A Chesterton man has been charged with several felonies after a stabbing at a residence in that town Tuesday, police said, adding he will be taken into custody after he is released from an area hospital.
At approximately 12:36 p.m. March 26, Chesterton Police officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Cherry Hills Drive for a 911 call. The caller reported that there was a suspect in the residence with a knife, and that one of their friends may be hurt, according to a release from Chesterton Police.
When responding officers arrived at the residence, they were informed that the suspect with the knife had fled the residence and was running north toward the railroad tracks.
Sgt. Tony Alfaro, Cpl. Sarah Ritz and Officer Jorge Perez began speaking with the victims and other witnesses. They were provided with a description and name of the suspect who fled the residence as Micah Nelson, 19, of Chesterton. Meanwhile, personnel from neighboring jurisdictions arrived to help search for Nelson.
Officers at the scene determined that Nelson, an acquaintance of the victim, had entered the victim’s residence without permission. Nelson confronted the victim while armed with two knives. A fight ensued between Nelson and the victim and at one point they both fell down a staircase, police said.
Witnesses within the residence began yelling for Nelson to stop. Nelson ran out of the house and north towards the railroad tracks behind the residence. The victim then noticed that he had lacerations to his upper back. The victim was treated and released from an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
While officers at the residence were obtaining statements and processing evidence, officers searching for Nelson received information from Chesterton Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg, who was listening to the police radio traffic, that he observed a subject he believed to be Nelson near the intersection of Michael Drive and Watertower Drive.
Assistant Chief Cisco Rodriguez and an Indiana State Police K9 unit were first to arrive on Michael Drive where Nelson was located and taken into custody without incident.
Nelson was transported to Franciscan Emergency Center-Chesterton by ambulance, for non-life-threatening injuries. He was later transferred to an area hospital where he is being treated.
Nelson will be transported to the Porter County Jail once he is discharged from medical care.
He is being charged in Porter Superior Court 5 with burglary, a Level 3 felony; battery with a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony; intimidation, a Level 5 felony; battery, a Level 6 felony; and criminal mischief, a Class A misdemeanor.
Police Chief Tim Richardson applauded the quick response by responding Chesterton officers and assisting agencies that worked together to investigate and locate the suspect. Richardson also thanked Schnadenberg, a retired Chesterton reserve officer, for being at the right place at the right time and assisting in locating Nelson.
Anyone with information about the case, including doorbell and/or video surveillance footage, to contact Schoof at (219) 926-1136.
Assisting agencies included the Indiana State Police, Porter Police Department, Porter County Sheriff’s Office and Northwest Health EMS.
