Patrolman Edward Blakely was shot and killed while investigating a disabled vehicle whom he was unaware its driver was a murder suspect.

   The man had shot and wounded another man outside a Gary tavern and stole his car. When the car broke down he killed a 30-year-old man at his East Gary residence and stole his car, which had a shotgun in the trunk.

   After Patrolman Blakely was called to investigate a vehicle stuck in a ditch, he was later found shot to death beside that stolen vehicle.

   The 20-year-old male was captured in Gary a few hours later after crashing Patrolman Blakely's patrol car that he had stolen. He was charged with first-degree murder but was not competent to stand trial until 1968 when he was found guilty and sentenced to death.

   In 1972, the Indiana Supreme Court ordered a new trial upon appeal. He was later found guilty of second-degree murder, sentenced to life and discharged in 1999.

   Patrolman Blakely had previously served with the Chesterton Police Department for two years and the Porter Police Department for one year. He was survived by his wife, daughter, four grandchildren, three brothers, sister and parents. One of his brothers had served as the Porter town marshal.