Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Seven men were arrested during an undercover investigation Friday night at the rest park on U.S. 30.
Indiana State Police Trooper Brooks Johnson said his agency receives constant 911 complaints from truck drivers who stop at the rest park and are being harassed by men propositioning them.
Eight undercover units from throughout northern Indiana took part in the investigation.
Brooks said the men who were charged with battery made physical contact with the undercover officers. Those charged with indecent exposure reportedly had their genitals exposed in public. One man allegedly resisted arrest and attempted to get into his vehicle and drive away, Johnson said, while another man arrested at the rest park apparently was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time - he pulled in to sleep because he was intoxicated and was arrested for public intoxication.
The arrests took place between 11 p.m. and midnight.
Preliminarily charged and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail were:
• Wellington N. Van Houten, 61, Columbia City, charged with battery. Bond: $500.
• Everett D. Steen, 71, South Bend, charged with battery and public indecency. Bond: $500.
• Sherman Joseph Slagle, 50, Shipshewana, charged with battery and resisting or fleeing law enforcement. Bond: $2,000.
• Ralph Edward Crawford, 47, of 3699 N. CR 175E #15, Warsaw, charged with criminal trespass. Bond: $250.
• Terry Lee Engstrand, 42, of 114 W. Railroad St., Atwood, charged with public intoxication. Bond: $175.
• John Charles Lipton, 60, of 5164 W. Corlys Lane, Silver Lake, charged with public indecency. Bond: $250.
• Daniel D. Fry, 54, of 24264 CR 52, Nappanee, charged with public indecency. Bond: $250.
Police plan to continue routine investigations at the rest park.
