Northwest Indiana- For the second week in a row, Friday night ended up being very busy for one Lowell Trooper. At 9:30 pm, Trooper Ben Beers was patrolling along I-94 near Portage when he observed a blue and white Yamaha motorcycle traveling westbound at an extremely high rate of speed. Trooper Beers caught up to the motorcycle and attempted to perform a traffic stop, but the cyclist sped up and attempted to elude the trooper. Trooper Beers estimated the motorcycle was traveling anywhere between 130-150 mph as he was behind the motorcycle at 125 mph when he attempted to stop it and the driver fled.
The pursuit continued into Lake County where the motorcycle began to exit at Broadway; however, when the rider looked back and saw Trooper Beers was also behind him, the rider returned to the main line of the interstate and again fled westbound. The motorcycle then exited at Grant St and appeared to be having mechanical failures as it slowed to a stop.
The rider, Edward Michael Henrikson, 21, from Portage, IN, was then taken into custody. He is preliminarily being charged with the following offenses:
- Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle- Level 5 Felony
- Criminal Recklessness- Class A Misdemeanor
- Reckless Driving- Class A Misdemeanor
Henrickson was also cited for operating a motorcycle without a motorcycle endorsement and no vehicle registration which are both infractions. Final charges will be determined by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.
Later in the evening, Trooper Beers returned to I-94 in the area of the Portage exit when he observed a white Dodge Charger traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed. The vehicle’s speed was checked at 106 mph in a posted 70 mph zone. Trooper Beers caught up to the Charger and attempted to perform a traffic stop, but the driver turned off all of the vehicle’s lights and accelerated away reaching speeds of 130 mph. The vehicle then suddenly merged from the far-left lane all the way to the right emergency shoulder and stopped.
All five occupants of the vehicle were then taken into custody without further incident. Of the five occupants, two were juveniles and were later released to their parents. The three adults were incarcerated at the Porter County Jail.
The driver, Christopher Williams, 20, from Cedar Lake, IN, is preliminarily charged with the following:
- Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle- Level 5 Felony
- Criminal Recklessness- Class A Misdemeanor
- Reckless Driving- Class C Misdemeanor
- Minor Consumption- Class C Misdemeanor
The two passengers charged are Liam McGrath, 20, from Chicago, IL
- Possession of False Government Identification- Class A Misdemeanor
- Minor Consumption- Class C Misdemeanor
Leeya Williams,19, from Cedar Lake, IN
- Minor Consumption- Class C Misdemeanor
All suspects are innocent until/unless proven guilty in court.