GARY—A Lake County police dispatcher working at the Gary police department told police he returned fire Wednesday evening after occupants of a dark SUV began shooting at him, police said.
No one was injured, but at least one house and three cars in the area were struck by bullets, including the car driven by Curtis Johnson, the police radio dispatcher, police said.
A Merrillville man, who attempted to drive through the blocked-off crime scene area at 1300 Garfield St., and his passenger, were arrested when police found they both had handguns but no license to carry them, an arrest report states.
More Top Picks Best Handcycles For Wheelchair Users Under 2500
Johnson, whose age was not available from police, reported he was driving east on 14th Avenue in Tolleston about 7 p.m. and noticed an SUV following him. He told Patrolman Brandon Henderson he turned south on Garfield Street and heard gunfire coming from the SUV.
“He then pulled out his own firearm and fired shots toward the SUV,” the report states. Johnson said he tried to speed away, but his car was struck several times and stopped running. Johnson’s car was towed from the scene.
Several police units arrived to block off the area where crime scene investigators collected at least three dozen shell casings.
At the north end of the scene, a tan car began to drive past a squad car that blocked the street, ignoring the strobe lights flashing, the police report states. Police stopped the car and saw the driver toss a handgun into the back seat, the report states. Officers noticed the interior smelled like marijuana. Police found 7.4 grams of marijuana in a Mason jar and a loaded Smith and Wesson AR-15 with an extended magazine in the car. Driver Alante Sharp, 21, and passenger Devaugn Cox, 20, of Gary were charged with carrying a handgun without a permit. Sharp was also charged with possession of marijuana.