Monthly Archives: November 2021

Deputies searching for stolen vehicle; Suspect believed to be armed and dangerous

Note: This story has been updated.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office is asking you to be on the lookout for an SUV stolen from a Taylorsville restaurant yesterday morning and a driver who is believed to be armed and dangerous.

According to reports from the sheriff’s office, a deputy tried to stop a vehicle headed northbound on Interstate 65 near the Edinburgh exit at about 3:30 a.m. yesterday morning. The car had been identified as one used in an armed robbery in Nashville, Tennessee.

But instead of stopping, the driver took off heading down U.S. 31 to Lowell Road before turning north again. Police used stop sticks to deflate the tires at U.S. 31 and County Road 500N, but the driver kept going.

Eventually, the vehicle crashed, rolling several times about four miles north of the Edinburgh exit. The suspects that had been inside, then ran from the scene.

One, a 16-year-old juvenile sought assistance at a nearby residence where he was arrested. He was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment of injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

A search continued for the second suspect, who allegedly stole an SUV from the Waffle House in Taylorsville. He is described a black man wearing a black shirt, jeans and a grey knit hat. He is allegedly carrying a .45 caliber handgun.

The missing vehicle is a white, 2016 Kia Sportage with license plate GCW271.

If you see the vehicle or suspect do not approach them. Instead, call law enforcement immediately.

Photo of similar vehicle provided by Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

Red Cross sees urgent need for blood; Donations today at library

The Red Cross says that a serious shortage of blood and platelets continues and urges you to make an appointment to donate soon.

According to the agency, the current blood supply is the lowest the Red Cross has seen this time of year in more than a decade. At least 10,000 more donations are needed each week in the coming weeks to meet patient needs. The upcoming holiday season always presents seasonal challenges to blood collection.

Upcoming local Red Cross blood drive locations include:

  • Today from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bartholomew County Library, 536 5th Street in Columbus
  • Saturday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 4850 W. Goeller Road in Columbus
  • Monday from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 240 Poplar St., North Vernon

You can schedule an appointment to give blood by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS

Services set for missing Seymour pilot

A funeral service is set today for a former Seymour resident who was killed in a plane crash off Cape Cod in Massachusetts.

An obituary for Roger Mills, who was originally from Seymour, indicated he was an avid pilot. Mills, who most-recently lived in Woburn, Massachusetts was flying from Indiana to the Cape on Halloween when his plane crashed. The wreckage was found off Sampson Island. According to the Seymour Tribune, a memorial service will be at 7 p.m. today at Voss and Sons Funeral Service in Seymour.

The cause of the plane crash is being investigated.

You can read more at the Seymour Tribune.

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks Inc.

German American Bank offering BCSC-themed check cards

German American Bank is announcing new Bartholomew Consolidated School-themed debit cards that will raise money for local schools.

The Visa cards, which feature artwork and school colors from Columbus North, Columbus East and CSA New Tech high schools, are called School Spirit Check Cards and are available to new or existing German American checking account holders. Two cents of every purchase made using the School Spirit Check Card will benefit the Bartholomew Consolidated School Foundation.

To participate, you will need to stop into a German-American bank branch to either open a new checking account or to get the card of your choice for your existing account.

German American Bank is based in Jasper and serves southern Indiana and Kentucky.

Photo courtesy of German American Bank.

Two officers injured during arrest of wanted man

Kurtis J. Chaplain. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

Two Columbus police officers suffered minor injuries during a struggle to arrest a wanted man.

According to Columbus Police Department reports, officers were serving a warrant at a home in the 2600 block of 23rd Street about 10:50 a.m. Saturday morning. 35-year-old Kurtis J. Chaplain of Columbus was sitting outside when police arrived. Police say Chaplain was uncooperative and refused to put his hands behind his back. During the scuffle, two officers were slightly injured.

After being taken into custody, Chaplain was first taken to Columbus Regional Health to be checked out before being taken to jail on new charges of battery on a police officer with injury, resisting law enforcement causing bodily injury and intimidation, as well as two outstanding Bartholomew County warrants.

Stolen handgun recovered during traffic stop

Dustin S. Hardy. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

A stolen firearm was found during a traffic stop in Columbus Friday evening and the driver arrested.

According to Columbus police reports, officers stopped a vehicle for a minor traffic violation in the 1900 block of Chestnut Street at about 7:53 p.m. Friday evening. Officer determined that the driver, 40-year-old Dustin S. Hardy of Columbus had a suspended driver’s license. Hardy was taken into custody and a search of the vehicle found a handgun that was recently reported stolen from a parked vehicle in Columbus.

Hardy is facing preliminary charges of driving while suspended with a prior conviction, possession of a handgun without a license and theft of a firearm.

Police chase ends with arrest on drunk driving charge

Cathy A. Nance. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

A police chase in Columbus Friday night led to the arrest of a Franklin woman on drunk driving charges.

According to reports from Columbus Police Department, officers stopped a car near 25th Street and Beam Road at about 10:50 p.m. Friday night after the vehicle struck a curb. Police tried to speak to the driver, but instead she took off. After driving her vehicle the wrong way on Marr Road, she stopped the vehicle.

Officer noticed the strong odor of alcohol on her breath and a breath test revealed a blood alcohol content of .198 percent, more than twice the legal limit.

65-year-old Cathy A. Nance of Franklin was arrested on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and resisting law enforcement.

Road rage near Columbus East leads to driver’s arrest

Jonathan Maina. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

A Columbus man is facing charges after a road rage incident in front of Columbus East High School Friday morning.

According to reports from Columbus Police, officers were outside the school assisting students with a project at about 8:15 a.m. in the morning, when a Corvette driving by repeatedly slammed on its brakes, causing the vehicle behind it to also brake hard to avoid a crash.

When the car stopped at Indiana Avenue, the Corvette driver got out, yelled at the driver of a second car, threw a milkshake and punched the other vehicle’s windshield, causing damage to the glass and his hand.

Police arrested the driver, 25-year-old Jonathan S. Maina. He is facing preliminary charges of intimidation, criminal mischief and reckless driving.

He was taken to Columbus Regional Health to be checked out for the injured hand before being taken to the jail.

Drunk driver arrested after I-65 crash

Christopher Gordon. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

A Louisville man was arrested after a crash in Bartholomew County on Interstate 65 last week.

According to Columbus police reports, officers were called to the scene of the single vehicle accident in the northbound lanes of the interstate near the Walesboro exit at about 10:45 p.m. Thursday night.

The driver, 33-year-old Christopher M. Gordon of Louisville was treated by paramedics for a cut to his head. Police report that there was a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and empty alcohol containers in the vehicle. A breath test at Columbus Regional Hospital showed a .236 percent blood alcohol content, nearly three times the legal limit.

Gordon was arrested on a preliminary charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Columbus hunter injured in fall from tree stand

A Columbus man was injured after falling from a tree stand while hunting Saturday.

According to reports from conservation officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, they were called to the 11000 block of South County Road 800W at about 8 Saturday night.

They found that 33-year-old Zachary Burbrink of Columbus fell about 12 feet to the ground after a cable broke. He injured his back in the fall and was taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis by helicopter.

Officers say Burbrink was not wearing a full-body harness at the time of the fall.