Full Notification

Porter County-Yesterday at approximately 2:09 p.m. CST a trooper working I-94 westbound near the 23.5 mile marker attempted to stop a car for a speeding infraction ends up booking the driver into the Porter County Jail for burglary and resisting.

Preliminary investigation by Captain Keith Kopinski has revealed that he was working the interstate in a semi marked state police car when he observed a red 2004 Chrysler Crossfire exceeding the construction zone speed limit. As Captain Kopinski started to catch up to the vehicle, the driver, Ryan M. Alton, 23 of Joliet, IL appeared to try and avoid being stopped. Alton kept moving recklessly from lane to lane to avoid the officer. While driving on the shoulder, he changed lanes and ran into the rear of a red 2014 Volvo pulling a white 2008 Great Dane Trailer. Debris from the crash struck a third vehicle, a silver 2005 Subaru Impreza driven by Mark L. Nielsen, 26 of Wisconsin. After crashing, Alton and his passenger exits the vehicle and ran from the scene. During this time, Captain Kopinski had not yet activated his emergency lights.

As Captain Kopinski pulled up to the scene, he witnessed Alton and his passenger exit the disabled vehicle and run into a wooded residential area. Captain Kopinski asked for assistance and troopers and local police arrived and quickly caught the passenger without incident. A nearby elementary school was notified and a temporary lock down was enacted. Alton allegedly went into a garage where he stole a pair of shoes to replace the ones he had lost in his attempt to flee. He was found later in a shed located at another residence. Alton was taken into custody without incident.

Alton was transported to Porter Hospital with minor injuries. He was then transported to the Porter County Jail and charged with Resisting Law Enforcement and Burglary. The Burglary charge stems from Alton entering the garage without permission and taking of the shoes that were not his. The passenger was not charged and released. The drivers of the other two vehicles were not injured and both vehicles drove away from the scene. The investigation is continuing.

Assisting at the scene were troopers from the Lowell State Police Post, ISP Criminal Investigations Division and the Porter County Sheriff’s Department.

Suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

-30-
RILEY