LAKE COUNTY – Sunday morning at approximately 3:29 a.m., Trooper Griffin was patrolling in his Indiana State Police Mustang patrol vehicle when he was stopped for a red traffic signal at the intersection of Burr Street and 29th Avenue in Gary.
The light turned green and Trooper Griffin proceeded into the intersection. At that time, a green Kia SUV attempted to make a left turn, nearly striking the patrol vehicle, before completing a U-turn behind the police car.
Trooper Griffin slowed, allowing the Kia to pass, and then positioned his police vehicle directly behind it and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The Kia accelerated at a high-rate of speed northbound on Burr Street near I-80. Without warning, the vehicle made a right turn onto the I-80 westbound exit ramp traveling the wrong way on the interstate.
Trooper Griffin advised dispatch that he was in pursuit of the green Kia. Moments later, the vehicle made another U-turn, now traveling westbound in the proper lanes, but at an extremely high rate of speed. The driver continued westbound reaching speeds of 136 miles per hour in a posted 55 mph zone. The pursuit continued past Cline Avenue before the vehicle abruptly exited onto the Kennedy Avenue Exit Ramp. The Kia struck a barrier wall and came to an uncontrolled rest on the ramp.
The driver, later identified as Devin T. Jackson, 28, of Chicago, Illinois, climbed out through the driver’s window. He was ordered to the ground but refused, resisting arrest and attempted to get away from the arresting trooper. A passenger, Kimbrew D. Horton, 29, of Chicago, Illinois, then exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot but was quickly stopped by Trooper Haddon who had also arrived at the scene. Jackson continued to resist Trooper Griffin’s commands but was eventually taken into custody.
Trooper Griffin detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Mr. Jackson, noting his glossy, bloodshot, and watery eyes. Jackson refused to perform field sobriety tests. He was transported via ambulance to a local hospital because of his involment in a crash. Due to his refusal and signs of intoxication, a search warrant for a blood draw was obtained.
Jackson was later remanded to the Lake County Jail charges of two counts of resisting law enforcement, a Level 5 felony and a Level 6 felony, resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor and operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor, and OWI, a Class C misdemeanor.
Horton was incarcerated on a charge of resisting law enforcement, a Class C misdemeanor.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
