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From WIMS

On Thursday, July 11, 2013 at approximately 9:04 pm La Porte County Sheriff’s Deputies, who were providing law enforcement services at the La Porte County Fair, were approached by a concerned citizen who reported information regarding a potential explosive device that was in possession of a juvenile who was in attendance. The complainant also stated that it was believed that the suspect was planning to detonate the device near the carnival rides. A description of the suspect was provided and within several minutes, the La Porte County Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call from an anonymous caller that related the same information.

Acting upon the information, Sheriff’s Deputies quickly swept the fairgrounds and within seven (7) minutes located the suspect and a suspicious device was located within a backpack that he was wearing. The backpack was removed from the suspect and he was secured in handcuffs. While further searching the suspect, another juvenile male, who had been standing nearby began to argue with deputies and was loud and unruly, disrupting the deputies from investigating this matter. That juvenile, who was sixteen (16) years of age, refused to quiet and due to his disruptive behavior, was taken into custody for Disorderly Conduct. While attempting to secure him he kicked one of the deputies and resisted and therefore sprayed with Oleoresin Capsicum (OC or pepper spray) and he soon became complaint. He was also charged with Battery to a Police Officer and Resisting Law Enforcement and ultimately transported to the La Porte County Juvenile Services Center.

The suspicious device was removed from the populated area of the fairgrounds and the Porter County Bomb Squad was called upon to dismantle the device. In addition, investigators from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF) were called. Upon arrival technicians with the Porter County Bomb Squad dismantled the device and confirmed that it was indeed an explosive device.

Investigators from the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office joined with investigators from the BATF and began to further investigate the incident and ascertained that a second suspect was responsible for manufacturing the device. He was soon located at his home and taken into custody without incident. One juvenile, a sixteen (16) year old male from La Porte, was charged with Possession of a Destructive Device, a class “C” felony. The other, also sixteen (16) years old, was charged with Manufacturing a Destructive Device, a class “C” felony. Both were transported to the Juvenile Services Center.

Sheriff Michael Mollenhauer praised the willingness of citizens to seek out Sheriff’s Deputies and report this information as their reports undoubtedly thwarted a violent tragedy from occurring at the heavily populated La Porte County Fair.