LAKE COUNTY – Yesterday afternoon around 3 p.m., a State Trooper was called to investigate a car driving on 1-69 at a significantly slower speed than the speed limit. After locating the vehicle, which was traveling at 8 mph, the trooper attempted to pull the car over to see why they were proceeding so slowly.
The attempt failed as the car, instead of pulling to the side of the road, sped away. A chase began as the white Chevy Silverado fled, almost slamming into a disabled semi parked on one side of the road in the process.
State troopers were initially unsuccessful in their attempts to stop the car, and the driver continued onward at a reduced speed even once the driver-side tire was deflated by stop-sticks. In his avoidance of the stop-sticks, the driver intentionally swerved towards one of the Troopers, and then proceeded south, ramming into a state police car.
The truck was forced into the median, where the driver seemed to stop. Then, as troopers approached the vehicle, accelerated again toward the officers, ramming the police cars in the process. The suspect proceeded to head north in the southbound lanes, but was forced off into the grassy ditch due to traffic backup. He attempted to drive back onto the interstate, and in the process slammed into a Jasper County Sheriff’s Department police car until his truck would no longer operate normally.
The troopers approached the vehicle after releasing a canine, and the suspect was soon cuffed and arrested. He was transported later to the Franciscan Health Hospital in Crown Point for minor injuries. Three state troopers were treated on the scene for minor injuries, and three state police cars were damaged in the altercation.
The suspect has been identified as Thomas J. Sanhamel, 45, from West Chicago, Illinois. He has been incarcerated at the Lake County Jail on a preliminary 48-hour hold for charges to be determined by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.Â
This incident is being investigated by detectives assigned to the Indiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division-Lowell Post. Assisting at the scene were the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, Lowell Fire Department, and Ray & Wally’s Towing. Â
All suspects are presumed to be innocent until/unless proven guilty in court.
