Trooper Rosillo attempted to catch up to the vehicle and while doing so, checked the Blazer’s speed at 80 mph in a 35 mph zone. The driver turned into the alley adjacent to Kennedy Ave. as a traffic stop was intiated. The vehicle then turned into the alley between Janet Place and Kenwood St. While on Kenwood St., the vehicle drove onto the grass median and stopped. The driver was able to exit the vehicle and attempted to flee from the scene. Trooper Rosillo engaged in a foot pursuit with the suspect in an adjacent alley and was able to locate the suspect. The Hammond Police Department also responded and assisted with the arrest.
The suspect, Esteban Ramon Jose Cortes, 36, from Crown Point, IN, refused to perform field sobriety tests and also refused to take the certified chemical test for intoxication. He was then transported to the Lake County Jail for booking. He is preliminarily being charged with the following:
- Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle- Level 6 Felony
- Habitual Traffic Violator- Level 6 Felony
- Resisting Law Enforcement- Class A Misdemeanor
- Operating While Intoxicated (Endangering)- Class A Misdemeanor
- Operating While Intoxicated (Refusal)- Class C Misdemeanor
- Reckless Driving- Class C Misdemeanor
All persons named in this release are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. All charges mentioned are merely accusations, actual charges will be determined by the Lake County Prosecutor's Office.