LaPorte man arrested after altercation with construction worker, found to be unlicensed and intoxicated

A 51-year-old LaPorte man was arrested Tuesday morning after a verbal altercation with a construction worker, leading to the discovery that he was driving without a license, intoxicated, and wanted on a warrant from Lake County, Indiana.

Philip Q. Hoopingarner was taken into custody and is currently being held without bond at the LaPorte County Jail.

LaPorte County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Wozniak Road and Surrey Lane around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, after receiving a report of an altercation between a driver and a 27-year-old flagger employed by a service company working in the area. The vehicle had left the scene before deputies arrived.

A Flock Safety camera captured an image of the suspect vehicle within La Porte city limits. La Porte police subsequently located the vehicle in downtown LaPorte and initiated a traffic stop in the McDonald’s parking lot on Pine Lake Avenue.

According to the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office, Hoopingarner, the driver, was taken into custody after being asked to exit the vehicle. It was then determined that Hoopingarner had never been issued a driver’s license and was wanted by Lake County authorities for failure to appear. Deputies also observed indicators that Hoopingarner was impaired by alcohol.

Hoopingarner faces the following charges: Operating While Intoxicated (C-Misdemeanor), Never Receiving a License (C-Misdemeanor), and Failure to Appear Warrant – Hold for Lake County. He remains in custody at the LaPorte County Jail awaiting further court proceedings.