McDermott attacks prosecutor and sheriff

Mayor defends powerful ally charged with drug possession

Two of Lake County’s prominent democrats found themselves engaged in a war of words recently regarding the arrest of a Hammond precinct captain and his wife. An arrest that Hammond Mayor and Lake County Chairman Thomas McDermott Jr. claims was politically motivated.

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McDermott angered over the arrest of political ally 5th District Precinct David Woerpel and Woerpel’s wife, Tina, and their two sons left a scathing message on Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez’s cell phone protesting the arrest. The Woerpels were arrested after the Indiana State Police officer during a routine helicopter survey for the State Police drug eradication team allegedly spotted more than a dozen marijuana plants growing in Woerpel’s backyard.

Charges were later filed and the Woerpels were arrested eight days later by the Lake County Sheriff’s Police. Two days following the arrest McDermott left a message for Dominguez saying that the police action was unnecessary. "You would think that they were growing pounds and pounds of marijuana in the backyard, but it turns out they were growing five small, little plants," said McDermott. Dominguez disputed McDermott’s claim and said that there were several six-foot plants that would yield at least a pound of marijuana. He said that it could retail for $400 to $800. "This wasn’t a couple of tiny pot plants, said Dominguez. Believing that the arrests were politically motivated he accused

Dominguez, Lake County Police Chief Marco Kuyachich and Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter of playing politics. McDermott believes that the arrests were made because he and Woerpel are supporting Lake County Clerk Thomas Philpot for sheriff and Dominguez, who can not seek a third term is supporting Chief Marco Kuyachich. "So I’m calling all three of you (Dominguez, Carter and Kuyachich) and I’m going to let you know that I’m definitely getting involved in the sheriff’s race and I’m pissed off, Roy," McDermott said in the voice mail message. Dominguez brushed aside McDermott’s accusations saying that it was not a political matter. "It is a law enforcement matter. For McDermott to suggest that Carter, myself, the Indiana State Police and my warrants men all colluded against him is paranoia."

Although McDermott has said that he is putting the incident behind him the upcoming elections in 2010 and 2012 when Dominguez plans to run for governor has potential to reignite the feud. As chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party McDermott controls the organization that Dominguez will be looking to for support. McDermott has said that he personally is not going to support Dominguez and said that the incident involving the Woerpls has sunk his chances to be elected in 2012.

Dominguez is viewed as widely popular in Lake County politics while McDermott’s first term as county chairman has gotten off to a rocky start. Although he won the chairmanship with help of precinct committeeman from Gary his relationship with the Gary precinct organization is not good and the fight with Dominguez will not help to improve his relationship with many in the organization that support Dominguez. The vast majority in the community are saying run "Roy’" run. On October 15, 2009 Dominguez is one of two Hoosier’s who have been invited to a reception for the recently appointed U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor in Washington, D.C.

However, he doesn’t seem to be phased by the situation. "I am chairman of the most cutthroat organization in the state," said McDermott. "I’ve been intimidated many times."


Story posted: 10/10/2009

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