Gary, Lake County-Indiana State Police were asked by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department to investigate a hit and run crash involving one of their officers Sunday evening,
Preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 4:48 p.m., Sunday, July 10th, 2016, Lake County Sheriff Lieutenant Guy Mikulich, 37, a sixteen year veteran of their department, was west bound on Oak Avenue in Miller in his unmarked 2011 Crown Victoria police car and in uniform. He had been working the Gary Air Show and had been released from his assigned area.
Derrick Dircks, 34 of Frankfort, Illinois had been watching the air show with his family when they returned to their 2014 Toyota Sienna minivan that was legally parked on Oak Avenue near Pike Street. Dircks went to the back of his Toyota to place something inside when he and his vehicle was struck by the Crown Victoria.
Mikulich drove away from the crash and was eventually stopped by a Gary Police Officer in the 5900 block of Hemlock Avenue. There was damage to the Crown Victoria consistent with damage to the Toyota and Mr. Dircks.
Dircks was taken to North Lake Methodist Hospital with serious injuries.
Mikulich was also taken to North Lake Methodist where a blood draw was taken with positive results for alcohol at .15% B.A.C.
Mikulich was taken to Lake County Jail where he is being charged with Operating While Intoxicated causing Bodily Injury and Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Crash both felonies.
Mikulich is being placed on paid administrative leave (no police powers) per Lake County Sheriff’s Department Standard Operating Procedures.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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