(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte County sheriff’s deputy shot last month is continuing his recovery in Chicago.

Jon Samuelson was taken from Memorial Hospital in South Bend to an undisclosed rehabilitation facility yesterday.  A motorcade of emergency responders led the way.

Police, fire and EMS were also staged at various points along the Indiana Toll Road in a show of respect and support for the 12-year member of the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office as he drove by.

Mike Kellems, a retired La Porte County Police officer working law enforcement now for Purdue University Northwest, was among the emergency responders positioned along the Indiana Toll Road near Fail Road.

“It was good to see the number of officers that gathered along different points along the way,” he said.

The 33 year old Samuelson was shot three times on May 22 at Franciscan Health by a man who asked to be taken there after the officer stopped to assist who he thought was a disabled motorist.

Samuelson after leaving returned to the hospital about a minute later after informed the man, Sharod Grafton, Jr., 22, of Chicago was driving his mother’s vehicle after taking her keys at gunpoint.  Samuelson was shot during a scuffle with the man inside the emergency room area.

According to court records, doctors reported early indications that Samuelson was suffering from paralysis from the chest down.

(La Porte, IN) - A Chicago area man is behind bars for allegedly firing two gunshots inside a downtown La Porte bar last year.

Kajuan Riley-Bourgouis, 23, is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 4 felony unlawful possession of a firearm and Level 5 felony criminal recklessness.

According to the charging information, there was at least 50 patrons inside Monty’s Pool Hall at Lincolnway and Madison St. when the shots were fired just before 2 a.m. in October of last year.

Surveillance video shows two women involved in a scuffle when Bourgouis reaches toward his waistband before the shots were fired into the floor near the bar.  A bar patron tried restraining the suspect, who broke free and fled out the back door, police said.

Authorities said Bourgouis pleaded guilty to robbery and theft in Illinois less than two weeks prior to the gunshots.  He was being held in the La Porte County Jail on $20,000 bond.

(Berrien County, MI) - A man was airlifted to a hospital after an overnight motor vehicle crash a few miles outside New Buffalo.

Just after midnight, Berrien County Police said the 25 year old man lost control of his vehicle on Interstate 94 near East Road in Chikaming Township.  He ran off the road and was ejected from his vehicle that overturned several times before coming to rest in a ditch.

Police said the medical helicopter took the driver from Flint, Michigan to a hospital in Grand Rapids.  The crash is still under investigation.

(La Porte, IN) - A plaza at Fox Park in La Porte is being named after a longtime member of the community.

The Maria Fruth Plaza will be dedicated at the site of the new structure between the Dennis F. Smith Amphitheatre and Clear Lake.  The dedication is scheduled at 6 p.m. on June 17.  Afterwards, the community is invited to join the La Porte City Band for a concert honoring Fruth and her years of contributions to the community.

Fruth served as President/Chief Executive Officer of the Health Foundation of La Porte from March of 2016 until her retirement in April of 2024.  HFL granted more than $50 million in grants throughout La Porte County for things that promote healthier lifestyles such as trails.

Prior to that, she was Executive Vice-President/Chief Executive Officer of the La Porte Hospital Foundation for over 20-years.

“We appreciate the guidance and support Maria provided to our department in park improvements and recreation programming,” said La Porte Park Department Superintendent Mark Schreiber.

The plaza was part of the Fox Park renovations funded by HFL in 2023.

(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County couple is hoping a turkey wandering onto their property has an owner that will claim the bird.

Diane Spoljoric said the turkey looks wild but acts more like a tame bird since it seems comfortable around humans.

“It’s got to be somebody’s pet,” she said.

She said the turkey on Tuesday approached her husband on their five acre spread in the 3100 block of N. 400 West.  Ever since, Spoljoric said her husband and granddaughter have filmed the turkey, which has climbed on the back porch, at times, to sit on a couch.  Her 11-year old grandson and three-year old granddaughter also had fun outside with the bird yesterday.

“That turkey did not bother them at all,” she said.

Suspecting the turkey belongs to someone, Spoljaric had the turkey featured on Pet Patrol, a segment on 96.7 The Eagle dedicated to finding the owners of lost pets.  So far, Spoljoric said nobody has called her to claim the turkey.

