Lake County- This morning (6/23/2021) at 12:20 a.m., Trooper Benjamin Beers was patrolling I-90 (Indiana Toll Road) near the 2.5 mile-marker. Trooper Beers observed a vehicle traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed and confirmed his observations when the radar displayed a speed of 112 mph. The posted speed limit along I-90 in that area is 70 mph.
As Trooper Beers attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle, a silver 2019 Subaru passenger car, the driver turned off the vehicle's headlights and attempted to elude the officer. Trooper Beers then initiated a pursuit of the vehicle when the vehicle continued to travel eastbound at an excessive speed. The vehicle exited onto Cline Ave. and the driver then turned his lights back on. Trooper Beers terminated the pursuit when he lost sight of the vehicle due to other traffic at the toll booth.
Approximately 10 minutes later, Hammond Police observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Calumet Ave. A traffic stop was initiated and as they did so, the vehicle crashed into a utility pole at 129th and Calumet Ave. The driver exited the vehicle with what turned out to be a loaded handgun clearly visible in his waistband. The officers were able to place the driver under arrest without further incident.
Trooper Beers responded to the scene and identified the vehicle as the same vehicle that had fled from him. A second handgun was located on the driver as well as an amount of a controlled substance. A third handgun was located in the vehicle as well as additional controlled substances.
The Hammond Police Department covered the crash scene and Trooper Beers is handling the criminal charges. The driver, Shivam Vikrant Patel, 26, from Ypsilanti, MI, was transported to the Lake County Jail where he is preliminarily charged with the following:
- Dealing Cocaine- Level 2 Felony
- Possession of Firearm with Altered Serial Number- Level 5 Felony
- Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle- Level 6 Felony
- Possession of a Controlled Substance Enhancement- Level 6 Felony
- 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.
