A 25-year-old Highland man, Anthony Acuna, faces several felony and misdemeanor charges after his January 9, 2026 arrest in East Chicago. Court records show police found him inside a stolen vehicle along with a loaded handgun and suspected methamphetamine paraphernalia.
According to a probable cause affidavit, officers were sent to the area of Magoun Avenue and West Chicago Avenue after a caller reported a suspicious maroon SUV parked beside a building. When police arrived, they spotted a red Hyundai SUV running with its lights on in the parking lot of 901 West Chicago Avenue. A license plate check showed the plate belonged to a different vehicle, leading officers to investigate further.
Police said they found Acuna shirtless in the driver’s seat with his head down, appearing to be asleep. Officers tried to shut off the vehicle but noticed the steering column was damaged, making it unsafe. When they opened the driver’s door and issued loud, clear commands for Acuna to exit, he reportedly began waking up, clenched his fists, tensed his body, and forcefully pulled his arm away from officers.
As officers attempted to remove him from the SUV, one officer saw a black handgun between the driver’s seat and the center console. Police stated Acuna moved his arm as if trying to reach for the weapon while continuing to resist. Officers secured the handgun before fully removing him from the vehicle.
Police reported Acuna continued to ignore commands to get on the ground and tried to pull away. After verbal commands failed, officers deployed a department-issued Taser. Acuna eventually said, “I’m done,” and officers took him into custody and placed him in hand restraints.
A VIN check confirmed the SUV had been reported stolen from Highland, and a woman later told police she had not given permission for the vehicle or license plate to be taken. Officers also reported finding a pipe with residue that field-tested positive for methamphetamine inside the SUV. The handgun was identified as a Sig Sauer P365 9mm, and officers removed a round from the chamber for safety.
Court records also show Acuna has a prior conviction for Domestic Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. Under Indiana law, this makes him a serious violent felon and prohibits him from possessing a firearm.
Charges filed January 10, 2026:
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Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon – Level 4 Felony
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Auto Theft (Theft of Entire Motor Vehicle) – Level 6 Felony
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Possession of Methamphetamine (less than 5 grams) – Level 6 Felony
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Resisting Law Enforcement – Class A Misdemeanor
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Possession of Paraphernalia / Introducing a Controlled Substance Into the Body – Class C Misdemeanor