CROWN POINT

City retires K-9 officer, plans to hire two more

Taking time out from Monday's City Council meeting, Mayor David Uran honored canine officer Udo, who has served the Crown Point Police Department for eight years, sniffing out drugs and finding lost children.

Uran also presented a key to the city to resident Jim Hawk, who has said he will fund Udo's replacement.

Udo's handler, Officer Chuck Sprague, said he has spoken with the canine trainer, and the city will receive two new dogs, one of which will be named Hawk.

MERRILLVILLE

Merrillville man charged Tuesday with burglary

A 46-year-old Merrillville man is accused of stealing cigarettes, candy and lottery tickets May 16 from the Raceway gas station at 6085 Cleveland St.

Alonzo Blake Gardner was charged Tuesday with burglary in Lake County Criminal Court.

According to court documents, a gas station employee reported a window to the business was broken when he arrived for work May 16 and items were missing from the business.

Court documents allege video surveillance from the gas station shows Gardner entered the store about 4:20 a.m. and put cartons of cigarettes in a white bag. The documents also state Gardner allegedly took candy and an unknown number of lottery tickets from the business.