The body of a 35-year-old Michigan man has been recovered after an incident in the Lake Michigan swim area of Indiana Dunes State Park in Chesterton. 

At approximately 5:50 p.m. this evening, an Indiana Dunes State Park lifeguard observed a man that appeared to be struggling in the water near the outer edge of the designated swim area.

As a lifeguard made their way to the man, he slipped underwater and did not resurface.

An Indiana Conservation Officer patrolling the park immediately responded along with multiple other agencies. Line-searches were immediately started with rescue divers entering the water a short time later.

The Portage Fire Department, United States Coast Guard, and Indiana Conservation Officers Responded by boat. A United States Coast Guard helicopter also conducted a search from the air.

At approximately 8:00 p.m. a Chesterton Fire Department diver located the man’s body in 10 feet of water. The cause of the incident and death are unknown at this time.

Indiana Conservation Officers will be working with the Porter County Coroner’s Office to determine the cause of death. The identification of the victim is being withheld at this time, pending family notification. 

Indiana Conservation Officers were assisted by Porter Fire Department, Chesterton Fire Department, Beverly Shores Fire Department, Burns Harbor Fire Department, Hobart Fire Department, Porter Hospital EMS, United States Coast Guard, U.S. National Park Rangers, Porter Police Department, Chesterton Police Department, Indiana Dunes State Park Lifeguards, Porter County Coroner’s Office, and Indiana Conservation Officers Chaplains.

An Evansville man was arrested after fleeing police with five children in the vehicle.

Arrested was Andrew Glenn Caldwell, 25, Evansville, IN. He was charged with:

1. Resisting Law Enforcement, Class 6 Felony
2. Reckless Driving, Class C Misdemeanor

On Tuesday, July 23, at approximately 2:40 p.m., Trooper Tyler Widner was patrolling in the area of Governor and Columbia when he observed the driver of a maroon Mercury van make an unsafe lane movement.

When Widner attempted to stop the vehicle the driver accelerated to 50 mph in a 30 mph zone.

The driver disregarded a stop sign at Governor and Virginia and disregarded the stop light at US 41 and Virginia before traveling south on US 41. The driver disregarded the stoplight at Lincoln before turning west onto Washington Avenue.

Due to the high volume of traffic the pursuit was terminated.

Further investigation conducted by the Indiana State Police and Evansville Police determined the driver of the vehicle was Caldwell.

Investigating officers were also able to determine that Caldwell was transporting five children in the vehicle when he was fleeing from police.

Officers did not know children were in the vehicle during the chase.

The children’s ages ranged from two to twelve years old. After reviewing the investigation, the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office issued a felony arrest warrant for Caldwell.

Officers located and arrested Caldwell yesterday without incident.

This is an on-going investigation and additional criminal charges are pending.

Investigating Officer: Trooper Tyler Widner, Indiana State Police

Assisting Agency: Evansville Police

An Indiana State Trooper saved a 31-year-old Merrillville woman’s life after finding her passed out and unresponsive in a vehicle on the side of the road.

In trying to revive her, he found drugs on her person. 

Yesterday, Saturday, July 27^th, 2019, at approximately 4:05 p.m., Trooper Regen Smith was dispatched to a possible property damage crash on I-80/94 westbound near Indianapolis Boulevard. 

Trooper Smith saw a silver Volkswagen (VW) Beetle on the left shoulder up against the concrete median barrier wall.  As Smith approached the VW on the passenger side she could see that the sole occupant a female appeared to be unconscious in the driver’s seat. 

Trooper Smith knocked repeatedly in an attempt to rouse the female but was unsuccessful.  Due to all the VW doors being locked Smith had to break the passenger window to gain entry.  Once inside the VW Trooper Smith was unable to rouse the driver and noticed the female wasn’t breathing. 

Smith used life-saving measures at this time.  Shortly thereafter, Hammond Fire and EMS arrived and they too proceeded with life saving measures. 

The driver, later identified as Kelley Cooper, 31 of Merrillville, regained consciousness. 

Cooper was taken to Munster Community Hospital in Munster.  Trooper Smith as she attempted to find identification on the driver located two small bags in Cooper’s wallet containing suspected heroin and paraphernalia. 

Cooper was found to be wearing a home detention monitor due to her probation status.

Cooper was taken to Lake County Jail in Crown Point after being released from the hospital and was charged with:

• Operating While Intoxicated Endangerment-Class A Misdemeanor
• Operating a Vehicle with a Controlled Substance in Blood-Class C Misdemeanor
• Possession of Paraphernalia-Class C Misdemeanor\
• Possession of a Narcotic Drug-Level 6 Felony

Assisting: Trooper Alissa Partyka, Hammond Fire and EMS and Bennie’s Towing

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

A Terre Haute man is behind bars after police found to have initiated misconduct with a minor.

Arrested and Charged was Dionel Juan Mateo, 28, Terre Haute

• Child Molestation – child under 14 sexual intercourse/other sexual conduct (3 counts), Level 1 Felony
• Possession of Child Pornography, Level 6 Felony

The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested a 28-year-old man from Terre Haute on July 26, 2019.

The investigation began early this week when a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) was received by the ICAC Task Force.

As a result of the investigation, a search warrant was obtained by Vigo County Division 6 Court and served late last night at 1903 Grant Street. 

Based on preliminary findings as a result of the search warrant, Dionel J. Mateo, age 28, of Terre Haute, was interviewed and subsequently taken into custody and transported to the Vigo County Jail with no bond allowed. 

Investigating Officers:  Indiana State Police Detective Master Trooper Kevin Getz who was assisted by Senior Trooper John Jacobs.

Assisting Agencies:  Vigo County Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Valdez, Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office, Indiana Department of Child Services, and Susie’s Place Child Advocacy Center in Terre Haute.

Anyone having any information related to crimes against children are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency or visit the NCMEC website at http://www.missingkids.com/hom  and find the link to make a CYBERTIPLINE report.

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.