Make wishtv.com your home page

Officer recognized voice of Valpo student claiming hostages

VALAPARAISO, Ind. (AP) – A northwestern Indiana police officer who overheard a dispatch of a man claiming to have taken hostages recognized the man’s voice as that of his cousin, helping to defuse the situation that prompted a lockdown of Valparaiso University.

Court records state Porter Officer Dan Dickey recognized the voice of 20-year-old Michael Clemens of Chesterton and called Clemens’ mother, who told police her son was at the university Tuesday night tutoring computer students.

The (Munster) Times reports police questioned Clemens shortly after 10 p.m. and he admitted his involvement in the hoax.

Clemens faces felony charges of intimidation and false reporting. Online court records don’t show an attorney for him, and he could not be reached for comment because he doesn’t have a published telephone number. He’s free on bond.

Crime Map
Use Search Bars Above To Search Crime Data