Portage driver charged after hitting man with car in Lake Station
A Portage man faces charges after hitting a man with a car in Lake Station.
Brandon Butera, 35, was charged April 25 with attempted murder and battery by means of a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony.
He is in custody, held on a $50,000, or $5,000 cash surety bond. His next court hearing is May 3.
Lake Station Police responded around 11:50 p.m. April 23 to the 1600 block of E. 33rd Avenue.
The victim told officers that his relative had a restraining order against Butera. As Butera drove by, he yelled for him to “leave (his) family alone,” charges state.
Butera stopped, then swung around. When the victim crossed the street to talk with him, Butera swerved and hit him with the car, the affidavit states.
The victim hit his head on the windshield before he fell to the ground. Butera took off.
It was caught on camera.
Hobart Police found Butera at a fast food restaurant less than 10 minutes later. His gray Ford Fusion had a cracked and “spiderwebbed” windshield with some blood on it.
Butera told cops he wasn’t sure what happened.
The victim had a large head bump and was bleeding from his head. He also had a bloody and swollen right knee.
