KOSCIUSKO — A Hammond man is facing charges after he fled from police while a minor child was in the vehicle.

Nicholas Jay Silva

Nicholas Jay Silva, 18, 6918 Harrison Ave., Hammond, is being charged with resisting law enforcement, a level 6 felony; neglect of a dependent, a level 6 felony; possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor; and operating a motor vehicle while never receiving a license, a class C misdemeanor.

On June 2, an officer with the Warsaw Police Department recognized Silva driving a white vehicle. The officer was familiar with Silva and knew he had active warrants and had never received his license.

According to the affidavit or probable cause, the officer initiated a traffic stop by activating his emergency lights. Silva accelerated his vehicle and began fleeing from the officer.

A pursuit ensued and the vehicle eventually came to a stop. After several commands, Silva exited the vehicle and was arrested. Silva’s minor dependent was discovered inside the vehicle and had been inside the vehicle during the pursuit. The police report indicated that having the minor in the car endangered their life or health.

While removing the minor from the vehicle, the officer detected the scent of burnt marijuana. Marijuana was successfully located inside the vehicle.

Silva is still incarcerated inside the Kosciusko County Jail and has since attempted to traffic drugs into the jail.