Jerry Marcus Stokes, 42, of LaPorte, is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle in Porter County ended with him fleeing on foot and leaving two dogs inside a rolling vehicle near interstate traffic.
According to court records, the incident occurred around 11:08 p.m. on January 20, 2026, along westbound Interstate 94 near State Road 249 in Portage.
Indiana State Police were alerted by Michigan City Police that a gray Mercury Mariner had been reported stolen, with two dogs inside the vehicle at the time of the theft. A trooper later spotted the vehicle traveling westbound on I-94 and confirmed the license plate.
While waiting for backup before attempting a traffic stop, the trooper observed the vehicle driving on the right shoulder of the interstate and continuing westbound. When emergency lights and sirens were activated, the vehicle failed to stop and continued alternating between the shoulder and the right lane. Officers reported speeds between 25 and 30 miles per hour and observed sparks coming from underneath the vehicle as it traveled.
The vehicle exited I-94 onto State Road 249, where it slowed significantly. The affidavit states the driver then jumped out of the vehicle while it was still moving and ran down a ditch toward the interstate. The unattended vehicle continued rolling down a hill toward I-94 traffic, creating what officers described as a substantial risk of bodily injury to the public.
The trooper deployed a K-9 and pursued the suspect on foot, issuing verbal commands. The suspect stopped running, complied, and was taken into custody by assisting troopers.
Officers later located the stolen Mercury Mariner stopped in brush. Two dogs were still inside the vehicle, and no other occupants were found. The dogs were later retrieved by the vehicle’s owner.
The suspect identified himself as Jerry Marcus Stokes. Officers later confirmed his identity through an Indiana identification card. Stokes was advised of his Miranda rights and declined to answer questions. He was transported to the Porter County Jail.
Charges filed on January 21, 2026, include resisting law enforcement using a vehicle as a Level 6 felony, auto theft as a Level 6 felony, resisting law enforcement as a Class A misdemeanor, theft as a Class A misdemeanor, criminal recklessness as a Class A misdemeanor, and reckless driving as a Class C misdemeanor.