Charges were dropped Monday against a Gary councilman who was accused of three felonies in connection with the theft of his car in 2019.

Lake Superior Court Judge Salvador Vasquez dismissed the charges against Ronald G. Brewer, 45, after he successfully completed a six-month pretrial diversion program.

Brewer declined to comment Monday.

Brewer was represented by attorney Scott King who couldn’t be reached.

The charges stemmed from a Sept. 22, 2019, incident in which Brewer’s car was stolen in Gary.

Authorities said Brewer tracked the teen suspects, who stole his Lexus from a Gary gas station, to East Chicago while talking to police on a cellphone.

He pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, criminal confinement and intimidation. East Chicago police accused Brewer of firing a gun at several teens who were in the car and detaining a 14-year-old and taking him back to Gary against his will, according to court documents.

At the time of the incident, Brewer was president of the city council. At a 2019 Common Council meeting, Brewer issued a statement explaining his actions.

“I reacted, as a concerned citizen, to assist in the search, as it was my solemn intention only to retrieve my stolen property,” Brewer said.

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter.