Chesterton commission offers support after Indiana State Police sergeant shot; eyewitness describes scene

At the July 13 Chesterton Police Commission meeting, department leaders asked the commission and community to keep Indiana State Police Sergeant Hevlin in their thoughts after he was shot the previous Friday and offered the town’s assistance to the State Police.

The chief stated the department, the commission and the town council “will keep Sergeant Hevlin ... in our prayers and thoughts” and said the department stands ready to assist the Indiana State Police in any way requested. He characterized the sergeant’s condition as improving but noted the department would await the official Indiana State Police investigation for details.

A person present at the scene — introduced during the meeting as a media member who was there on scene — described the crash and subsequent exchange of gunfire. The witness said the driver “leaped out, pulled his gun out the cabin and just started shooting” and that there were “at least 28 shells” on the scene. The chief clarified that this account was the witness’s observation and said the Chesterton Police Department would not provide an official statement pending the state investigation.

When asked whether there were injuries from a crash prior to the gunfire, the chief said he could not answer and that such specifics would be part of the Indiana State Police investigation. The transcript does not specify injuries, weapon recovery details, charges or any arrests.

The commission expressed condolences and urged officers to stay vigilant. No formal action was taken at the meeting regarding the incident; the department said it would coordinate with the Indiana State Police as the investigation proceeds.