A Gary man is facing several charges Saturday after police say he sideswiped a police car at a crash scene at the intersection of Interstates 65 and 80.
Troopers from the Indiana State Police Lowell Post were investigating a vehicle crash involving an impaired driver on northbound I-65 at the on-ramp to westbound I-80, according to a news release from Sgt. Glen Fifield, public information officer for the Lowell Post.
An officer was sitting in his police car providing security to the scene while his emergency lights were activated when a white Volvo S90 sideswiped his patrol car and attempted to flee the scene. He radioed to troopers who were dealing with the crash ahead of him, just ahead of the fleeing vehicle, police said.
Another officer found the vehicle in the center lane and ordered the driver to stop. The driver was ordered to leave the car, but he refused. Troopers then opened the driver’s door for the suspect and the driver eventually complied and exited the vehicle.
When officers pulled the driver away, they noticed a gun in the driver’s waistband. Troopers took the gun from the driver and also determined it was loaded. Police also saw an open bottle of Hennessy in the front of the vehicle. The bottle was half empty. During a later search of the vehicle, police said they also found a white powdery substance on the front of the vehicle.
During the interaction, troopers were able to detect the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on the driver’s breath. The driver was field sobriety tested and then offered the opportunity to submit to a certified chemical test, which he declined, police said.
Police requested a blood draw order, which was granted and signed by a Lake County judge. The driver was transported to a nearby hospital where the warrant was executed and the blood draw was completed.
The driver, Diandre Jamal Green, 34, was transported to the Lake County Jail. He is charged with possession of cocaine while in possession of a firearm, a Level 5 felony; operating while intoxicating, endangering a class A misdemeanor; leaving the scene of an accident, a class B misdemeanor; and operating while intoxicated, a class C misdemeanor.
Green has an initial hearing before Magistrate Kathleen Sullivan on Dec. 2, according to online court records.
