Two people were arrested at a Country Squire Lakes home last week after Jennings County deputies served a search warrant.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, deputies had information that a wanted fugitive was at the home on Friday and that drug-related activities were happening there. The search led to the arrest of 21-year-old Draydon Cain who was wanted on outstanding warrants from Decatur and Jennings counties. As he was taken into custody he denied having any drugs on him, but a search of the jail a baggie of fentanyl was discovered in his sock.

The search of the home found 20 grams of suspected methamphetamine, along with fentanyl, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

Cain was out of jail on pretrial release in a battery case involving 21-year-old Jozie McRoberts, who was also found at the home. Cain had been issued a no-contact ordere in the case and was not allowed in the vicinity of McRoberts, who is also considered a witness in the battery case, police say.

McRoberts was taken into custody on preliminary charges of maintaining a common nuisance, and for possessing marijuana and paraphernalia.

In addition to the warrants, Cain is being accused of invasion of privacy and visiting a common nuisance as well as for possessing the drugs and paraphernalia.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is providing more information about a criminal defendant who tried to escape the county courthouse, rather than go to jail.

The Bartholomew County judges cited the escape attempt while explaining the need for more security officers to the County Council Monday night.

According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, 35-year-old Trevin LittleJohn of Columbus tried to flee after being sentenced to 200 days in jail by Superior Court II Judge Jon Rohde on Monday afternoon. After a struggle with security officers and Judge Jim Worton, and being tased twice, LittleJohn was taken back into custody.

One of the security officers received scrapes to his arms during the brawl.

Littlejohn was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital to be checked out, but deputies say he tried to harm himself using a seatbelt in the transport van. He is facing new charges of resisting law enforcement.

Former Vice President, Indiana governor and Columbus native Mike Pence has launched a campaign website and video this morning, saying he is running for president in 2024.

He made the announcement through his Twitter account.

Pence officially filed paperwork on Monday with the Federal Election Commission to run for president. Pence is sending text messages to supporters, inviting them to join him for an announcement at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, Iowa at noon today. He will also be taking part in a town hall on CNN tonight.

This comes after he spent the last several months making trips to early primary states like South Carolina, New Hampshire and Iowa.

Pence is still consistently polling third behind former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in national surveys of Republican primary voters.

Today is also Pence’s 64th birthday.

You can get more information at https://mikepence2024.com

TTWN Media Networks contributed to this report.

A months-long investigation into drug dealing in Jennings County led to a police chase and crash yesterday, the recovery of more than a pound of methamphetamine and the arrest of several suspects.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, Marc Rossingol was suspected of bringing large amounts of methamphetamine into the community and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Yesterday, deputies were granted a search warrant for his home. But deputies saw Christopher Kurdys of Madison leave the residence. Deputies realized that Kurdys was wanted on an outstanding warrant and tried to stop his vehicle, but Kurdys took off, police say.

Despite police deflating his tires, Kurdys continued to race through North Vernon before losing control and crashing into a pole. He was seriously injured in the crash and was flown by medical helicopter to an Indianapolis area hospital where he is in stable condition, police say.

A search of the vehicle recovered narcotics and cash inside and Kurdys was a habitual traffic vilator.

While the chase was going on, deputies served the search warrant at Rossignol’s home, recovering more than a pound of Methamphetamine, more than $10,000 in cash, scales, packaging material, and a firearm. Rossignol is a serious violent felon and restricted from owning firearms. He was taken into custody on numerous charges.

Kurdys will be taken into custody when he is released from the hospital and will also face numerous charges.

Bartholomew County judges were already scheduled to register their concerns about courthouse security to the County Council last night. But a wild chase and brawl in the courthouse yesterday further emphasized their points.

The county’s three judges appeared at a council work session last night to ask for more courthouse security officers. But Judge Jon Rohde first brought up yesterday’s incident where an angry criminal defendant fled the courtroom after being sentenced. He was tased several times and tackled, eventually only being taken back into custody with the assistance of Judge Jim Worton and a civilian office worker. The judges described Worton and officers wrestling to restrain the man in the hallways of the courthouse, near where families gather for court hearings. The office worker actually was the first to get a handcuff on the fugitive’s wrist, judges said.

