Vigo County-This morning around 10:20, Putnam County 911 Dispatch received an emergency 911 text message from a 20-year-old female reportedly held in her vehicle by two male suspects. The red 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier, owned by the victim, was westbound on Interstate 70 reportedly en route to the St. Louis, Missouri area. The female continued to exchange text messages with the Putnam County Dispatch Center with the information being relayed to the Indiana State Police Region III Dispatch Center. ISP Troopers working I-70 then began looking for the vehicle.
At approximately 10:42, Indiana State Police Trooper Brandon Mullen located the 1999 Chevrolet westbound I-70 near the 12 mile marker. Seconds later, ISP Lieutenant Mark Tow and Trooper Ted Robertson assisted Mullen in stopping the vehicle. Both men were taken into custody without incident. The female was assisted from the vehicle, found unharmed, but was somewhat distraught.
Preliminary investigation revealed the driver and boyfriend of the female, LaDonte Hatchett, age 21, of Indianapolis, IN., refused multiple requests from the female to not take her to St. Louis and to release her from the vehicle. Hatchett reportedly refused all requests from the female and continued to drive west on I-70.
Trooper Ian Portteus and K-9 “Czar” arrived to assist with “Czar” locating approximately one gram of suspected marijuana and one gram of suspected cocaine inside the vehicle. “Czar” and Portteus graduated from the ISP K-9 Academy on July 16, 2015. Approximately 24 hours after graduation, “Czar” was in the field and locating suspected illegal drugs.
Arrested: LaDonte Hatchett, age 21, Indianapolis, IN.
Preliminary Charges: Criminal Confinement, Unauthorized Control of a Vehicle, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Cocaine, and DUI refusal.
The female victim and the male passenger were released separately from the scene.
Assisting were multiple troopers from the Putnamville Post, Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office, Vigo County Sheriff’s Office, Terre Haute Police Department and West Terre Haute Police Department.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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