Note: This story has been updated

A standoff between an armed Columbus man and local SWAT team officers ended with an arrest early this morning.

According to the Columbus Police Department, officers noticed a vehicle being driven by 42-year-old Justin M. Morgan, who was a suspect in a recent firearm theft, at about 2:30 this morning. The officer pulled the vehicle over in the 2700 block of California Court but Morgan refused to respond to officers and get out of his vehicle. He also told police he was carrying a handgun.

Columbus police negotiators were called to the scene as well as the SWAT team which is made up of city police officers and Bartholomew County deputies and the Columbus Bomb Squad. Negotiators tried to get Morgan to surrender, but when he refused a robot was used to break the window in his vehicle and release tear gas.

He then left the vehicle where he was arrested.

After being checked out at Columbus Regional Health, Morgan was arrested on preliminary charges of

• Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon
• Unlawful Possession of a Handgun
• Possession of a Legend Drug
• Resisting Law Enforcement

Police say the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible.

The Indiana State Police, Bartholomew County deputies and CRH Paramedics also assisted at the scene.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department

Some familiar political veterans as well as newcomers signed up on Wednesday, the first day of candidate filings for the upcoming elections.

In Bartholomew County, among the first to file were all Republicans including long-time incumbent County Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz who is seeking his ninth four-year term on the board, and Rick D. Miller both for the District 1 seat, as well as incumbent Tony London for reelection to the District 3 seat on the commissioners. Tom Barrett has filed to run for County Coroner and Jake Fitzsimmons for County Surveyor. John Waltstad has filed to run again for the Hope Town Council.

Tami Hines, Dewayne Hines and Phyllis Apple all filed to run for various Republican party roles.

The filing period runs through noon on February 9th. You can get more information in Bartholomew County at the County Clerk’s voter registration office at 812-379-1604.

The National Weather Service says it is going to get wet heading into this weekend, then bitterly cold next week.

According to the weather service forecasters in Indianapolis, storms are likely going to roll in on Friday, dumping 1 to two inches of rain, followed by snow Friday night. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph are possible and wind chills will make it feel like it is around 10 degrees by Saturday morning.

Although many rivers and streams have been low due to ongoing drought conditions, forecasters say that many areas could see enough rains to quickly bring those waterways up to near flood levels. Widespread flooding is not expected, but you could see some minor flooding in low-lying areas.

Forecasters say arctic air will be moving into Indiana Saturday night and temperatures below zero are expected to hit Sunday night. By Tuesday morning, we could see wind chills as low as 15 degrees below zero in Shelbyville, 13 below in Columbus and 12 below in Seymour. You can expect dangerous chances of frostbite and hypothermia. And your home pipes could freeze if you don’t take precautions.

A Bargersville pastor is facing felony charges for sexual conduct online with what he believed to be a minor.

According to court documents provided by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, a Johnson County deputy tasked with monitoring websites for possible criminal activity and entered into conversations in a chatroom called Bargersville Friends on an encrypted site. The deputy pretended online to be an underage teen girl.

Police say the suspect, identified as 39-year-old Nicholas P. Jackson, made contact with the deputy posing as the child in November, sent explicit photos, made attempts to contact what he believed to be a child, had sexual conversations and confirmed that he knew the persona was younger than 15 and in the eighth or ninth grade.

Police went to the church where Jackson is employed and he admitted to the conversations, as well as showing where he had taken explicit photos of himself but denied inappropriate conversations with juveniles at the church, police say. A search of a phone and tablet also revealed incriminating photos.

An arrest warrant was issued and on Tuesday, Jackson turned himself into the jail on preliminary felony charges of child solicitation, possession of child pornography and dissemination of material harmful to minors.

The Columbus Fire Department is promoting three firefighters following recent retirements.

According to the department, Lt. Don Richards has been promoted to the rank of captain. Richards has been with the department for 27 years. He is assigned to Battalion C and will serve as the station captain at Fire Station No. 4.

Firefighter Cody Hercamp has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Hercamp joined the department in 2014. He is assigned to Battalion A and will serve as company officer at Fire Station 1.

Firefighter Jeff Brown has also been promoted to Lieutenant. Brown has been with the department for 13 years. He is assigned to Battalion C and will also serve as company officer at Fire Station No. 1.

Four firefighters retired last week.

The promotions go into effect immediately.

The Columbus Bluegrass Jamboree is returning to Donner Center on Saturday.

The bluegrass and gospel music show begins with an open jam at 4 and you are encouraged to bring your instrument. Group performances will begin at 5 and will include bands such as Jackie and Friends, Highway 46 Band, High Sierra and Strings Attached

The Jamboree is free but donations are accepted and concessions will be available for sale.

The show is sponsored by the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department and the Lincoln Central Neighborhood Family Center. To get more information you can call 812-376-0714 or go online to columbusbluegrassjamboree.com.

An early morning traffic stop on Interstate 65 through Bartholomew County this morning led to the arrest of an Indianapolis man on drug dealing and weapons charges.

According to the Columbus Police Department, an officer stopped a vehicle on the interstate at just before 2:30 a.m. this morning, just over three miles north of the Columbus exit. Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department police dog Frizko was brought to the scene and alerted to the smell of drugs inside the vehicle.

A search recovered more than half a pound of methamphetamine, more than an ounce of fentanyl, a loaded revolver, a shotgun and drug paraphernalia such as a digital scale.

43-year-old Jedidiah Van Fossen was arrested on preliminary charges of dealing in meth and narcotics, unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of marijuana.

Police say that they believe Van Fossen was delivering the drugs to Bartholomew County.

The filing period opens today for candidates planning to run for office in Indiana this year.

The top of this year’s ballot will be the race for president, governor and U.S. Senator. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are also up for re-election as well as state representative seats.

In Bartholomew County, voters will be choosing Superior Court 1 Judge, the County Commissioners District 1 and District 3 seats, the three at-large seats on County Council, as well as county surveyor and coroner.

There will also be several small town races including the Hartsville, Hope and Jonesville Clerk-Treasurers and three members of each of those town’s councils.

The filing period runs through noon on February 9th. You can get more information at the Bartholomew County Clerk’s voter registration office at 812-379-1604.

Bartholomew County is running into more obstacles trying to buy new police vehicles.

Bids were opened this week for five new police vehicles and despite estimates near the end of the year, the vehicles costs were still more than anticipated. Two companies submitted bids, but only Country Chevrolet of North Vernon submitted everything required in the bid proposals, said County Attorney Grant Tucker. Country Chevrolet offered to sell the county five Chevy Tahoes at $50,700 each.

Last month, the sheriff’s department explained that it was having to change its specifications to try to find vehicles that meet the demands of police work and that will actually be available. Last year, the county could not find any replacement vehicles.

Commissioners took the bids under advisement.