Executive Summary
- A 2-year-old boy was found safe in North Judson, Indiana, following an AMBER Alert.
- Suspect Dwayne Clemons, 44, was arrested on a nationwide parole warrant after a standoff.
- The investigation began after the child’s mother was hospitalized with head trauma from an alleged domestic assault.
- Starke County Sheriff Jack Rosa credited inter-agency cooperation for the safe resolution.
A suspect is in police custody and a 2-year-old boy has been recovered safe following the issuance of an AMBER Alert in northwest Indiana, concluding a search that began after a reported violent domestic assault. The Starke County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the child, Saxon, was located Friday morning and that the suspect, 44-year-old Dwayne Clemons, was apprehended shortly thereafter.
According to the Starke County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began on Thursday when a woman was admitted to the Northwest Starke Emergency Room suffering from head trauma. Law enforcement officials stated that the woman reported she had been confined and assaulted by her husband, Clemons, at their residence. Following the alleged assault, Clemons reportedly took the couple’s 2-year-old son and fled the scene. The victim informed authorities that Clemons was armed with a .45 caliber pistol and had made threats to harm her.
Local and state agencies launched an overnight search operation, following multiple leads across several locations. At approximately 7:30 a.m. Friday, Starke County dispatch received information indicating the child was at a residence in the 5200 block of South A Street in North Judson. Upon arrival, deputies positively identified the child, who was subsequently placed in the care of the Indiana Department of Child Services.
Deputies were then directed to a separate location in the 2600 block of Donna Street where Clemons was believed to be hiding. According to the Sheriff’s Office, authorities established a perimeter and attempted to contact the suspect. Clemons eventually exited the residence and was taken into custody without further incident. He was arrested on a nationwide parole warrant, with additional charges pending related to the domestic incident and abduction.
Starke County Sheriff Jack Rosa praised the coordination between agencies that led to the resolution. "Anytime we are able to safely apprehend an individual who has demonstrated a propensity for violence, it is a success," Rosa said in a statement. "We are especially thankful that the child was located and is safe."
Investigative Outlook
The successful recovery of the child marks the conclusion of the immediate emergency phase, shifting the focus to the criminal investigation regarding the alleged abduction and domestic battery. Authorities are currently processing the suspect on an existing parole warrant, which allowed for immediate detention while prosecutors review evidence for potential new charges related to confinement, assault, and child endangerment. This case highlights the critical role of inter-agency communication and public alerts in resolving time-sensitive abduction scenarios involving armed suspects. It is important to note that all individuals, including Dwayne Clemons, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
