Lake County armed carjacking and police chase

LAKE COUNTY, Ind -- Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

At 8:45 p.m., Indiana State Police Senior Trooper Jerry Michalak was dispatched to I-80 to track down a reported erratic driver.

He pulled over a green 1999 Toyota 4-Runner just west of Cline Avenue. When Michalak approached the vehicle the 4-Runner took off.

A pursuit ensued.

At the same time, a call was received by the Indiana State Regional Dispatch from Michigan City Police Department that they had an armed carjacking of a green 1999 Toyota 4-Runner in the city, at approximately 7:45 p.m.

Just as Trooper Michalak decided to terminate his pursuit due to traffic, the 4-Runner ran up onto a curb and all the occupants fled from the car.

The driver was pursued on foot, but was lost approximately three blocks southwest of the car.

The two other occupants fled northbound from the vehicle toward a residence. The resident of the home, who happened to be legally carrying his gun at the time, was out in his yard with his dog. Both occupants of the car immediately yielded to the resident by laying down on the ground. A nearby neighbor called Hammond Police Department.

Hammond Police and Hammond Police K-9 unit arrived shortly and canvased the area in search of the driver of the 4-Runner, but had no luck finding him.

The two occupants, ages 14 and 15, both from Michigan City were taken to Lake County Juvenile Center in Crown Point where they are awaiting their initial hearing set for Monday, November 21st.

They have been charged with Resisting Law Enforcement, Criminal Trespassing, and Armed Carjacking.