One December 9, 2011, Officer Larry and Officer Byron pulled up next to each other talking when they noticed a black window tinted Tahoe approaching them. The vehicle appeared as if it was going to head straight until it noticed the two officer’s cars on a side street, which it then slowed down, and turned around. This of course made Officer Larry and Officer Byron very suspicious. It was approximately 3:10 AM, which made it even more suspicious as they were on a side street. The officers, both driving separate vehicles, went to follow the black vehicle. However, it rapidly accelerated in speed, turning the next corner and again accelerating. At this point, the officers then turned on their sirens and it appeared it was going to be a chase. The black Tahoe which had two males inside then made an immediate turn into a driveway, turning left, which put the passenger side away from officers Larry and Byron as they were exiting their vehicles.
As an officer in these situations you learn to get to the car quick, because more than likely something is going on such as hiding drugs, hiding a gun, or loading a gun and the more time you give them, the more time they have to control the situation. However, as the vehicle stopped in the driveway of 258 Carroll Street Ave. in Hammond, Indiana. Officer Larry seen the drivers throw something out the passenger window, and then simply acted as if nothing had happened. When Officer Larry approached the passenger side his partner, Officer Byron approached the driver's side, Officer Larry acted as if I didn't see what just occurred. He remembered talking with the passenger, Anthony, asking him what was going on, and he told Officer Larry he was getting a ride to a friend's house whose name he chose to not disclose. However, Officer Byron later told Officer Larry the driver had a completely different story.
Officer Byron partner placed the driver under arrest for an open container of alcohol that was sitting in the middle cup holder. Subsequently, the passenger, Romell, was arrested for the same charge, because neither party claimed ownership of alcohol, and both had access to it. There was no relationship between the two males, they were had only been friends for 11 years and would hang out with one another from time to time. The assailants, Anthony and Romell, were handcuffed and placed in our police cars. When walking back to the passenger's side of the vehicle, I found a loaded revolver lying on the ground approximately 5 feet from the passenger door in the grass.
Due to probable cause, Officer Larry searched the vehicle and found one baggie of crack cocaine, while another which was found by my partner, officer Byron, of approximately 25 crack rocks. There were no witnesses to the suspicious acts other than Officers Larry and Byron. Although there were no victims, the suspects were booked and interviewed by Sergeant Harris, and both perpetrators blamed the other for the drugs and the gun. They were both lodged in jail, and the outcome was pleas to a lesser charge of misdemeanor possession of Cannabis and gun possession. They each received a year of probation and a $500 fine.