Lake County- On March 7, 2024, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Trooper Kevin Council was assisting with traffic direction on Cline Ave. near the bridge over the Grand Calumet River. Trp. Council was parked in the left lane with his police emergency lights activated due to an earlier crash that other officers were investigating. An SUV rear-ended Trp. Council’s police car, then revved its engine, and fled the scene at a high rate of speed. Trp. Council had to be transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
An East Chicago officer later located the vehicle, a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, parked at 3206 Regent St. in East Chicago, IN. The vehicle had significant damage to it to include multiple flat tires, the air bags were deployed, and open alcoholic beverage containers could be seen inside the vehicle. Officers impounded the vehicle at that time.
On March 8, 2024, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Joel A. Barrera contacted the East Chicago Police Department and attempted to report that his vehicle had been stolen from his girlfriend’s residence in the 3700 block of Euclid Ave. in East Chicago. He described the vehicle as a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, the same vehicle that had been recovered from in front of his own residence.
A search warrant was requested and granted by a Lake County Judge. As a result of that search, evidence was collected and analyzed. A search warrant was subsequently approved to collect a DNA standard from Joel Antonio Barrera. When officers attempted to serve the DNA search warrant, Mr. Barrera refused to cooperate with the warrant. When he was told it wasn’t voluntary, he repeatedly stated that he would not participate with the DNA warrant.
The Indiana State Police Criminal Investigation Division at the Lowell Post has filed the following charges against Joel A. Barrera in relation to this investigation:
- Criminal Recklessness- Level 6 Felony
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident Causing Injury- Level 6 Felony
- Resisting Law Enforcement- Level 6 Felony
- Obstruction of Justice- Level 6 Felony
- False Informing- Class A Misdemeanor
- Reckless Driving- Class A Misdemeanor
- Possession of Marijuana- Class B Misdemeanor
- Altered Interim License Plate- Class C Misdemeanor
Mr. Barrera has since been released from the Lake County Jail. All suspects are presumed to be innocent until/unless proven guilty in court.