Three Chicago men are in custody after a retail theft investigation, vehicle pursuit, foot pursuit and subsequent narcotics investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies, according to a release from Hebron Police.
A vehicle search, according to police, yielded marijuana, cocaine and more than $4,100 worth of stolen cosmetics and liquor believed to have been taken from Walgreens stores during a theft spree.
Around 8:49 p.m. Monday, officers with the Hebron Police Department were dispatched to Walgreens, 308 N. Main St., for a reported retail theft. Store employees advised that three individuals had stolen merchandise and fled the area in a blue Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Cpl. A. Wood of the Hebron Police Department responded to the theft call and located the vehicle leaving the area, police said. When Wood tried to conduct a traffic stop, the driver refused to stop, initiating a vehicle pursuit that continued into Lake County.
The pursuit ended near Ridge Road and Interstate 65 after police used a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver. The Jeep came to rest against a concrete barrier. All three occupants fled on foot but were apprehended by police.
During the investigation, officers learned the same trio had allegedly committed thefts at two other Walgreens locations prior to arriving in Hebron.
Joshua A. Salinas, 30, was charged with possession of cocaine, a Level 4 felony; resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, a Level 6 felony; and misdemeanor counts of theft and possession of marijuana.
Christion A. Hudson, 20, and Xavier F. Gonzalez, 20, both face charges of possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 4 felony, and misdemeanor counts for theft and possession of marijuana.
Following the arrests, officers searched the vehicle and recovered approximately 17 grams of suspected cocaine, approximately 6 grams of suspected marijuana, and a large quantity of stolen merchandise, police said. Investigators determined the suspects had more than $4,100 worth of stolen cosmetics and liquor believed to have been taken from Walgreens stores during the theft spree.
The Hebron Police Department was assisted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police, Hobart Police Department and Porter County Dispatch.
All three suspects were transported to the Porter County Jail.
