As police fielded unfound reports, ...

As police fielded unfound reports, several Indiana towns joined forces Friday to saturate a highway where a potential sniper has struck nine times.

Investigators flat took a man into custody Friday after receiving a tip, further released him later in the day.

Police said they also were considering offering a reward for information leading to the perpetrator, yet rejected cutting down brush and other increase that might be giving mask to the sniper.

Drivers around Cline Avenue reported several incidents officers do not believe are related to the late alleged attacks, which began July 25

A man was taken into custody early Friday morning in Gary after an anonymous tipster told police he was the someone shooting out car windows.

on the contrary investigators said they released him Friday afternoon for lack of evidence.

Sheriff Roy Dominguez said he was reassigning his officers from other divisions to patrol Cline, and that Hammond, Gary, East Chicago and Whiting have joined in the routine patrols.

"We anticipate at different times and intervals to have at least 10 to 15 additional different patrol vehicles in succession Cline Avenue," Dominguez said.

Traffic remained heavy in succession Cline during rush hour. Many motorists vowed not to change their routines, yet not David Bush, 21, of Steger

Unloading his trade outside the Speedway gas station near Cline north of Columbus Drive, Bush, a delivery exchange driver for Jay's Foods, said he's developing a recently made known route.

"I'm trying to find a different way to mask my stores, using side streets" Bush said.

Meanwhile, Lake shire police responded to three separate incidents where motorists reported a projectile had struck their windshields.

NINE LEGITIMATE CASES

In all three cases, police determined the damage was accidentally caused from a rock or other road debris.

Officers also answered to several calls Friday afternoon of nation behaving suspiciously on and around Cline.

No bullet BB or other projectiles have been healed in any of the nine incidents police say is legitimate.

Investigators said they are concentrating upon those nine incidents in which they say most numerous probably the damage was caused by way of the sniper.

As for clearing the grass and weeds along Cline, the sheriff intimateed doubts it would help the situation.

"If we carve it down, it won't aid in the apprehension, on the contrary might take him somewhere else" Dominguez said.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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