A Gary man faces a slew of criminal charges after allegedly leading cops on a high speed chase, slamming into a police car and threatening a Lake County judge.
Kenneth D. Vaughn, 41, of Gary was charged Dec. 9 with several felonies including battery and resisting law enforcement.
He opted to represent himself in his court case, records show. His bail was set to $7,500 cash surety Monday. His next hearing is Jan. 3.
Witnesses later told Gary Police they saw Vaughn arguing with another man outside a tire shop. His car was circling the block before witnesses heard shots fired from his black Chrysler 200, according to the affidavit.
Officers were called at 6:19 p.m. Dec. 7 to the area near 21st Avenue and Virginia Street for a shots fired call, records show.
When an officer tried to pull Vaughn over, he took off, running stop signs and traffic lights topping 110 mph, documents state.
He tried to break, but “swerved” into a police car near 35th Avenue and Georgia Street, sending the two officers inside to the hospital.
Vaughn got out and ran off.
One officer tried to aim a stun gun at his back, but a second caught up to Vaughn, tackled and arrested him.
In the earlier car chase, an officer saw him open and close the driver’s side door multiple times. A K-9 officer recovered a gun he tossed out of the car.
Police found a gun holster and three handgun cases in his car, charges state. The gun dropped on the street had eight bullets and Vaughn was arrested with four bullets in his pocket.
The damaged police car was still “smoking” with one officer “semiconscious” in the driver’s seat and trapped inside.
“I can’t get out, my chest hurts,” he said.
He “blacked out for a bit”, the officer later said.
At the hospital, he was treated for a bump on the right side of his head, a cut lip, back and neck injuries. He was wearing a neck brace during a police interview, charges state.
The other cop was sitting on sidewalk bleeding from the head, charges allege. He was in the car when they watched Vaughn’s car get closer.
“I think this guy is (expletive) trying to hit us,” he later said.
The second officer had a large cut on his head, requiring eight staples, with neck and back pain.
While Vaughn was taken for booking at the police station, he threatened the police officers and a Lake County senior juvenile judge, who is a former Lake Superior criminal judge, the affidavit alleges.
“I’m going to kill Judge (Thomas) Stefaniak,” Vaughn told officers, according to court documents.
Vaughn was “uncooperative” and continued to threaten officers, the affidavit alleges.
I’m going to blow your (expletive) head off,” he allegedly said, adding he could manipulate gang members into hurting officials.
“I’m the murderer,” he added, according to court records.
“You’re dead, when I get out I’ll kill (you),” he told officers.
Vaughn was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, two counts of battery, five counts of felony resisting law enforcement, two counts of intimidation and two counts of misdemeanor resisting law enforcement.
