Chesterton Police Chief Tim Richardson was in a grateful mood Monday after the Porter County Prosecutor Gary Germann found that two Chesterton Police officers acted justifiably in self-defense during a June 18 shootout with a wanted felon in front of the Hilton Garden Inn.

Officer Nolan Mancera was wounded when the suspect, Joseph Gerber, 45, fired first. Mancera and Lt. David Virijevich then returned fire, wounding Gerber, who then fatally shot himself in the head with his own gun, the investigation found. Mancera is expected to make a full recovery from a wound in the hip area.

Richardson read a statement during Monday’s Chesterton Town Council meeting, lauding the actions of his officers and thanking many in the community who supported the department through a difficult time.

“I wi

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