She said it’s kind of funny to have the bird around but also aggravating since it has left droppings on her porch a few times.  If the bird is not claimed, Spoljoric said she’s not sure what she and her husband will do about the turkey.

He has already started to become attached to it.

“We have a friend until somebody claims it,” she said.

(New Buffalo, Township, MI) - A truck driver was in critical condition after his semi hauling coal rolled on its side Wednesday outside New Buffalo.  The accident happened on the ramp connecting Interstate 94 to U.S. 12.

Police say it’s believed the driver was traveling the ramp too fast, causing the load to shift and both trailers to overturn.  His speed may have been the result of some type of medical emergency, police said.

The 67 year old driver, Billy Gibbs of Southgate, Michigan was airlifted to a Chicago hospital from Franciscan Health hospital outside Michigan City.  Police said it took over six hours to clean up the crash scene.

(La Porte, IN) - The La Porte High School choir program has earned statewide recognition.

The program is just one of 14 high school choir programs in the state to receive the Indiana State School Music Association’s All-Music Award for the 2025-26 school year.  ISSMA presented the music program with a commemorative banner marking the achievement.

To qualify, choirs have to earn gold ratings across three separate ISSMA contests during the school year:  State Solo and Ensemble, Jazz and Organizational.

All three of the school’s choirs, the Beginning Treble Chorus, Treble Chorale and Chorale, earned gold ratings for both performance and sight reading at an ISSMA contest in April

“I’m really proud of my students for this achievement and I give them all the credit,” said Choir Director Tom Coe.

(LaPORTE, IN) - A man is facing charges in connection with a police chase and crash in La Porte.

Police say Cedric Crawford during an argument Sunday fled at high speeds in his girlfriend’s SUV from a home on Allen St.  A nearby officer in his vehicle gave chase.

The pursuit was on Rumely St. when Crawford struck a motor vehicle and fled on foot, but he was soon captured, police said.  Crawford, 31, of Michigan City is charged with resisting law enforcement and other counts.

(Michigan City, IN) - Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fire that heavily damaged a church garage in Michigan City.

The fire happened late Monday night at Faith City Church on Woodland Ave. just north of U.S. 20.  Upon arrival, there was heavy smoke and flames.

Officials say damage to the several bay structure used for housing church buses was significant enough for the building to be deemed unsafe for occupancy.  Fortunately, there were no injuries.   There was also no damage to the church, which was far enough away to never be in real danger.

The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, officials said.

(La Porte, IN) - Construction of more affordable housing in La Porte has moved closer to a ground breaking.

A $1 million state grant was accepted Tuesday by the city’s Board of Public Works & Safety to help fund the cost of construction and keep the homes within an affordable price range.

Most of the homes by developer, Advantix, will be built at the former Sacred Heart Church property on Bach St. and the nearby old Washington school site.  The remaining homes will go up on some of the land at Scott Field.

City Planner Craig Phillips said there will be more than 40 new homes at the three sites, combined, in what he estimated to be about a $15 million total investment. Phillips said construction will begin late this year or next year with demolition of the old church structure happening this summer.

Board member Mark Kosior said he understands some people might not be happy about demolishing the old church.  Kosior said he also has sentimental feelings since he used to attend the church but it’s fallen into disrepair and needs to come down.

“It’s challenging and it’s sad but it’s something we do need to do,” he said.

(Michigan City, IN) - Two employees at Washington Park Zoo in Michigan City were taken to a hospital after attacked by wolves on the zoo grounds this morning.

The most seriously hurt victim, a 39 year old woman, suffered numerous injuries across her entire body, said Michigan City Police Capt. Kevin Urbanczyk.

Michigan City Fire Department training officer William Sonntag helped treat her wounds before she was transported to Franciscan Health hospital.

“She was alert and conscious but, as you can imagine, in a great amount of pain.  Happy to be alive,” he said.

Sonntag said the other female zookeeper suffered a bite wound to one of her arms.

Emergency responders about 8 a.m. were called to the zoo at the city’s lakefront and found two wolves secured in small cages and howling in different areas of the exhibit.  The most seriously injured woman had already made her way out of the exhibit and was on the floor.

Sonntag said the other zookeeper was still in the exhibit with a third howling wolf. Two firefighters rescued her by climbing on the roof of an adjacent building and lowering a ladder into the exhibit.