Judges highlighted other threats to court security, including personal threats to judges and their family members and out of control people damaging courtrooms and equipment.

The judges would like to add three more security officers and a lieutenant to supervise the court security detail at an estimated annual cost of more than $400,000. The council will consider the request at its July meeting.

The judges did not identify the defendant involved in the melee

A search for a domestic battery suspect in Greensburg last week led to the use of drones, police dogs and social media to track the man down.

According to the Greenburg Police department officers were called to a domestic dispute at about 3:07 p.m. Thursday afternoon on West 11th Street and the victim was found to be injured and bleeding. While medics tended to the victim, police began searching for the suspect, 29-year-old Bradley E. Hill Jr. of Greensburg, cordoning off the area and using a remote drone to look for Hill.

The Greensburg police were soon joined in their search by the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police. As the search expanded, Batesville and Rush County Sheriff’s Department also became involved. A tip from social media posts led the search to Rushville, where a drone and police dogs aided in the search. Hill was taken into custody by a Rushville police dog.

Hill is facing charges including aggravated battery and domestic battery causing serious bodily injury.

Three area Marines will be among the fallen service members recognized in the 13th annual Ride to Remember, being held this weekend.

The more than 300 mile long motorcycle ride will start Saturday morning in Batesville and end Sunday in Versailles. Along the way, 16 fallen service members will be recognized with ceremonies along the route.

Each ceremony will be about 25 minutes long and includes a plaque, a reading of the service member’s biography including medals and accomplishments, the laying of a rose and recognition of the surviving Gold Star family.

Area service members will be the last three stops on Sunday.

There be a ceremony at the Jackson County Courthouse in Brownstown to recognize Marine Lance Corporal Hunter “H-D” Hogan, of Norman who died in 2012. That will be at 2:15 p.m.

Marine Lance Corporal Jacky Koening Jr. of North Vernon, who died in April of 2017, will be recognized with ceremonies at the Vernon Cemetery at about 3:45 p.m. Sunday.

Marine Corporal John C. Bishop of Columbus, who fell in September 2010, will have a ceremony at Cliff Hill Cemetery in Versailles at 5 p.m. on Sunday, the last stop of the ride.

The ceremonies are open to the public and you do not have to have a motorcycle, be a veteran or be a Gold Star family member to take part.

You can get more information at https://inpatriotguard.org

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is making funding available to repair community infrastructure damaged during the March 31st tornado oubreak in several area counties.

According to the agency, Indiana’s major disaster declaration for the tornadoes, straight-line winds and storms now allows nine counties to restore infrastructure. The funding will allow local governments and not-for-profit organizations recover money for disaster-related expenses. The communities that can apply for the funding include Brown, Benton, Clinton, Johnson, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Sullivan and White counties.

There are eight categories available for reimbursement of eligible work including debris removea, roads and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and utilities, parks and other recreational facilities.

Organizations or local governments interested in applying can find more information here: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public

Former Vice President Mike Pence is officially running for president in 2024.

The Columbus native filed the Federal Election Commission paperwork to enter the race yesterday, joining a growing field of candidates vying for the Republican nomination. Pence has spent the last several months making frequent trips to early primary states like South Carolina, New Hampshire and Iowa.

Pence is expected to publicly launch his campaign with an event in Des Moines tomorrow. He is scheduled to hold a town hall forum hosted by CNN with the network’s chief political correspondent Dana Bash moderating a discussion between Pence and Republican voters in Iowa.

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks.

Former Vice-President and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, a Columbus native, is not happy with former President Trump’s congratulating North Korea for its appointment to the World Health Organization executive board.

Trump has praised the leaders of Russia and North Korea in the past.

Pence told Fox News on Saturday:

Pence was in Iowa this weekend for Iowa GOP Senator Joni Ernst’s annual “Roast and Ride” fundraiser for veterans. Pence wore a leather vest as he rode a motorcycle alongside Ernst leading hundreds of riders to the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

Pence is expected to announce his run for president this Wednesday. He is scheduled to hold a town hall forum hosted by CNN with the network’s chief political correspondent Dana Bash will moderating a discussion between Pence and Republican voters in Iowa.

Story courtesy of Network Indiana and TTWN Media Networks Inc. Photo courtesy of Pence campaign via Twitter.