Off-Duty Gary Firefighter Arrested After SUV Hits State Trooper During Construction-Zone Traffic Stop

Overview

• Police say a dark SUV struck a fully marked Indiana State Police Dodge Durango that was blocking southbound I-65 for an active construction zone, and the driver fled the scene before a short pursuit ended near the Gary Fire Department on Monday.
• The trooper suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Northlake Methodist Hospital for treatment.
• The driver was identified as 47-year-old Michael D. Rodriguez of Gary, who works for the Gary Fire Department and was found with significant front-end damage to his SUV.
• Officers reported signs of alcohol impairment, discovered open containers in the vehicle, and said Rodriguez refused field sobriety and a certified chemical test, leading a judge to approve a blood search warrant that was executed at Southlake Methodist Hospital.
• Rodriguez was booked into the Lake County Jail and faces multiple counts including reckless driving in a construction zone while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a crash; the Lake County Prosecutor will review the felony and misdemeanor charges as the investigation continues.