Tippecanoe County-Today at approximately 11:33 a.m. on I-65 near the 178 mile marker (that is the State road 43 exit), a truck driver was stopped for having a child on his lap while driving was found to be wanted on a warrant out of Orange County California.
Master Trooper Larry Mote Jr. an Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division Trooper stopped a green 2003 Volvo semi owned by Power Cartage Inc. out of Chicago which was pulling an empty trailer. Information had been received by other motorists who had witnessed the act and had called Region One Dispatch at the Lowell State Police Post to report the incident. The driver, Norman A. Shields, 60 years old from Chicago had a two year old child on his lap. After checking the driver’s information through radio, it was found that Shields was wanted on a felony warrant for Lewd Acts with a Child Under the age of 14 Years. Shields did have authority authorized by the owner’s of the truck which is required by federal Motor Carrier Regulations, to let the child ride along . The mother had given him permission to have the child with him, also.
Upon further checking with Orange County, it was determined that Shields would not be extradited back to California to face the charge which were originally filed in 1989. Senior Trooper Mote did put Shields out of service for no log book, which is a summary of each day he is on the road that is required by Federal Motor Carrier Regulations, at SR 43 and I-65. After talking with the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office, Child Protective Services assumed custody of the child. At approximately 3:00 p.m, Orange County advised that they would extradite Shields back to California to face the original charge and Troopers Mote and Stephen Grayson returned to the truck and placed Shields into custody and transported him to the Tippecanoe County Jail with no bond.
Suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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RILEY
