Shannon Van Dusen, 35, Kingsford Heights, was arraigned Friday in La Porte on three Class A felony counts of dealing in heroin. Each count could bring her anywhere from a 20- to 50-year sentence

Shannon Van Dusen, 35, Kingsford Heights, was arraigned Friday in La Porte on three Class A felony counts of dealing in heroin. Each count could bring her anywhere from a 20- to 50-year sentence. Also, Michael Mikowski, 30, La Porte, made his initial appearance on Class A felony dealing heroin and Class B felony dealing cocaine.

According to court documents, Van Dusen was caught on three separate occasions selling heroin in October. In one of the alleged transactions, Van Dusen met a buyer in the 200 block of East Lincolnway. Van Dusen then walked across the street and met Mikowski to get heroin, which she then sold to the buyer, court documents revealed.

It’s alleged that Van Dusen also was involved in heroin deals at Jackson Street and Maple Avenue and the 700 block of Rose Street in La Porte.


According to prosecutors, all of the transactions occurred within 1,000 feet of Lincoln Elementary School and Kids Discovery child care center.

Van Dusen was being held in La Porte County Jail on $150,000 bond.

Under Indiana law, drug-dealing charges are elevated if they occur within 1,000 feet of a school or place where children congregate.

Mikowski on Oct. 4 is accused of riding up on a bicycle to a woman in the 700 block of Rose Street and providing her with heroin to sell to a buyer and taking part in a crack cocaine deal Oct. 6 at Linwood and State streets.

On Nov. 17, police said Mikowski became the focus of an investigation in response to complaints about “numerous drug sales,” according to court documents.

Mikowski began running when he spotted police, but was caught and allegedly found with crack cocaine on his possession.

Police said he then led officers to his residence in the 300 block of State Street, where Van Dusen and three other individuals were taken into custody.

Mikowski could face anywhere from a six- to 70-year sentence on the most recent charges. He already had Class B felony dealing cocaine and Class A misdemeanor resisting law-enforcement charges pending before the filing of the most recent counts.