Indiana
Bill to expedite squatter removals passes Indiana House, heads back to Senate
INDIANPOLIS (WISH) — The author of a bill to expedite squatter removals said Monday existing trespassing laws could tie up property owners in unrelated landlord-tenant regulations.
The bill defines a squatter as anyone who occupies someone else’s property and does not have and never had a rental agreement or the owner’s permission. A property owner could provide a sworn statement that someone was a squatter, whereupon law enforcement would have to remove the person within 48 hours. Bill author Sen. Mike Gaskill, R-Pendleton, said police in his district are encountering an increasing number of squatters. He said under current laws, a squatter could claim to be a tenant. At that point, any effort to remove them would have to be diverted into landlord-tenant procedures.
“What has happened around the country is people have had trespassers, squatters, and then had to go through a court proceeding and wait for a hearing to get them removed,” he said.
A person accused of squatting could defend themselves by providing documentation showing they had permission to be on the property, at which point the property owner could face perjury charges.
The bill passed the Senate 48-1 earlier this session and cleared the House by a vote of 72-18 on Monday. Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, said the bill turns law enforcement into finders of fact in the absence of a judge. He said the state already has laws to expedite the removal of unauthorized persons from private property.
“We don’t need to create an entire new body of law that has no judicial officer, no finder of fact, no determiner of law in the whole process,” he said. “Once the person is removed from the property, now the burden is on them to go into court and fight it out.”
The measure has to go back to the Senate because the House made some changes in committee. Gaskill said he worked with the House on those changes and will ask the Senate to accept them.
On this episode of “Week in Review,” we cover the Indiana gambling case, the Bears’ 2026 schedule release and the Bulls landing the No. 4 draft pick. We also look at Jim’s Original moving after 85 years and Chicago Fire FC’s new McDonald’s Park stadium name. Plus, Cole Kmet joins Cop on a Rooftop, a White Sox phenom goes one on one and more top stories from around Chicago.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — More than 50 Indiana law enforcement agencies are taking to the roof to help local athletes.
Police and safety officers will be stationed around various Dunkin’ Donuts, taking up donations for the Special Olympics. People who monetarily donate will receive a coupon for a free donut. Those who donate $10 or more will receive a coupon for a free medium hot coffee.
“Supporting the Special Olympics isn’t just an event for us — it’s a commitment to people who inspire us every day,” Sergeant Wes Rowlader said. “These athletes show what determination, courage, and community truly look like. Every dollar we raise helps transform that spirit into training, competition, and lifelong confidence.”
More than 20,000 Hoosier athletes train and compete for free within the Special Olympics. To date, Cop on a Rooftop has raised more than $125,000 for Special Olympics Indiana.
The Indiana State Police will be at the Dunkin’ Donuts at 9821 Lima Road in Fort Wayne from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday.
A man’s family is demanding answers after he was shot by a security guard inside a hospital emergency room waiting area on Tuesday night in Gary, Indiana.
Methodist Northlake Hospital officials said, around midnight Tuesday night, its security staff responded quickly after a patient took out a gun. The hospital said he’d threatened to shoot himself or others.
The hospital commended the security guard who shot the man for “neutralizing the threat and helping ensure the safety of our patients and employees.”
Family members identified the man who was shot as Otis Brown. They said he is a kind father to a 12-year-old boy.
“Just a great person, a happy-go-lucky, always out there trying to do the right thing,” said his fiancée, Stacey Taylor.
Taylor said she was on a business trip when she got a call that Brown had been shot multiple times.
“Scared, uncertainty; you know, what story is right? You know, what happened?” she said.
After he was shot, Brown was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center for treatment.
Taylor said she had no idea why Brown went to Methodist Northlake Hospital in the first place. His family said he was trying to leave the hospital when the shooting happened, claiming that the hospital gave him his gun back after he was cleared to leave.
“We just want to get answers, just want to know what happened, particularly when people are defaming his name,” Taylor said.
She and Brown’s family hope the hospital has surveillance video footage that can help provide answers.
Gary police have not provided any details on the shooting. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department said it is investigating the shooting at the request of Gary police, but did not provide any further information.
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