Troopers with Indiana State Police took two men into custody early Monday morning after a pursuit on Interstate 94 near the Lake/Porter County line that ended with the seizure of almost $16,000 in cash and a machine gun.
Around 4:00 a.m. on Dec. 2, a trooper with the Lowell Post observed a white Audi traveling at 110 mph in the construction zone eastbound on I-94 at the 16-mile marker, near the county line, according to a release.
The trooper performed a traffic stop on the Audi and it pulled over west of the Burns Harbor exit. As the trooper walked up to the Audi, the driver drove off at a high rate of speed and police initiated a pursuit, according to the release.
The driver pulled over a second time on the inside shoulder and as the trooper was conducting a felony stop on the suspect, the driver again drove away at a high speed, police said. This time, the driver drove across all lanes of travel and the Audi was struck by a semi also traveling eastbound.
The Audi came to rest on the ramp to the Burns Harbor/Porter exit. The driver of the semi was not injured.
While attempting to take the two occupants of the vehicle into custody, the driver again ran back to the car and after a brief struggle, the trooper was able to place the driver in handcuffs. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, troopers located a fully automatic Glock 45 9mm with a switch and $15,980 in cash.
The driver, 19, from Rockford, Illinois, was transported to Porter County Jail on charges of possession of a machine gun, a Level 5 felony; resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, a Level 6 felony; resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor; and recklessly operating a vehicle in a work zone with workers present, also a Class A misdemeanor.
The passenger, 19, from Chicago, was incarcerated at the Porter County Jail and is charged with possession of a machine gun, a Level 5 felony.
The Post-Tribune is withholding the suspects’ names because they have not been formally charged.
Assisting agencies include Burns Harbor Police, Porter County Sheriff’s Department and Joe’s Towing.