“As soon as the ladder touched the ground, she was climbing up,” he said.

What exactly led up to the attack remains investigation.  Sonntag said it happened after one the zookeepers doing something inside the exhibit asked the other woman to come in and help.

“Things went downhill from there,” he said.

(La Porte, IN) - Services have been scheduled for a New Prairie High School graduate killed in a single vehicle crash.

Austin VanAsdall, 22, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident Saturday evening on County Road 1000 North near 850 East.

La Porte County Police said he went off the road to his left and struck two trees.  A Celebration of life service will be held at Haverstock Funeral Home and Cremation Services in La Porte on Saturday from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM.

A traditional funeral service will not be held.  Memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or New Day Foundation.  VanAsdall was a 2022 graduate of New Prairie High School.

Police said the crash remains under investigation.

(Michigan City, IN) - A junk vehicle crackdown is in the works in Michigan City.

Assistant Police Chief Kyle Shiparski during the city’s Board of Public Works & Safety meeting on Monday said the focus will be on ticketing vehicles with expired license plates.

Vehicles without current plates are considered junk and can be towed, eventually, if the plates are not renewed.  He said the public will be notified before the crackdown begins.

“We’ll kind of do a bigger, maybe social media post, just so that people have some awareness on that,” he said.

Resident Tommy Kulavik cited problems with junk vehicles in his neighborhood on Ohio St. and elsewhere in the city.

“This is Michigan City, Indiana.  It is not Gary, Indiana.  Come on,”

Board member Gene Simmons, a former police chief in the city, expressed support for the crackdown hoping it reduces what he believes has become a culture for some people to keep vehicles that are not running.

"I think we're teetering on that," he said. 

No date for beginning the crackdown was given.

(Plymouth, IN) - The New Prairie High School boys’ baseball team has defended their sectional title.

The Cougars Monday defeated Culver Academies 12-2 at Plymouth.

It was the fourth consecutive Class 3A sectional championship for the Cougars, who advance to the regionals on Saturday against Andrean.

(La Porte, IN) - If Indiana legalizes the sale of marijuana, a request is being made for it to remain illegal in the city of La Porte.

The request was made during last night’s La Porte City Council meeting by Wally Brath, a former police chief in the city.  Brath fears La Porte becoming like it is now along Michigan 239 and U.S. 12 in New Buffalo Township where about 30 marijuana dispensaries exist.

“If and when this is legalized and I’m sure that it will be, we will see those establishments buy up every empty store and empty lot available in town.  We sure don’t want it to look like it does up in Michigan,” he said.

Brath urged the city to see if something can be done to keep dispensaries out of the city in the event recreational marijuana is made legal in the state.

A push to legalize medical marijuana is expected when the state legislature meets again in January.  Some people believe legalizing marijuana for medical purposes will open the door, eventually,  to legalizing pot for recreational purposes.

Recreational marijuana is legal in Michigan but municipalities in the state have the option of prohibiting dispensaries from opening up in their communities. 

(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte woman is paralyzed from the waist down after a large tree fell on her moving vehicle while driving to work last month.

Kaity Schultz, 37, on Monday remained at Memorial Hospital in South Bend where she was airlifted following the May 18 accident.  Her husband, Chris, said she’s waiting to be transferred to a rehabilitation facility in Chicago where her stay is expected to be for at least four weeks.

“We’re just waiting on an open bed to go there, so, that’s good news,” he said.

Mr. Schultz said his wife is not able to use her legs due to paralysis from the crushing injuries to her spine damaging her spinal cord.  If not for that and extreme pain that’s now subsiding, Mr. Schultz said it would be hard for anyone to tell she had been in an accident.

“No trouble talking.  No trouble eating.  She really has no other injuries,” he said.

Schultz said his wife dropped off their four-year old son, J.T., at Door Prairie Christian Daycare and School in La Porte and began heading to work for an insurance company where she’s a customer service manager in Michigan City.

According to La Porte County Police, the woman was northbound on Fail Road just outside the La Porte city limits when a tree along the west side of the road was uprooted apparently by the close to 20-mile-per-hour winds at the time.  The tree landed on top of her 2012 GMC Acadia and blocked both lanes of travel.

