Two Portage men were arrested early Sunday after Portage Police received a report of shots fired at the intersection of Airport and Robbins roads, and sheriff’s deputies caught up with the duo later during a routine traffic stop.
Caleb Downs, 23, is charged with a Level 5 felony count of intimidation involving a deadly weapon, and a Level 6 felony count of criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon, according to online court records. He also could face three additional charges, misdemeanors related to drunken driving, per a report from the Porter County Sheriff’s Department.
Charles Vancleef Jr., 24, is charged with a Level 5 felony count of unlawful carrying of a handgun with a prior felony conviction within the last 15 years, and a Level 6 felony count of criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon, according to online court records.
Around 10:40 p.m. on Dec. 28, Portage Police responded to the intersection of Airport and Robbins roads for a report of shots fired in the area. A Portage man, 47, told police he was traveling southbound on Airport Road with several family members in his vehicle and he was being tailgated by a white passenger car, according to a release.
The witness told police that as he was slowing down to turn right onto Robbins Road, the other vehicle passed him on the left. “At that time, he observed a firearm being held outside of the driver’s window, firing several rounds into the air. This caller left the immediate area out of safety concerns but did meet with officers to give a statement,” police said.
Other officers checked the area of Airport Road and located several spent shell casings in the roadway south of Robbins, according to the release. Officers began canvassing the area asking residents to review their surveillance camera footage and taking statements from witnesses who described the suspect vehicle as a white four-door sedan last seen southbound on Airport Road.
At around 12:10 a.m., a deputy with the Porter County Sheriff’s Department conducted a traffic stop on a white Honda Civic in the area of U.S. 6 and Willowcreek Road because police witnessed traffic violations, according to Portage Police.
During the course of the traffic stop, sheriff’s deputies discovered evidence that the vehicle may have been the one that Portage officers were looking for, according to Portage Police. Portage officers responded to the traffic stop and two handguns with partially depleted magazines were recovered, along with a spent shell casing from inside the Honda that matched one found at the Airport Road scene, police said.
Officers also observed damage to the Honda indicating that a firearm recently had been discharged inside of it, police said.
Police identified Downs as the driver, and he was taken into custody by a sheriff’s deputy on misdemeanor charges related to drunken driving, in addition to the felony charges related to the alleged shooting. Vancleef, the passenger, was taken into custody by Portage Police for the alleged shooting.
“Thankfully, no one was injured during this incident and other than the suspect’s own vehicle no other property damage has been discovered,” Portage Police said in the release, also thanking sheriff’s deputies for their assistance with the investigation.
Portage Police also thanked “all of the citizens who allowed officers to view their security camera footage and those who gave witness statements.”
Anyone with further information should contact Portage Police Detective Laura Lightfoot at 219-764-5725.
