scheduled for trial in the murder case on Oct. 6 in Buitendorp's court.
Chicago Tribune
29-06-2025
- Chicago Tribune
One in custody, two injured in Saturday wreck in Malden
A Valparaiso man is in custody at Porter County Jail and being held without bond after police said he fled a crash scene on foot Saturday after reportedly striking a motorcycle, seriously injuring the driver of the bike and a juvenile passenger. Around 2 p.m. June 28, deputies with the Porter County Sheriff's Department responded to the area of Indiana 49 and County Road 400 South in Malden for a crash with injuries involving a motorcycle and a pickup truck, according to a release from Sgt. Ben McFalls, public information officer with the sheriff's department. Police determined the male driver of the motorcycle and his juvenile passenger had serious injuries and both were flown out via Lutheran Air for treatment. The driver of the pickup truck, 37, fled the scene on foot, police said. He was taken into custody around 3:30 p.m. Saturday on preliminary charges of leaving the scene of a crash/serious bodily injury while intoxicated, a Level 3 felony; operating while intoxicated/serious bodily injury, a Level 5 felony; operating while intoxicated with a prior conviction, a Level 6 felony; operating while intoxicated/endangering, a Class A misdemeanor; and two Class C misdemeanors, operating while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. The Post-Tribune is withholding the man's name until he is formally charged. Police said an initial investigation shows a 1992 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was southbound on Indiana 49 when, for an unknown reason, a 2019 Ford F150 traveling northbound on Indiana 49 entered the motorcycle's lane, causing the crash.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Police release more details about Jackson Township fatal crash
The four-vehicle fatal wreck Friday in Jackson Township in which two motorcyclists died was precipitated by a two-car crash, according to additional details released by the Porter County Sheriff's Department Monday. According to a Porter County Coroner's office release, the motorcyclists have been identified as 73-year-old Richard Dowding and 62-year-old William McCoy, both of Portage. Deputies with the Porter County Sheriff's Department were dispatched around 1:47 p.m. May 30 to the intersection of U.S. 6 and White Thorne Lane for a report of a crash involving two motorcycles and two passenger cars, according to a release from Sgt. Ben McFalls, the department's public information officer. Officers who arrived at the scene found both motorcyclists had died. Lifesaving measures were attempted but unsuccessful. According to an initial investigation, a 2023 Audi Q7P was eastbound on U.S. 6 and began to slow while its left turn signal was activated. While slowing down, it was rear-ended by a 2017 Nissan Rogue, McFalls said. Because of the collision, the Audi entered the westbound lane of traffic and collided with the motorcycles, a 2017 Harley Davidson and a 2002 Harley Davidson. The Porter County Crash Unit is investigating, McFalls said. 'Please keep the family and friends of the drivers that passed in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,' McFalls said, thanking agencies that assisted at the scene.
Chicago Tribune
02-06-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Police release more details about Jackson Township fatal crash
The four-vehicle fatal wreck Friday in Jackson Township in which two motorcyclists died was precipitated by a two-car crash, according to additional details released by the Porter County Sheriff's Department Monday. According to a Porter County Coroner's office release, the motorcyclists have been identified as 73-year-old Richard Dowding and 62-year-old William McCoy, both of Portage. Deputies with the Porter County Sheriff's Department were dispatched around 1:47 p.m. May 30 to the intersection of U.S. 6 and White Thorne Lane for a report of a crash involving two motorcycles and two passenger cars, according to a release from Sgt. Ben McFalls, the department's public information officer. Officers who arrived at the scene found both motorcyclists had died. Lifesaving measures were attempted but unsuccessful. According to an initial investigation, a 2023 Audi Q7P was eastbound on U.S. 6 and began to slow while its left turn signal was activated. While slowing down, it was rear-ended by a 2017 Nissan Rogue, McFalls said. Because of the collision, the Audi entered the westbound lane of traffic and collided with the motorcycles, a 2017 Harley Davidson and a 2002 Harley Davidson. The Porter County Crash Unit is investigating, McFalls said. 'Please keep the family and friends of the drivers that passed in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,' McFalls said, thanking agencies that assisted at the scene.
