Indiana State Police credit Burns Harbor officers after investigation leads to arrest of resident on child exploitation charges

Police Chief Jeremy reported that an Indiana State Police detective sent a letter thanking Burns Harbor police for assistance in a child exploitation investigation that led to an arrest.

The letter, read aloud by Police Chief Jeremy during the meeting, says the investigation began last October after information came from the Illinois attorney general's office and the Lake County, Illinois, state's attorney's office and included information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators traced online activity on a Kik Messenger account to a person later identified as living at the Traditions apartments in Burns Harbor.

According to the letter Police Chief Jeremy read, the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a search warrant in February and seized multiple electronic devices. Forensic analysis by the Indiana State Police Digital Forensic Unit reportedly revealed multiple files described in the letter as child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The letter states charges were filed by the Porter County Prosecutor's Office and that an arrest warrant issued last week led to the suspect's being located and taken into custody by the Porter County Sheriff's Department.

The letter singled out Assistant Chief Lucas for assistance with intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordination with apartment staff. Police Chief Jeremy read the letter's expression of interagency thanks and noted the cooperation between agencies.

The town council did not take any additional formal action on the case during the meeting. Police Chief Jeremy asked that the council be aware of the cooperation and investigative outcome and thanked investigators and partner agencies.