A Columbus man was arrested on several charges after he allegedly crashed his vehicle into a detached garage on Friday morning.

Columbus Police Department Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says that at approximately 11:10 a.m., Officer Frank Dickman, observed 20-year-old Tyler S. Houchens driving a car on 25th Street. The officer reported that he knew that Houchens had a warrant for his arrest and tried to pull him over. Police say that Houchens refused to stop and rapidly accelerated towards a busy school pedestrian crossing at 25th Street and Home Avenue.

Harris say that Officer Dickman terminated the pursuit as Houchens sped away at a high rate of speed. A short time later, police were notified that Houchens had crashed into a detached garage in the 1100 block of 24th Street. When Houchens’ vehicle struck the garage, it pushed a parked vehicle through the back garage wall. Houchens allegedly fled on foot, but was apprehended in the back yard of a residence in the 1500 block of 21st Street by Officer John Velten. Officers allegedly found a bag of methamphetamine in Houchens’ crashed vehicle.

Harris says that, along with the outstanding Bartholomew County warrant, Houchens was booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of Operating without Ever Receiving a License, Possession of Methamphetamine, Criminal Recklessness with a Vehicle, Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle and Leaving the Scene of an Accident.

An intoxicated man was arrested at a local laundromat Saturday morning after he allegedly fought with Columbus Police officers.

Columbus Police Department Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says that at approximately 2:10 a.m., officers were dispatched to the Warsh House,

located at 3995 Williamsburg Way, in regards to an unresponsive person inside the laundromat. Sgt. Jennifer Van Vactor and Officer Branch Schrader arrived at the business and allegedly found 32-year-old Brandon L. White, sleeping on a table. Officers reported that they had difficulty waking White up and noted that he had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Police say that once White was awake, he became belligerent and resisted arrest when the officers attempted to take him into custody.

Harris says that White was later transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for jail clearance. While at the hospital, police say that White continued to be belligerent and later spit on a hospital security officer.

Harris says that White was eventually transported to the Bartholomew County Jail where he was booked on preliminary charges of Public Intoxication, Resisting Law Enforcement and Battery by Bodily Waste.

A Columbus woman was arrested after she allegedly threatened her ex-husband with a knife during an argument on Sunday afternoon.

Lt. Matt Marris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that at approximately 2:30 p.m., Officer Chris Strickland responded to the 2400 block of East Lincoln Village Drive in regards to the disturbance. The alleged victim told police that his ex-wife, 59-year-old Jeanette L. Lockridge, began arguing with him while they were in the kitchen of the residence that they share. During the argument, Lockridge allegedly grabbed a knife from a kitchen drawer and began advancing towards the alleged victim. Police say that he was able to get out of the residence and was not injured.

Harris says that Lockridge was arrested and booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on a preliminary Felony charge of Intimidation-Drawing a Deadly Weapon.

A Columbus woman was arrested on several charges Sunday afternoon after she allegedly lied about her identity during a traffic stop.

Columbus Police Department Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says that at approximately 4:20 p.m., Officer Ivan Shultz stopped a vehicle near Indiana Avenue and Mapleton Avenue for having an expired license plate. During the traffic stop, Shultz reportedly spoke with a passenger who told him that she did not have an identification card. When Shultz conducted a computer records check, he noted that the photograph that accompanied the records did not match the name given by the passenger. Harris says that officers later determined that the passenger was 36-year-old Brea D. Shipley. Authorities say that as Shipley was being taken into custody, officers allegedly found heroin her pants pockets.

Harris says that Shipley, along with a pair of outstanding Bartholomew County warrants, was booked to the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of Possession of Heroin, False Identity Statement and False Informing.

Jennings County Sheriff’s Deputies were able to find, and arrest, a wanted man over the weekend.

Department Spokesman Lt. Mike Mowery says that at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, deputies were dispatched to a home on Honey Locust Place in Country Squire Lakes. Authorities were told that a wanted man, 36-year-old Michael E. Bates, of North Vernon, was there. Mowery says that Deputies David Turner and Anthony Maberry found Bates asleep in a vehicle with a syringe in the seat next to him. After waking Bates up, the deputies placed him under arrest.

Authorities say that the syringe contained heroin. They also reported finding a spoon with residue, as well as other drug paraphernalia in plain view.

Bates was booked in the Jennings County Jail for the outstanding warrant, along with charges of Possession of a Syringe and Possession of a Narcotic Drug.

A Franklin man was arrested on drug and alcohol charges over the weekend after a traffic stop in Bartholomew County.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that at approximately 2 a.m. on Saturday, Sgt. Kris Weisner was southbound on US 31 following an SUV that was allegedly going much slower than the posted speed limit.

Weisner reported that the vehicle repeatedly drove over the right side fog line before signaling and abruptly turning westbound onto Henry Lakes Boulevard. After pulling the vehicle over, he spoke with the driver, 31-year-old Mathew T. Milroy. During the stop, Milroy allegedly admitted to drinking about a quart of vodka.

Weisner also reported finding a methamphetamine pipe in Milroy’s possession. Milroy was arrested and booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on charges of Operating a Motor Vehicle while Under the Influence and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Jackson says that Milroy has since been released on $5,000 bond.

A North Vernon man was arrested on a bevy of charges early Saturday morning.

A North Vernon Police Department spokesperson says that, shortly after 1 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of State Road 7 North in reference to suspicious people in the area. After an investigation, police allegedly discovered two grams of methamphetamine in a vehicle driven by 24-year-old Brian Loos.

Police say that in addition to the meth charge, Loos was also charged with False Informing and Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident.

North Vernon Police made a drug arrest after a traffic stop late Sunday afternoon.

A department spokesperson says that officers stopped Samantha Bott for false and fictitious registration in the area of South State Street shortly at 5:46 p.m. While officers were talking with Bott, they reportedly discovered that she was also driving while suspended.

Moments later, K9 “Heros” was called to the scene. As the dog sniffed around the vehicle, Heros allegedly alerted officers to the odor of narcotics coming from inside the vehicle. The passenger, Christopher Bott, was allegedly found to be in possession of syringes and other drug paraphernalia. Police say that he was arrested for Possession of Paraphernalia, while Samantha Bott was cited and the vehicle towed.

The brother of Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop is among the 15 finalists scheduled for a second interview to help name a new Indiana Supreme Court Justice.

The Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) named fifteen finalists, including 59-years-old Mark Lienhoop, a LaPorte attorney, for the 109th Supreme Court judicial position. The JNC conducted public interviews of twenty-nine applicants last week. The second set of interviews with the JNC are scheduled for March.

In April, Justice Brent Dickson will retire from the five-member Supreme Court. According to the Indiana Constitution and state statute, the seven-member JNC must recruit and select candidates to fill the vacancy on the state’s highest court.

The JNC will interview the fifteen finalists March 3-4. The JNC will then publicly vote to send three nominees to the Governor who has 60 days to select Indiana’s next justice.

Employees of a local company pitched in to help the hungry in their area.

Bonita Dobbs, Program Manager for the Jackson County United Way, says that staff members of Aisin USA showed up “in force” on Friday.

Working with Gleaner’s Food Bank and Brownstown Senior Citizens, she says that Aisin employees volunteered at the mobile food pantry, which was set up at the Brownstown Church of the Nazarene.

Bonita explains that this pantry is essential to those area residents who are 55-years-of age, and older, as most have limited income. She says that the food pantry helps these residents to subsidize their nutritional needs.

Bonita thanked Aisin, and its employees. She says that the need is great throughout Jennings County, adding that there is always room for volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering,

call the Jackson County United Way office at (812) 522-5450.