A Taylorsville man was arrested on multiple charges after allegedly leading deputies on a car chase Christmas Eve.

Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County sheriff’s department, said deputies were called to the 9000 block of U.S. 31 near Taylorsville at about 5:10 p.m. Thursday about a dispute between two drivers. After allegedly giving a false name, one of the drivers allegedly raced from the scene. After trying to shake deputies, the driver abandoned the vehicle near East Street and ran away, Jackson said.

State police and a Columbus Police officer with his police dog joined in the search. Police found 43-year-old Billy Ray Denson in a locked garage, hiding under some clothing in a car.

He was already wanted on warrants including failing to appear in court on a charge of driving while a habitual traffic offender and failing to appear in court on charges of strangulation, criminal confinement, and domestic battery.

New charges include:

• Operating a vehicle with a lifetime suspension, a level 5 felony
•  Resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, a level 6 felony
• Criminal recklessness with a vehicle, a Class A misdemeanor,
• Reckless driving, a Class B misdemeanor
• False informing , B misdemeanor

A Scott County man was arrested Wednesday night after a police chase came to an end in Seymour.

Indiana State Police (ISP) Spokesman Sgt. Stephen Wheeles says that the incident began at approximately 8:40 p.m. when Trooper Jared Black and Probationary Trooper Tia Deaton attempted to stop a vehicle on US 50 near Walnut Street in Seymour for a traffic violation. The driver of the vehicle, 32-year-old Otha T. Bryant, of Austin, allegedly fled southbound on Walnut Street before turning westbound on County Road 200 North. Authorities say that Bryant then turned northbound on to County Road 600 East towards US 50. As Bryant’s vehicle approached the intersection of County Road 600 East and US 50, police say that he lost control of the vehicle and crashed onto the railroad tracks at Hangman’s Crossing.

Wheeles says that after the crash, Bryant tried to flee the vehicle on foot. However, he was quickly taken into custody without further incident. A search of Bryant’s vehicle allegedly revealed over 10 grams of methamphetamine and other items associated with the dealing of of the drug. Bryant was reportedly treated for minor injuries by Jackson County EMS before being taken to the Jackson County Jail.

State Police say that Bryant faces preliminary charges of Resisting Law Enforcement in a Vehicle, Resisting Law Enforcement on Foot, Dealing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Operating while Intoxicated and Driving while Suspended.

ISP say there were assisted by officers from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and Seymour Police Department.

A Bartholomew County woman was arrested on drug charges after a traffic stop Wednesday afternoon.

Columbus Police Department Spokesman Sgt. Matt Harris says that at approximately 3:05 p.m., Officer Lucas Nibarger initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle near State Street and Hinman Street. While speaking with the driver, 34-year-old Stephanie R. Minor, of Columbus, Nibarger reported that he could smell the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

Officers, including detectives from the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, reportedly searched Minor’s vehicle and allegedly discovered a sealed cardboard box. A search warrant to open the box was obtained and officers allegedly found approximately two pounds of marijuana and one pound of methamphetamine inside.

Minor was arrested and booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of Dealing in Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Dealing in Marijuana and Possession of Marijuana. Bond information for Minor was not immediately available.

One person was killed in a one-vehicle crash Wednesday evening near Edinburgh.

Johnson County Sheriff Doug Cox says that Deputies were called to the scene, on Hospital Road at River Road, just west of U.S. 31 near Camp Atterbury. A witness told first responders that an SUV left the road, then over-corrected to the other side of the road, which led to the crash. The vehicle reportedly rolled on to its passenger side.

The driver, 49-year-old Lonnie Sizemore, of Nineveh, was partially ejected from the vehicle and was pinned underneath it, said Sheriff Cox. When first responders reached Sizemore, they found that he was not breathing. Sizemore was rushed to Johnson Memorial Hospital, were we was pronounced dead.

There were no passengers in the vehicle and no other injuries were reported. The Sheriff’s Office is still trying to determine what led to the crash.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a Flood Warning for the Driftwood and East Fork White rivers for as early as Christmas Day.

The agency says that lowland flooding is likely to develop in rivers across central and southern Indiana and significant flooding is possible by Saturday. The flooding is expected to affect low agricultural land and some river parks.

The weather service is predicting that East Fork White River will crest at 16.5 feet, or half a foot below moderate flood stage in Seymour by Sunday. It is expected to pass the minor flood stage of 12 feet by 10 a.m. Christmas morning. The river is expected to reach 7 feet at Columbus by Monday morning, which is about two feet below the minor flood stage.

The Driftwood River at Edinburgh is expected to hit 11.4 feet by Monday morning, almost half a foot above the 11 feet minor flood stage.

Links to the National Weather Service river gauges and forecasts for East Fork White river and Driftwood River

East Fork White River at Columbus

East Fork White River at Seymour

Driftwood River at Edinburgh

Because of Christmas Eve today, most local government offices are closed today and also tomorrow for Christmas.

The Bartholomew County Landfill will be closing at 1 p.m. today.

White River Broadcasting offices will be closing at 2 p.m. for the holiday. From the news department, we hope you have a very Merry Christmas.

The Columbus Sanitation Department will begin picking up your live Christmas trees with normal trash routes starting Monday.

Jeff Whittington, the sanitation foreman, asks that you remove any ornaments, tree stands, lights or other metal material from your tree before you put it out to the curb. The trees are turned into mulch at the Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District site.

Whittington said that the live tree pickups will run Monday through Friday, Jan. 15. If you want to dispose of an artificial tree, or other large items, you can call the sanitation offices at (812) 376-2509

There’s tornado damage in Greenwood this morning, according to our news-gathering partners at Metro Networks.

The National Weather Service confirmed the EF-One twister yesterday after storms moved through Central Indiana.  A spokesman says the tornado traveled on the ground for a quarter mile, damaging three homes and an animal hospital.

Storm damage was reported throughout our listening area, with serious damage in Shelby and Decatur counties and scattered lawn furniture and power outages in Bartholomew County.

The Columbus Police Department is looking to hire additional officers. Sgt. Matt Harris is the department spokesman. He says the last day to submit an application is Dec. 30th.

Harris says that once the applications are submitted, prospective candidates will have to through a number of other steps. He says these include a written and physical test, psychological profile, background check, a meeting with the captain’s advisory board, and more. Harris says the first portion of the testing is set for Saturday, Jan. 16th. He adds that an officer’s starting salary is approximately $48,000 per year with additional incentives like shift differential and clothing allowances.

For more information, visit www.columbuspd.com.

Police in Franklin may have a break on a recent graffiti case.

Officers with the Franklin Police Department (FPD) began investigating multiple reports of spray paint graffiti in the northern part of downtown Franklin on Dec. 12. A department spokesperson says the graffiti was found on public and private property, including an FPD vehicle. Investigators say they were able to identify several persons of interest and one suspect. Police say the suspect, identified as Charles Nelson, was interviewed by detectives and charges have been submitted to the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office for multiple counts of Criminal Mischief.

Franklin Police Detectives are still investigating the case. If you have any information, you are asked to contact the Franklin Police Department Tip Line at (812) 346-1100. Tips and information can be left anonymously.