LaPorte County-Detectives from the Indiana State Police Criminal Investigation Division charged Daniel Sherrod Junior, 20, of Michigan City with two felonies and two misdemeanors in LaPorte Superior Court today, Monday, June 25, 2012.

State police were called to investigate a police involved shooting that occurred in Michigan City around 5:53 pm, Wednesday, June 20th evening.

Preliminary investigation revealed that two officers with the Michigan City Police Department, assigned to their Safe Streets Team, stopped a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu for a traffic violation on Welnetz Road.  The officers were in a fully marked police car and in uniform.  There were four occupants inside the Malibu.  During the course of the traffic stop one of the passengers, later identified as Daniel Sherrod Junior, 19 of Michigan City, fled on foot. One of the officers fled after Sherrod while the second officer stayed with the vehicle and the remaining three occupants.  Sherrod fled a short distance into an unlocked, occupied residence in the Salem Port apartment complex where a struggle ensued between the officer and Sherrod. The struggle then continued outside the apartment where Sherrod attempted to remove the officer’s weapon.  The officer was able to gain control of his weapon and fired hitting Sherrod. Sherrod fled again on foot, approximately ¼ mile where he was found in an acquaintance’s residence in the Dody Street apartments.

Sherrod was taken to Saint Anthony’s Hospital in Michigan City and later air-lifted to Memorial Hospital in Sound Bend.  The officer was not injured.  Sherrod was released from the hospital Saturday, June 23rd, when he was transported and incarcerated at the LaPorte County Jail.  He is being held without bond.

Sherrod was charged with:

• Disarming A Law Enforcement Officer-Class C Felony
• Residential Entry-Class D Felony
• Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor
• Battery to a Law Enforcement Officer-Class A Misdemeanor

The officer involved in the shooting is Michigan City Police Patrolman Ron Skibins, a six (6) year veteran.  He is currently on paid administrative leave.  This is in accordance with Michigan City Police Department policies.

Investigations of this nature can take weeks to complete.  The investigation, once finished, will be submitted to the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s office for review and action deemed appropriate.

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.