The Michigan City Police released the following update with a cause of death revealed to a recent death investigation:
On March 27th at approximately 9:48 AM, the LaPorte County Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call
regarding an unconscious person found outside of Temple Missionary Baptist Church, located at 2725 Wabash
Street. Officers from Uniform Patrol Shift 1 responded to the scene and located 57-year-old Michigan City
resident Erik Johnson lying on the ground unconscious. Responding officers provided Johnson with life saving
measures until LaPorte County EMS arrived and transported him to Franciscan Health Hospital in Michigan
City where he was eventually pronounced deceased.
Detectives from the Investigative Division responded to the scene and processed it for evidence. An autopsy
revealed the cause of death was accidental due to acute alcohol intoxication. The Michigan City Police
Department would ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident, has any additional information or has
video surveillance/cell phone video of this incident, to contact Detective Brock Moore at (219) 874-3221;
Extension 1087 or via email at bmoore@emichigancity.com. Other agencies who assisted with this
investigation include the Michigan City Fire Department, LaPorte County EMS and LaPorte County Coroner’s
Office.
We would also like to remind the public that you can contact us via Facebook Messenger, through our crime tip
hotline number of (219) 873-1488, or you can also call the WeTip Hotline for General Crime (800) 78-CRIME
and possibly receive a reward upon an arrest and conviction. All WeTip call information is sent directly to the
LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office. You can always request to remain anonymous!