Monthly Archives: January 2021

Area counties under travel advisories due to slick conditions

Several area counties are under a travel advisory this morning, due to yesterday’s snow and ice.

Bartholomew, Decatur, Jennings, Jackson and Brown counties are under the yellow advisory level, the state’s lowest level of travel warning, meaning that routine travel or activities are restricted due to a hazardous condition and you should use caution or avoid those areas.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center has been reporting that some roads remain slick and snow-covered. You should use caution if you are driving and give yourself extra time to reach your destination.

Probation violation leads to arrest of catalytic converter theft suspect

Chris A. Whedon. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department

Columbus police say a suspect in a string of catalytic converter thefts that  stretched happened from Indianapolis to several southern Indiana counties was arrested Tuesday night.

50-year-old Christopher A. Whedon was wanted on a probation violation warrant out of Jackson County on an original felony theft charge. The Columbus Intelligence Led Policing Unit with the assistance of the Seymour Police Department tracked Whedon to an apartment in the 2700 block of Bent Tree Lane where he was taken into custody. Police discovered that he was carrying methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the Jackson County Jail on new charges for possessing the meth and paraphernalia and for the outstanding warrant.

Whedon had been arrested earlier this month for stealing catalytic converters from abandoned vehicles on Interstate 65 in Indianapolis. He is also suspected of being responsible for a number of catalytic converter thefts in several southeastern Indiana counties, and more charges are expected police say.

Columbus man arrested on child molesting charges

Joseph B. Tucker. Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department

A suspect in a child molesting investigation was arrested on a warrant Tuesday afternoon, according to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

The investigation started on Oct. 30th when a molestation incident was reported to the sheriff’s department. After the investigation, a warrant was issued for 52-year-old Joseph B. Tucker of Columbus on two preliminary charges of child molestation and one of count of furnishing alcohol to a minor. He was arrested at just before 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

Sheriff Matt Myers commended the family for coming forward and reporting the crime. He said victims need to know that what happened is not their fault and by coming forward, they can help prevent a child molester from hurting any other victims.

Updates: More details released in Wednesday shooting

Updated: 6 a.m., Thursday

Bartholomew County authorities are releasing more information about a shooting in Taylorsville Wednesday morning.

Sheriff Matt Myers says that deputies were called to the 9400 block of Main Street in Taylorsville at about 5:32 yesterday morning .

Deputies found Justin Black who had a bullet wound to his stomach. He was first taken to the German Township Volunteer Fire Department station and treated by firefighters there until Columbus Regional Hospital paramedics arrives. Firefighters set up a helicopter landing zone at Taylorsville Elementary School and was then flown by Lifeline helicopter to an Indianapolis area hospital for treatment.

The suspected shooter was detained and the weapon was secured. Myers said there was no threat to the public and several streets were closed while the shooting was being investigated. German Township firefighters made their station available to investigators to keep warm, according to the department.

Myers said his department was in close contact with school officials and school resource officers so they knew it was safe for students to arrive at Taylorsville Elementary School.

Myers commended Deputy Sgt. Jarod Aspenson who was the first on the scene for securing the location, getting aid to the victim and getting the situation under control.

Photo: Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers, Lt. Chad Swank and Deputy Sgt. Jarod Aspenson work at the scene of a shooting Jan. 27th in Taylorsville. Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

Columbus Area Career Connection holding open house Feb. 3rd

C4, the Columbus Area Career Connection, will be holding a virtual open house from 5 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 3rd. The program is meant to introduce the C4 programs and courses to potential students their families.

Visitors will be able to meet remotely with student ambassadors, teachers, and support and administrative staff. They will also be able to take virtual tours of the classrooms and labs and hear testimonials from students and parents.

C4 programs include graphic arts, electronics, nursing, cosmetology, welding, precision machining, criminal justice, engineering, and education.

You can attend the virtual open house at bcscschools.org/C4.

Bartholomew County sheriff swears in newest deputy

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is announcing its newest deputy. Ryan Smith was sworn in this week by Sheriff Matt Myers.

Smith previously worked at the the Orange County Sheriff’s Department where he served as a K9 Officer, Field Training Officer, STOPs instructor and EMT. Smith received an Associate’s degree from Ivy Tech in the field of Human Services.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office is taking applications for the position of Merit Deputy through Sunday.

Seymour police make arrest in stalking case

Jessie L. Brown. Photo courtesy of Jackson County Jail.

Seymour police have made an arrest in a stalking investigation that began in September.

According to authorities they received 13 complaints of stalking from a victim who said 43-year-old Jesse L. Brown of Crothersville was violating a protective order.

Brown was arrested last week on a warrant for stalking and invasion of privacy, which led to a search of his home on East State Road 250 and a further search warrant for drugs. Investigators with the Seymour police and Jackson County Sheriff’s Department found numerous media devices, more than four ounces of methamphetamine, a handgun, drug paraphernalia, a bulletproof vest with the word “Sheriff” on it, and an old Jackson County Sheriff Department uniform shirt with a badge.

Brown is now facing new charges of dealing in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hypodermic syringe, counterfeiting and possession of paraphernalia.

The investigation is ongoing.

INDOT plans lane closures south of Columbus next week

You can expect nightly lane closures starting Monday on bridges on Interstate 65 south of Columbus.

INDOT says that the closures will be in the north and southbound lanes at the Denois Creek, Opossum Creek and the Deaver Rd. overpasses from 9 to 6 for two or three nights next week. The lanes will be closing so crews can place temporary barrier walls in the median and outside shoulders. The bridge work is part of the project to add travel lanes between Walesboro and Columbus.

More restrictions will take place starting in mid-March as part of the $65 million project. INDOT reminds you to slow down, use extra caution, and drive without distractions through all work zones.

Map courtesy of INDOT

Driver arrested after crashing stolen vehicle in Columbus

Damarcis C. Scrogham. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

The driver of a stolen vehicle was arrested after crashing it during a police chase in Columbus Monday.

Columbus police are reporting that the owner of the vehicle started it to let it warm up in the 1100 block of Ninth Street at about 7:35 a.m. Monday morning. She went back into the home and moments later noticed the vehicle was gone.

Police found the stolen vehicle driving in the area of 16th Street and Orinoco Avenue and attempted to pull the driver over. Instead the driver raced away, eventually losing control and crashing into a parked vehicle at 22nd and Union streets. He then ran way from the crash scene.

Police found 25-year-old Damarcis C. Scrogham in the backyard of a nearby home and he was taken into custody. After being checked out at Columbus Regional Hospital, he was taken to the jail on preliminary charges of Auto Theft, Resisting Law Enforcement in a Vehicle, Reckless Driving and Leaving the Scene of an Accident.