MERRILLVILLE – A reckless driving incident on I-65 escalated into an armed carjacking and subsequent arrest of two individuals on Friday, February 14th. The Indiana State Police Regional Dispatch Center at Lowell received multiple reports of a silver Honda driving erratically southbound on I-65 from I-80/94, nearly striking other vehicles.
The Honda crashed near the U.S. 30 ramp. Two occupants exited the vehicle and, armed with a knife, allegedly carjacked a black Acura that had stopped at the scene. The driver of the Acura was physically assaulted before the suspects fled westbound on U.S. 30.
Merrillville, Hobart, and Lake County Sheriff’s Department officers later found the abandoned Acura in the 7900 block of Rhode Island St. in Merrillville. Troopers followed footprints in the snow, initiating a K9 track.
While tracking the suspects, dispatch received a call from the Merrillville Fire Department reporting that two males had entered the station on West 73rd Avenue, claiming to be robbery victims. The descriptions of these individuals matched the carjacking suspects. Officers responded to the fire station and took both into custody.
The suspects were Cain M. Knaus, 26, of Walshville, IL, and Stephanie V. Raices (also known as Victor M. Zarate), 34, of Chicago, IL, and Bronx, NY. Knaus had an active parole violation warrant from the Illinois Department of Corrections. Both were transported to the Lake County Jail.
The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office approved the following charges:
- Armed Robbery (Level 3 Felony)
- Robbery (Level 5 Felony)
- Auto Theft (Level 6 Felony)
- Battery (Class B Misdemeanor)
- Leaving the Scene of a Crash (Class B Misdemeanor)
- Reckless Driving (Class C Misdemeanor)
These charges are accusations, and the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. An ongoing investigation is being conducted to determine who drove the Honda during the crash.
The Indiana State Police were assisted by the Merrillville Police and Fire Departments, Hobart Police, Lake County Dispatch, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division, and the Indiana State Police C.S.I.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
