LaPorte County- On Friday, July 19, 2024, at approximately 7:15 p.m., Senior Trooper Jacob Raupp was patrolling U.S. 20 near C.R. 400 E. when he observed a black Jeep traveling in excess of the posted speed limit. S/Trp. Raupp checked the vehicle’s speed at 71 mph in a posted 45 mph area and attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle. When S/Trp. Raupp activated his emergency lights and siren, the driver refused to stop and fled west on U.S. 20.
A pursuit was initiated as the vehicle continued to flee west onto I-94. The pursuit traveled west through LaPorte and Porter Counties along I-94. During the pursuit, officers with the Indiana State Police, along with several local agencies, attempted to deploy stop sticks several times along I-94, but they were initially unsuccessful, until the vehicle finally struck the stop sticks near the Portage exit (mile-marker 19). The suspect eventually stopped the Jeep near the Lake Station exit where he was taken into custody and transported to the LaPorte County Jail. The driver, identified as Roberto Valencuela, 19, from Matson, IL, is preliminarily being charged with the following offenses:
- Dealing a Schedule IV Substance- Level 3 Felony
- Possession of a Machine Gun- Level 4 Felony
- Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle- Level 6 Felony
- Reckless Driving- Class C Misdemeanor
A female passenger in the vehicle, Angela Rodriguez, 18, from Chicago, IL, was also arrested for the following offenses:
- Dealing a Schedule IV Substance- Level 3 Felony
- Possession of a Machine Gun- Level 4 Felony
- Possession of Marijuana- Class B Misdemeanor
Final charges will be determined by the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office. All suspects are presumed innocent until/unless proven guilty in court. The firearm that was located in the vehicle was a Glock 23 that had a switch attached that converted it into a fully automatic weapon.