Justin Bowles Photos Courtesy Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office

A Local Man is behind bars after leading police on a chase. On Tuesday night at approximately 11:32 PM Deputy Dylan Prather observed a possible impaired driver near the intersection of 10th St and McClure Rd.

After Deputy Prather activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop the vehicle disregarded him and a vehicle pursuit was started.

The driver of the vehicle later identified as Justin Bowles, 41yo of Columbus, led deputies on a chase throughout the northern part of Columbus before turning off his vehicle’s lights and driving through an agricultural field.

Deputies lost sight of the vehicle as it entered the field however found the vehicle crashed into a pile of shrubbery near Warren Dr and Taxiway G.

A perimeter of law enforcement officers was set up and BSCO K-9 Frizko was deployed to locate Bowles. A short time later Bowles was found hiding along the fence line near the airport and was apprehended by K-9 Frizko.

Bowles was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for medical evaluations then transported to Bartholomew County Jail where he remains on a 48 hour hold. Deputies located multiple pills, a large amount of currency, over 60 grams of methamphetamines and over 10 grams of fentanyl.

Bowles was charged with the below offenses:

Operating while Intoxicated – Drugs, Operating while Intoxicated – Endangerment, Reckless Driving, Resisting Law Enforcement – Vehicle, Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Possession of Legend Drug, Dealing in Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Dealing in a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Dealing in Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Dealing in a Narcotic Drug and Possession of Narcotic Drug.

This is an ongoing investigation.

Photos Courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office

K9 Frisko

This past week two deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office completed their DARE Officer course. After an intensive two-week class both Deputy Nicholi Burkholder and Deputy Max Medina received their DARE certifications. Deputy Burkholder was selected as the top student of DARE Officer Training Class #40.

The addition of these two deputies to the DARE Program doubles the Sheriff’s Office number of DARE instructors to four. Sheriff Chris Lane, “The DARE program is a corner stone of the relationship between law enforcement and the community’s youth. Congratulations to Deputy Medina and Deputy Burkholder on completing the DARE instructor course. I look forward to seeing the effect they have on our community’s youth and appreciate their willingness to be part of this program.”

The DARE program was founded in 1983 as a law enforcement led series of classroom lessons that teaches students good decision making skills in order for them to lead safe and healthy lives.

Deputy Medina

Deputy Burkholder

Photos Courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office

The City of Columbus Department of Public Works wants to remind residents that there will be no collections next Tuesday in observance of the July 4th holiday. Collections will be delayed by one day with Friday’s collections taking place on Saturday.
Please remember to have your toters out by 7AM. The office will be closed on Tuesday and will reopen on Wednesday at 7AM. Visit the Public Works website at columbus.in.gov/Public Works for more information on Curbcycle and Columbus Collects.

All of central Indiana will see downstream impacts of smoke from Canadian fires today and tomorrow. Reduced visibilities are expected, primarily between 3 and 4 miles, with peak reductions of 1 mile possible, according to Bartholomew County Emergency Management.
Air Quality may also be unhealthy for sensitive groups.
If traveling be prepared for haze that could suddenly reduce visibilities.
Conditions are expected to improve beginning on Thursday.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Country Squire Lakes on Sunday in response to a report of a suspicious man. The caller stated that the man, who was unknown to the caller, was naked on their porch.

When they got there, deputies saw a male subject sitting on the porch completely naked and actively performing a sexual act on himself, according to law enforcement.

The man, identified as Justin Fletcher, 35, of North Vernon, allegedly resisted arrest and, after an altercation, was taken into custody. Officers were reportedly covered in fecal matter during the altercation.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an off-road vehicle (ORV) accident that injured two juveniles, one seriously, in Jennings County.

Shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday., responders were dispatched to the area near the 9000 block of County Road 850 West in Paris Crossing for an accident with injuries.

Initial investigation shows a 14-year-old juvenile was operating a side-by-side ORV on the roadway when they lost control, causing the vehicle to roll onto the driver’s side and pinning them underneath. The juveniles were not wearing helmets or safety harnesses at the time of the accident.

The juvenile operator was transported via StatFlight helicopter to Norton Hospital in Louisville. The juvenile passenger was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.

Other assisting agencies include Indiana State Police, Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, and Jennings County Emergency Medical Service.

Indiana law requires riders younger than 18 to wear a Department of Transportation approved helmet. More information on ORV laws and safe operating procedures is at offroad-ed.com/in/handbook/ and on.IN.gov/offroading.

The Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office are handing out gun locks at their tents located at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair on Wednesday.

The gun locks were purchased with funding provided by Columbus Regional Health and the giveaway is a part of the Be SMART campaign. People will also have a chance at winning a biometric safe through a free raffle.

The Be SMART initiative promotes responsible gun ownership in order to reduce the deaths, injuries and trauma that can result when a child or teen is able to access a gun.

For More Information visit besmartforkids.org.

INDOT contractor Milestone Contractors LP plans to begin a asphalt resurface project this week on State Road 11 in Jackson County.

As of Monday, June 26th, motorists should expect lane closures with flagging between Dudleytown and Seymour as crews complete patching, milling and paving. State Road 11 will closed to traffic on or after Monday, July 24th, between County Road 300 N. and Steven’s Dr. for a small structure replacement.

The closure is expected to last up to 20 days, through mid-August, weather permitting.
The $2.6 million contract was awarded to Milestone in May and is scheduled for completion by the end of October.

INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, use extra caution and avoid distractions when traveling in and near construction zones.

All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.

U.S. Senator Todd Young will be visiting in Columbus Tuesday as a part of the launch of his Housing Affordability Tour.

Sen. Young will meet with Indiana realtors and other stakeholders at Hotel Indigo to discuss solutions to the housing affordability crisis.

According to Sen. Young’s Office, legislative proposals that will be discussed include:

The Yes In My Backyard Act (YIMBY Act), which would eliminate barriers to much-needed housing by requiring transparency in local land use, zoning, and housing decisions.

The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, which would revitalize distressed neighborhoods by creating a tax credit for building and renovating homes in blighted areas.
and
The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (AHCIA), which would improve and expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, providing an additional 44,500 units in Indiana alone.

The local public is invited to meet PGA legend Tom Kite and design partner Billy Fuller at Otter Creek Golf Course, Wednesday, June 28th, at 2:15 p.m.

Fans are asked to gather near the Otter Creek scoreboard for the official redesign announcement and photographs.

It was announced last week that the Kite/Fuller team had been hired to redesign the layout of the course and bring it up to “today’s golf course standards.”