Pursuit ends with two in LaPorte County Jail

LAPORTE COUNTY, Ind. -- A speeding vehicle on U.S. 20 near C.R. 400 E., refused to stop when a Senior Trooper on patrol, activated his lights and siren, leading to a pursuit that ended with two in the LaPorte County Jail. 

Senior Trooper Jacob Raupp was patrolling U.S. 20 near C.R. 400 E. on Friday, Jul. 19, around 7:15 p.m., when he observed and checked a black Jeep exceeding the speed limit, at 71 miles per hour in a 45 miles per hour area. 

Senior Trooper Raupp attempted to make a traffic stop, activating his lights and siren, when driver refused to stop, and fled west on U.S. 20. 

The vehicle continued to flee west onto I-94, initiating the pursuit, which continued west through LaPorte and Porter Counties along I-94. 

Officers with Indiana State Police and other local agencies tried deploying stop sticks multiple times along I-94 during the pursuit, which were initially unsuccessful, until the vehicle finally did strike the stop sticks near the Portage exit. 

The Jeep eventually stopped near the Lake Station exit, where the suspect was taken into custody, and transported to the LaPorte County Jail.

Preliminary charges for the driver include the following offenses: 

• Dealing a Schedule IV Substance- Level 3 Felony. 
• Possession of a Machine Gun- Level 4 Felony. 
• Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle- Level 6 Felony. 
• Reckless Driving- Class C Misdemeanor. 

A passenger in the vehicle was also arrested on the following offenses: 

• Dealing a Schedule IV Substance- Level 3 Felony. 
• Possession of a Machine Gun- Level 4 Felony. 
• Possession of Marijuana- Class B Misdemeanor. 

The final charges have yet to be determined by the LaPorte County Prosecutor's Office. 

The firearm that was also located in the vehicle, was a Glock 23, with a switch attached, converting it into a fully automatic weapon.