A Hoffman Estates, Ill., woman reported her cellphone was missing Thursday afternoon as she and her family left the Majestic Star Casino.
Gary police Patrolman Dante Manuel spoke to the 29-year-old woman about 1 p.m. after she discovered her iPhone was not in the hotel room where she had laid it on the bed, a police report states.
She said as she was loading the car, she realized her cellphone was still in the room and returned to get it, the report states. A housekeeping employee was in the room, and the phone was not there, the woman told Manuel.
Police and hotel management viewed surveillance video from cameras in the hallway that show a housekeeping employee place an item “underneath other items on a housekeeping cart” but could not determine what the item was, the report states.
The phone was not located.
Griffith police are investigating a shooting incident reported after the victim arrived at a Gary hospital Wednesday night.
The man, who is in his early 30s, has not been able to give any information to police because he is on a ventilator, police Detective Sgt. James Sibley said. The woman who drove the man to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus in Gary said he had called her and said, “Come pick me up, I’m shot,” Sibley said.
The woman told police she picked up the victim in the South Mansard Apartments and drove him to the hospital.
Sibley said the man does not live in Griffith. It is unclear where the shooting occurred, Sibley said.
The man was shot once in the back but is expected to recover, Sibley said.
Griffith police investigations Cmdr. Keith Martin said detectives were out Thursday afternoon canvassing the area again where the shooting may have occurred. “We do have some leads that we’re following up,” Martin said.
Anyone with information may contact police Detective Kevin Strbjak by calling 219-924-7503 or by contacting the Griffith police anonymous tip line at 219-922-3085.
A Gary man was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison for dealing in cocaine.
Anthony Arnell Best, 42, was convicted of dealing in cocaine Dec. 16 during a three-day jury trial. The charge is a level 4 felony punishable by two to 12 years.
Evidence presented by deputy prosecutors Quinton White and Sean Mullins showed that on March 5, 2015, Best was in the 900 block of Clark Road in Gary when officers were called to an attempted break-in while an elderly woman was inside her residence.
While officers were on their way to the call, they noticed a man who generally matched the description of the suspect in the attempted break-in, prosectors said. Police recognized Best from prior contacts and knew he had an active warrant. Best gave a fake name but later admitted his identity, prosecutors said.
Police found 19 small, knotted plastic bags containing 4.6 grams of crack cocaine. Each packet would sell for $20 on the street.
Defense attorney Alger Boswell said his client was a low-level dealer who was trying to support his 14 children, six of whom lived with him at the time.
A Gary man with an extensive criminal record was sentenced Thursday to four years in prison for battery resulting in serious bodily injury.
Hugh Scott Jr., 31, admitted he punched a woman with both fists on her face and body on June 24, at a residence in the 1800 block of West 5th Avenue in Gary. The woman started to run out of the apartment and into the hallway, but Scott followed her and continued to hit and punch her.
She suffered a concussion, broken ankle and numerous bruises.
Defense attorney Nicholas Barnes said most of Scott’s criminal convictions are lower-level felonies and misdemeanors. He noted Scott has spent 174 days in the Lake County Jail and accepted responsibility for his actions.
Scott apologized for letting the situation get out of control. “Give me a chance,” Scott said. “You won’t see me again in this courtroom.”
Lake Superior Court Judge Samuel Cappas noted Scott’s criminal history includes six prior felony convictions and eight prior misdemeanors. “It’s predictable that I will see you again,” Cappas said.
Cappas noted the most serious of the charges being dismissed is aggravated battery, punishable by three to 16 years. “You’re lucky that you’re not getting 16 (years),” Cappas said.
The plea agreement outlined a maximum four-year sentence. Scott also faced an habitual offender sentencing enhancement.
— Post-Tribune
