El Rodeo restaurants reopen as others also were targeted by probe

As Indianapolis El Rodeo Mexican restaurants reopened for business Wednesday it was revealed that other restaurants outside the chain also have been targeted in a Marion County prosecutor’s statewide probe.

Two La Carreta restaurants in Merrillville and Schererville were raided by Indiana State police Monday as part of a grand jury probe that seemed mostly aimed at El Rodeo restaurants in Indianapolis, Lafayette, West Lafayette and Richmond.

But El Rodeo and La Carreta have different owners, according to Indiana Secretary of state records, suggesting the probe may be more far reaching than initially it appeared.

Authorities remained tight-lipped about the investigation Wednesday and El Rodeo representatives could not be reached for comment.

Another restaurant that was raided Monday, El Jaripeo Mexican Restaurant, New Palestine, is owned and operated by El Rodeo principal Francisco Salgado, Indianapolis, and secretary Jose Melendez, Fortville.

Indiana Excise police attended the Northwest Indiana raids, as it had with raids in Indianapolis, but spokesman Travis Thickstun it was only to assist state police and doesn’t indicate that liquor violations are part of the investigation.

“We have had a couple of dozen officers assisting, that’s all,” he said.

Meanwhile, most El Rodeo restaurants in Central Indiana reported that they were open again Wednesday. Most were closed Monday and Tuesday.

The re-opened restaurants included those in Noblesville, Avon and at a Speedway location that was raided.

The El Rodeos downtown, at 250 S. Meridian St.; on the southeastside, at 5636 Mutual Lane; on the southwestside, at 7421 Heathrow Ct.; and in Geist, at 111677 Fox Road, also were open Wednesday.

Call star reporter John Tuohy at (317) 444-2762 and follow on Twitter @john_tuohy@indystar.com.