Left to right: Thomas Aiken, Phillip Guzman Jr. and Joshua Nicolas Hesser-Pralle | New Chicago police
NEW CHICAGO, Ind. - Three men are facing charges after being pulled over Wednesday morning in northwest Indiana with cocaine, fentanyl and heroin in their vehicle.
After midnight, New Chicago police officers spotted a silver vehicle sitting idle in the middle of Decatur Avenue near Liverpool Road.
When officers approached, the car sped past them and ignored a stop sign before eventually being pulled over, police said.
The three men in the car were Joshua Nicolas Hesser-Pralle of South Holland, Thomas Aiken of New Chicago, Indiana, and Phillip Guzman Jr. of Lake Station, Indiana.
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Officers noticed the license plates on the vehicle were expired.
Guzman, who was driving the vehicle, was arrested for driving with a suspended license with a prior conviction.
Before towing the vehicle, police found a black box on the front seat of the vehicle. Inside was a white powdery substance and several small ziploc bags, police said.
The white substance, which weighed 21.5 grams, tested positive for cocaine, fentanyl and heroin.
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Police also recovered 10 Oxycodone pills and two hypodermic syringes from the vehicle.
The other two occupants were also transported to Lake County Jail.
While being processed, Hesser-Pralle fought with an officer and jail staff while trying to swallow a white bag containing 12.2 grams of cocaine, fentanyl and heroin. Officers were able to stop him and recover the bag.
The suspects' charges are as follows:
Thomas Aiken
- Two counts of possession of cocaine
- Six counts of possession of a narcotic
- Unlawful possession of a syringe
Phillip Guzman Jr
- Possession of cocaine
- Three counts of possession of a narcotic
- Unlawful possession of a syringe
- Driving with a suspended license
Joshua Nicolas Hesser-Pralle
- Possession of cocaine
- Three counts of possession of a narcotic
- Unlawful possession of a syringe
- Battery against a public safety official
- Resisting law enforcement
- False informing