Kankakee Township Volunteer Fire Department Capt. Zach Rosiuk said the roof of the SUV was partially smashed in on the passenger side by the tree, which was lifted off the vehicle by a tow truck equipped with a boom.  Emergency responders were then able to safely cut into the vehicle and free the woman from the wreckage.

She was loaded into a medical helicopter that landed in a nearby field and flown to the hospital in South Bend for advanced care.

La Porte County Police Maj. Pat Cicero, a 26-year veteran of the department, held her hand and kept giving her words of encouragement during the entire close to two hours it took to free her from the SUV.  Mr. Schultz said his wife was awake the whole time and talked to the officer, who later paid her a visit in her hospital room and brought her flowers.

“As soon as he walked in, she knew right away who he was. She was real grateful he showed up to wish her well,” he said.

At the time of the accident, Mr. Schultz was in Reno, Nevada taking part in a national bowling tournament.  He was notified about the crash and his wife being prepared for surgery not long after the accident happened and quickly booked a flight home.  Schultz said he didn’t know much more about her condition until he was at her bedside in the intensive care unit about 12 grueling hours later.

He said his wife struggled a lot emotionally the first couple of days because the life-changing accident was such a fluke and it happened after her mother recently lost a long battle with lung cancer.  Schultz said her spirits have since lifted, though, from many family members and friends reaching out with words of support.

“Mentally, she is in a really good place right now.  She’s motivated to do the rehab. The pain is not as bad as it was.  Things are looking positive mentally,” he said.

Mr. Schultz said doctors are not giving her much of a chance at walking yet haven’t ruled out the possibility.  Once she returns home, he said his wife wants to get back to a normal life as much as possible in a wheelchair by attending her son’s t-ball games again, driving and returning to work.

“The end goal is whether it’s a month or two or maybe a couple of years would be to finally walk again,” he said.

A Go Fund Me page set up to help the family with medical expenses had raised over $96,000 as of Monday afternoon.

(La Porte, IN) - A woman driving erratically after leaving a La Porte bar was arrested last night for being impaired by alcohol.

Carol Barker, 62, was arrested for operating while intoxicated.

According to La Porte County Police, a deputy witnessed the La Porte woman fail to stop and drive on a sidewalk before pulling onto Pine Lake Ave. after leaving the parking lot of the establishment.

Police said Barker started braking abruptly and weaving badly then turned right on Indiana 39 where she veered over the center line multiple times.  She nearly hit a traffic sign when pulling over on the grassy shoulder for the officer on nearby Severs Road.

Her alleged blood alcohol level was .193-percent or more than two times the legal limit.

(South Bend, IN) - A Knox woman has been sentenced for embezzling more than $20,000 from the Starke County Jail.

Pamela McDonald at U.S. District Court in South Bend received one year on probation and was ordered to pay back the stolen funds.

Authorities say McDonald was the Starke County Jail matron when she deposited commissary funds into a personal account and covered up the transactions.  This happened during a nine month period beginning in 2022.

The FBI and state police were among the investigating agencies.

(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County Police are investigating a single vehicle fatal crash over the weekend.

Police said 22 year old Austin Vanasdall was eastbound on 1000 North about 10 o’clock Saturday night when he veered off the road to his left and struck two trees near 850 East.

The New Carlisle man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say two motorists told investigators they were passed by Vanasdall at speeds believed to be way above the speed limit.  Investigators are waiting on blood test results to determine if alcohol or drugs were involved in the crash.

(La Porte, IN) - The La Porte City Band is about to begin its 2026 summer concert series.

Concerts take place every Wednesday evening at the picturesque Fox Park, commencing at 7:00 P.M. The inaugural concert is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3 and will continue through August 5.

As always, the band will perform traditional concert band music, from the great marches of Sousa and Fillmore to great overtures. And there is always a side trip to Broadway or the movies. This week's program includes:

Our Director (march) F.E. Bigelow

Overture for Winds Charles Carter

Holiday for Winds Glenn Osser

Gershwin in Concert arr. Marty Gold

Piper’s Rhapsody James L. Hosay

The Magnificent Seven Elmer Bernstein arr. Phillippe

The Golden Age of Broadway arr. Warren Barker

The Klaxon (march) Henry Fillmore

The band is under the direction of Charles Steck, who enters his 14th season as conductor and music director. The La Porte City band has been performing since 1879.

