INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Gang Resistance Education and Training program’s graduation ceremony on Monday celebrated achievements in helping shape a brighter future for Indiana youth.

Maj. Corey Mims of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s Community Engagement and Outreach Bureau said, “We are celebrating 80-plus kids graduating from the GREAT program, the Gang Resistance Education and Training program. These students have spent the last 13 weeks working on a curriculum to learning resiliency, making the right choices, and being better citizens, both in the community and their schools as well.”

The Edison School of The Arts hosted the graduation ceremony. The voluntary program was designed to combat delinquency and youth violence.

John Nokes, an assistant special agent in charge for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said “It’s essential to engage them now at such a vulnerable age. They have a lot of hard decisions they’re already making, and it’s only going to get more complicated from here. We’re going to try to give them the tools they need to make good decisions.”

The GREAT program was designed to teach children vital life skills and conflict resolution, empowering them to reject gangs and become strong and educated community leaders.

Mims talked about what the students learn. “Decision making. I think decision-making is critical. Anger management and conflict resolution. We see time and time again in our city where conflict is the source of some violence we come across.”

Chanel Garcia is a graduate of the program. She says she feels more comfortable now in relationships with police officers and her classmates. “After this, I see them as people that are just trying to help the community and just do their jobs.”

The GREAT program hopes to grow even stronger ties with schools, parents, and other community organizations. Nokes said, “We’re doing this twice this year in Indianapolis. That’s not enough. We want to do it more, but that’s tied to funding, and it’s tied to other school districts in our field division across Indiana and Ohio. But we’re squeezing every dollar and reaching every kid we can.”

A Texas man was arrested in Indianapolis this weekend on felony stalking charges related to Caitlin Clark after sending a series of sexually violent and threatening messages to the Indiana Fever star, local prosecutors said Monday. 

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that Michael Lewis, 55, has been arrested following an investigation that determined Lewis traveled to Indianapolis with the intent to be in close proximity to Clark and then continued to send messages to Clark after being questioned by police about his behavior last week.

The prosecutor’s office also filed an order requesting Lewis to stay away from Hinkle Fieldhouse and Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Fever play most of their WNBA home games.  

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“No matter how prominent a figure you are, this case shows that online harassment can quickly escalate to actual threats of physical violence,” Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement. “It takes a lot of courage for women to come forward in these cases, which is why many don’t. In doing so, the victim is setting an example for all women who deserve to live and work in Indy without the threat of sexual violence. We commend Pacers Sports & Entertainment, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for the swift and serious action that led to this weekend’s arrest.”

Police discovered Lewis’ recent messages, which were sent through his X account, had come from IP addresses at a Hilton Garden Inn in Indianapolis, as well as the downtown Indianapolis Public Library. Lewis’ presence in Indianapolis was especially concerning given that he is a Texas resident, according to the affidavit for probable cause for the case. 

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department made contact with Lewis on Jan. 8 at his hotel room concerning the messages, according to police documents. Lewis claimed posts that were threatening in nature were not from him and acknowledged, “this is just an imaginary relationship.”

Despite the encounter with law enforcement, the inappropriate messages from Lewis to Clark allegedly continued. The charging documents note that Lewis’ attempts to message Clark after being in contact with law enforcement”demonstrate a complete disregard for the seriousness of his conduct and a likelihood that he will attempt to continue his pattern of harassment.”

Clark told police in an interview conducted Saturday that “she has been very fearful since learning of the messages and that she has altered her public appearances and patterns of movement due to fear for her safety,” according to the affidavit. “Clark stated that she has become very concerned for her safety after learning that Lewis was in Indianapolis. Clark also stated that she doesn’t know Lewis and has never responded to any of his messages or posts.”

The stalking charge levied against Lewis carries a sentencing range of 1-6 years and a fine of up to $10,000. Prosecutors have also filed a motion for greater than standard bond for Lewis.

Clark has turned into the biggest draw in women’s basketball – and one of the country’s most popular athletes regardless of sport – by following up her record-breaking career at Iowa with WNBA rookie of the year honors this past season. She averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game for the Fever.