A 24-year-old Chesterton man is facing several criminal charges after police say he led officers on a dangerous high-speed chase late Tuesday night, reaching speeds over 120 miles per hour and causing damage to agricultural property before being arrested for operating while intoxicated.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on February 3, 2026, at approximately 11:13 p.m., when a Porter Police officer spotted a blue 2019 Chevrolet Silverado traveling eastbound on Interstate 94 near the 23-mile marker at an extremely high rate of speed. The officer reportedly clocked the vehicle between 100 and 115 mph in a posted 70 mph zone and attempted to initiate a traffic stop.
Police say the driver, later identified as Jakob Gerald Engle, initially appeared to comply before suddenly accelerating, prompting a pursuit. During the chase, speeds allegedly exceeded 120 mph on I-94 before the vehicle exited onto State Road 49, where it continued southbound at speeds above 115 mph.
The pursuit continued through multiple county roads and residential streets, including County Road 1100 North, 125 West, Carlson Corners, Mineral Springs, Marquett, 23rd Avenue, Porter Avenue, and 5th Street. Officers reported speeds of more than 100 mph in areas with posted limits as low as 30 mph. Court records indicate Engle failed to stop at eight stop signs during the pursuit.
Police say the chase ended when the vehicle left the roadway at the intersection of County Road 1050 North and entered a cornfield. The truck allegedly traveled through the field, leaving deep ruts and causing significant damage before turning around and coming to a stop.
After taking Engle into custody, officers reported a strong odor of alcohol. He agreed to a certified breath test at the Porter Police Department, which was administered at 11:49 p.m. Results showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.093, exceeding Indiana’s legal limit of 0.08. Officers also reported finding several empty Fireball whiskey bottles inside the vehicle, including one near the driver’s seat.
Engle was transported to the Porter County Jail. Charges filed on February 4, 2026, include:
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Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle (Level 6 Felony)
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Criminal Mischief Causing Property Damage Between $750 and $50,000 (Class A Misdemeanor)
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Operating While Intoxicated Endangering a Person (Class A Misdemeanor)
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Operating While Intoxicated (Class C Misdemeanor)
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Operating a Vehicle with an ACE of 0.08 or More (Class C Misdemeanor)
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Reckless Driving (Class C Misdemeanor)
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Eight counts of disregarding a stop sign (Infractions)