(South Bend, IN) - A Chicago Cub World Series MVP and former South Bend Cubbie will return to Four Winds Field later this summer. Super-utility player and three-time All Star Ben Zobrist is scheduled to make a special guest appearance in South Bend on Saturday, July 25.

Zobrist was on back-to-back World Series Championship teams in 2015 and ‘16, first with the Kansas City Royals, then with the Cubs. His extra-inning, go-ahead double in Game 7 of the Cubs’ historic series helped earn Zobrist MVP honors that year. In August of 2019, he did a rehab assignment in South Bend.

Zobrist will be back this July raising money for his nonprofit organization Champion Forward. Tickets for an exclusive VIP meet-and-greet are on sale.

(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County residents needing blood will be able to get it from paramedics, if necessary, before they arrive at the hospital.

La Porte County Emergency Service and the American Red Cross are partnering to launch the prehospital transfusion program.  The American Red Cross will supply the blood for paramedics to give to patients before they get to the hospital to improve their chances of survival.

According to EMS, having blood immediately available is ideal for treating severe bleeding especially during the first 24 hours for patients requiring massive transfusion.

La Porte County EMS paramedics completed the regulatory training needed to implement the program, which is part of a growing nationwide trend.

People wanting to donate blood can schedule an appointment at redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS or download the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

(Michigan City, IN) - The suspect in the shooting of a La Porte County Police officer made his initial court appearance this morning.

Sharod Grafton, 22, of Chicago revealed plans to hire private counsel to represent him in the case.  He’s charged with attempted murder, battery and auto theft.  He appeared before a judge on video from the Porter County Jail where he’s being held on $100,000 cash bond.

A hearing was set in two weeks for a judge to decide whether to change the amount of his bail.   A number of law enforcement officers were present in a Michigan City courtroom for the proceedings.

Officer Jon Samuelson is improving but he’s facing what looks to be a long recovery. He comes from a family of police officers, including his great grandfather, Thomas Ciecka, who was a police officer in La Porte.

Ironically, Ciecka died from injuries suffered in the line of duty.  He was hit by a motor vehicle while directing traffic and later fell victim to a blood clot blamed on the collision in the early 60’s.

His grandson, Greg Samuelson, a longtime La Porte school teacher, said his nephew was among the members of his family to see Ciecka’s name in 2015 added to the names of other fallen officers in Washington D.C.

He said his nephew wanted to become a police officer ever since he was a child.

“He loves his job.  He loves protecting people.  He’s a super great human being,” he said.

Officer Samuelson’s father, Doug, and grandfather, Gene, were also police officers locally. His brother, Joshua, is currently a police officer in downstate Zionsville.

(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte woman is paralyzed from the waist down after a tree fell on her moving vehicle earlier this month.

Kaity Schultz, 37, had just dropped off her four year old son and was heading to work on May 18 when the tree fell on her vehicle on Fail Road north of Indiana 2 just outside the La Porte city limits.  Schultz underwent spinal surgery but remains without the use of her legs.

Her husband, Christopher, spoke to FOX 32 News out of Chicago.  “She was probably going 40 miles per hour and the tree just fell on her which is such a freak accident,” he said.

If it weren’t for the loss of her limbs, Schultz said nobody would be able to tell she was in an accident because of how she looks and feels.  “Right now, she can only move her shoulders and arms,” he said.

Schultz told FOX 32 News she was awake during the nearly two hours it took to remove her from the wreckage and expressed gratitude to a La Porte County sheriff’s deputy for holding her hand and offering encouragement until she was freed.  A GO Fund Me page has been created to help cover medical expenses.

(La Porte County, IN) - A man stopped for driving illegally in La Porte County was allegedly found with methamphetamine last night.

Daniel Land, 34, was booked into the La Porte County Jail on charges of driving as a habitual offender and possession of methamphetamine, both Level 6 felonies.

According to La Porte County Police, an officer along Indiana 2 near Rolling Prairie heard a loud muffler from a passing vehicle and recognized the driver as Land, who he knew was a designated habitual traffic violator.

During a traffic stop, police said two plastic baggies containing a combined 1.7 grams of methamphetamine were located in one of his pockets.  Currently, the La Porte area man is being held without bond.