The Columbus Police Department is accepting applications for the position of police officer. Lt. Matt Harris, department spokesman, says that applicants must be at least 21-years-old and less than 36-years-old when hired. Prospective applicants must have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent and complete all aspects of the hiring process and training program. College graduates and military veterans are encouraged to apply.
Harris says the 2018 starting salary for a Patrol Officer is $49,428. Benefits include an assigned “take home” patrol car, 8.5 hour shift with two weekends off per month, vacation time and paid holidays, shift differential pay, college credit allowance, military incentive pay, longevity pay, clothing allowance and specialty unit pay.
Applications will be accepted until April 6th. The first step of the testing process, a written test, will be offered on Saturday, April 21st.
Frank Ashby; photo courtesy of Indiana State Police
A Scott County man was arrested on charges related to child battery. Sgt. Jerry Goodin, spokesman for the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg, says that 45-year-old Frank Ashby, of Scottsburg, was arrested Tuesday night after the Department of Child Services reported a case of battery.
Goodin says that Ashby is facing a preliminary charge of Battery to a Child under the Age of 14, a Felony. He was booked in the Scott County Jail awaiting his first court appearance.
A Commiskey woman will be in prison a bit longer after a Jennings County judge determined that she showed little remorse for her crime. “The North Vernon Sun” is reporting that 60-year-old Doris Short pleaded guilty in 2012 to stealing nearly one-million dollars over four years from her employer, OnSpot Manufacturing.
The paper reports that Short was sentenced to 35 years in prison, with 20 years suspended and the possibility to apply for home detention after five years. She did just that, but Judge James Webster opted not to allow Short to leave prison after she claimed that she could not remember how she spent the stolen money. According to the report, Webster found Short’s claims to be “completely unbelievable,” indicating a lack of remorse and character.
The paper says that the earliest that Short can be released from prison is late June of 2019.
Sgt. Andrew Richmond and K9 Heros; photo from WRB staff
North Vernon Police K9 Heros worked his last patrol day on Tuesday and Sgt. Andrew Richmond, Heros’ handler, says his partner made the most of his final day.
Richmond says the first event occurred at 12:53 PM when Officer Shane Trepanier stopped a pickup truck for an obstructed view from the windshield and the passenger threw a cigarette butt from the vehicle on South State Street. During the stop Officer Trepanier began noticing suspicious behavior from both the driver and passenger. He called for assistance from K9 Heros. Richmond says that Heros was alerted to the odor of an illegal drug coming from within the vehicle. A search conducted revealed the passenger, 27-year-old Deanna Daniel, of North Vernon, had a methamphetamine smoking device, marijuana and methamphetamine hidden in her bra. In addition, authorities say that the driver, 34-year-old Ryan Beeman, of North Vernon, gave them a false name. He was wanted on a warrant for Risk of Fleeing for Non-Support of a Dependent
Daniel is facing preliminary charges of:
– Possession of a Controlled Substance Level 6 felony
– Possession of Methamphetamine Level 6 felony
– Possession of Paraphernalia Class A misdemeanor
– Possession of Marijuana Class B misdemeanor
In addition to the warrant, Beeman is facing preliminary charges of:
– Operating while Never Being Licensed Class B misdemeanor
– False Identity Statement Class A misdemeanor
Richmond says the second incident occurred at 3:08 p.m. when Officer Wes Thayer stopped a vehicle for a false or fictitious license plate on West O&M Avenue. Officer Thayer discovered the vehicle didn’t have current insurance and recognized some suspicious behavior. He called for assistance from K9 Heros, who alerted to the odor of an illegal drug coming from within the vehicle. A search allegedly resulted in the discovery of methamphetamine, marijuana, a methamphetamine smoking pipe, a marijuana smoking pipe, a set of digital scales, multiple small bags and a prescription only pill not in it’s container. The prescription pill was found in the pocket of the driver, 46-year-old Dustin Lozier, of North Vernon. Both the driver and passenger, 22-year-old Jeremy Lozier, also of North Vernon, were arrested.
Both are facing preliminary charges of:
– Possession of Methamphetamine Level 6 felony
– Possession of a Controlled Substance Level 6 felony
– Possession of a Legend Drug Level 6 felony
– Possession of Marijuana Class B misdemeanor
– Possession of Paraphernalia Class A misdemeanor
Heros was honored Monday night with a retirement ceremony at the North Vernon City Council meeting. The body also approved the transfer of ownership for the dog from the city’s police department to Sgt. Richmond and his family. Heros is eight-and-a-half years old and has served the city’s police department for approximately seven years.
The Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office says that a 40-year-old Bartholomew County man who was found dead in his home January 21st died of an overdose of loperamide. Jay Frederick, deputy coroner, says the drug is the active ingredient in the over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medication Imodium.
Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting says that toxicology tests showed that at the time of death the man had an extremely high amount of loperamide, a drug which can cause fatal cardiac dysrhythmia in large doses.
Bartholomew County EMA is reporting that the roads around Garden City have been reopened. In addition, Southern Crossing and State Road 11 from County Road 450 South to 550 South has been reopened. South Gladstone Avenue is also open to traffic.
County Road 150 East remains closed due to high water. County Road 800 South, between South Jonesville Road and US 31 is closed, as is Tellman Road, just off Indianapolis Road. County Road 330 West about 1/2 mile south of Ohio Ridge Road is also closed due to high water.
A Jackson County man is facing charges after Seymour Police allegedly discovered a meth lab last week. Authorities say that on February 22nd, officers responded to a home in the 600 block of South Walnut Street after learning that a man with an active warrant was there.
On arrival, Corporal Adam Surface, and Officer Mike Payne made contact with 58-year-old Robert Norris, of Seymour. While speaking with Norris, officers believed him to be involved in drug activity. An investigation allegedly resulted in police discovering a methamphetamine lab, multiple hypodermic syringes and drug paraphernalia.
Norris was arrested on preliminary charges of Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe.
Tyler James Cook; photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Dept.
Two Columbus men were arrested Sunday night on drug-related charges after Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Dougan observed their van make multiple traffic infractions.
Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that at approximately 9 p.m., Deputy Andrew Dougan initiated a traffic stop at 17th Street and Central Avenue in Columbus. Deputy Dougan confirmed that passenger Tyler James Cook, 25, had two local warrants. When Deputy Matt Bush arrived to assist, K9 Diesel was allegedly alerted to drugs inside the van.
Deputies reported finding methamphetamine, marijuana and drug-related paraphernalia.
Cook was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession or Use of Legend Drugs and Trafficking with an Inmate. He remains in jail on $138,500 bond.
Gary Wayne Pasley; photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Dept.
The driver, 56-year-old Gary Pasley, was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug-Related Paraphernalia. He remains jailed on $65,000 bond.
Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew A. Myers says his office and the name of his own deputy are being used in a telephone scam.
The caller has identified himself as Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Captain Brandon Slate in his attempt to obtain personal information.
“When you call the number back, it returns to a non-functioning number”, said Sheriff Myers. Authorities stress that this is a scam and that you should not give personal information over the phone. This scam has resulted in at least one local resident losing $1,000.
Myers says that his office believes that scammers are getting deputies names online. He adds that there are concerns that information sounds so professional, many people, especially older residents, may provide the requested information.
If you receive this type of call, please do not provide any information. Hang up and call the Sheriff’s Office at 812-379-1650 to verify if a BCSO Deputy actually made the telephone call.
If you receive one of these calls or if you have any information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, please contact:
Detective Terry Holderness
Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office
812-565-5927
A reported parking problem led to the arrests of six people on drug and counterfeiting charges on Sunday afternoon. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that at approximately 3:45 p.m., officers responded to the 300 block of Parkway Drive in regards to a vehicle partially in the roadway blocking mailboxes. After arriving to check on the vehicle, the officers could smell marijuana and followed the odor to a nearby home. While standing next to the home’s back door, the officers observed two syringes on the porch. Harris says the officers later secured several people who were in the home and applied for search warrant. After serving the warrant, the officers allegedly recovered several glass pipes, spoons and cups with methamphetamine residue,
Brittany R Fear; photo courtesy of CPD
along with hypodermic needles and counterfeit money. Arrested were:
Julia A. Campbell, 33, of North Vernon – Two Bartholomew County Warrants, Maintaining a Common Nuisance
Brittany R. Fear, 28, of Columbus – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Legend Drug Injection Device, Visiting a Common Nuisance
Joshua S. Wilson, 41, Columbus – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Visiting a Common Nuisance
Joshua S Wilson; photo courtesy of CPD
Lacy A. Beltran, 30, North Vernon – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Visiting a Common Nuisance
Gary T. Woessner, 46, Greencastle – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Visiting a Common Nuisance
Jeremiah J. Anderson, 35, North Vernon – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Counterfeit Bills, Visiting a Common Nuisance
