Lake County, IN – A dramatic incident on Cline Avenue near the Grand Calumet River bridge has led to serious allegations against Joel A. Barrera.
According to Indiana State Police, officers report on March 7th, at about 11:30 p.m., Trooper Kevin Council, while directing traffic following an accident, was rear-ended by an SUV and subsequently hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The vehicle involved in the crash at the time was a 2019 Chevrolet equinox that was later found abandoned with damages along with alleged incriminating evidence inside.
Barrera would go on to claim at the vehicle has been stolen, however, troopers report finding evidence at his residence that reportedly linked him to the crime. Barrera reportedly later refuse to cooperate in a DNA search warrant request.
Barrera now faces charges against him spanning felonies to misdemeanors, encompassing resisting law enforcement, obstruction of justice, false informing, reckless driving, possession of marijuana, and altered interim license plate violations.
Barrera has since been released from Lake County Jail, Barrera remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
