REGION STOP TEAM
Press Release
Date: March 19, 2014
Time: 5:00 pm
The Region Stop Team today released the following information.
Arrest of Anthony Polk
On Tuesday, March 19th, Region STOP Team members were patrolling in Gary, Indiana when they conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle for an infraction. At that time they identified the driver of the vehicle to be Anthony Polk, a black male, 22 years of age and a resident of Gary, Indiana. The vehicle was also occupied by a female.
The officers determined that Polk’s drivers license was suspended. During their discussion with Polk, the officers were able to detect a strong odor of marijuana from the vehicle. The officers were also able to observe a clear plastic bag containing a white powder substance on the passenger floor board. Additional suspected crack cocaine and heroin was also discovered during this investigation.
In total, .9 grams of powder cocaine; 3.4 grams of crack cocaine and 1.8 grams of heroin was recovered, all of which followed a traffic stop.
Polk was taken into custody and on March 20th, the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office charged Polk with Dealing in cocaine (A); Possession of heroin with the intent to distribute (B); Possession of cocaine (C) and Possession of a controlled substance (D)
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Arrest of Darnell J. Oscar
On March 17th, Region STOP Team officers responded to the 4000 block of Main Street, East Chicago, in regards to a possible robbery taking place at the Family Dollar Store.
As the officers approached, an East Chicago Police Officer was in the process of approaching two suspects, who were believed to be involved in the matter.
One of the suspects (Darnell J. Oscar) ran from the officer and he was then pursued by both East Chicago and Region STOP Team officers. As the officers caught up to Oscar, he removed a dark colored semi automatic handgun from his waistband and threw it to the ground. The subject then refused commands by the officers and a struggle ensued.
During the struggle, Officer Joseph Martinez, a Hammond Police Officer assigned to the Region STOP Team, received minor injuries. Following the arrest, Oscar proceeded to verbally threaten Officer Martinez and related charges have been filed. In addition, the weapon that Oscar threw to the ground was found to be loaded and the weapon’s serial numbers had been obliterated.
On March 18th the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office charged Oscar with 5 felony charges; Possession of an altered handgun (C); Carrying a handgun without a license
(C); Resisting Law Enforcement (D); Battery resulting in bodily injury (D) and Intimidation (D).
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Arrest of Carlos Spikes and Robert Fitzgerald
On March 11th Region STOP Team members were patrolling in Gary when they stopped a vehicle for a traffic infraction near 10th and Taft Street. An occupant of the vehicle was identified as Carlos Spikes, 26 years of age, who was found to have an outstanding felony drug related arrest warrant on file. The arrest warrant had been issued in 2009 and Spikes was taken into custody without incident.
Region STOP Team members also stopped a vehicle that same date near 15th and Grant, at which time Robert Fitzpatrick, 18 years of age, was located in the vehicle. It was determined that Fitzpatrick had outstanding felony warrants on file for armed robbery and burglary and was taken into custody without incident.
The Region Stop Team is comprised of fulltime officers from the Hammond, Gary, Lake County Sheriff and the East Chicago Police Departments. Part time members include the Munster, St. John, Highland, Griffith, Schererville, Dyer, University of Indiana- Northwest Campus (IUN), Whiting and the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD). The effort is supported by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office, the United States Attorney’s Office as well as crime mapping and analytical support by IUN.
Press personnel are invited to contact any of the agency heads that participate on this team. Questions may also be directed to Chief Mark J. Becker, East Chicago Police Department, cellular telephone (219) 712-0864
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