-- The two federal kidnapping charges against a local activist have been dropped. 52-year-old Vernado Malone Sr. was arrested in February 2025. He was accused of taking a woman and her baby to a home in Hammond, Indiana against their will. Prosecutors alleged that Malone instead took her to a home where he was staying and made sexually explicit comments to her. Prosecutors say they cannot find the victim to testify, leading to the dropped charges.