A Greenwood man has been arrested in Columbus, accused of dealing drugs.
According to the Columbus Police Department, an officer noticed a vehicle make a traffic violation near Third and Washington streets at about 2:35 a.m. Monday morning and pulled the vehicle over. Police say that the driver, 35-year-old Casey L. Kappes appeared nervous. A search of the vehicle recovered several bags of cocaine and methamphetamine, packaged as if for sale.
Kappes was taken into custody and is facing charges of dealing the drugs.
Police say that three people have been arrested in Columbus after an investigation into the sale of illegal drugs by the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team..
According to the Columbus Police Department, after receiving tips about drug sales at a home in the 2200 block of Indiana Avenue, a search warrant was served at the residence on Monday by the Columbus and Bartholomew County SWAT team. The search uncovered almost a quarter of a pound of methamphetamine along with fentanyl. Also found were packaging materials, digital scales, and a large amount of drug paraphernalia.
Residents at the home were arrested including 51-year-old Robert L. Shutters, 59-year-old Richard L. Spray, 59, and 45-year-old Cheri Foley.
Shutters and Spray are facing charges including dealing in methamphetamine and maintaining a common nuisance as well as for possessing drugs. Foley is being accused of possessing meth and drug paraphernalia as well as visiting a common nuisance.
The investigation into the sale of illegal drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County continues and additional charges are possible, police say.
The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department, and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office. It targets the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County.
As part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week, a statewide tornado drill is planned for about 10:15 a.m. this morning.
You will hear emergency sirens going off and radio broadcasts for the drill.
Emergency officials say that the drill is an opportunity for families, schools and businesses to practice severe weather emergency plans. You should make sure your family, including children, know what to do and where to go in the event of a real tornado siren.
It is suggested that during the tornado drill you practice taking your family members to a safe location for severe weather such as a basement or an interior room with no windows on the lowest level of your home. You could also practice by moving under a sturdy table or desk, and covering up with pillows, mattresses, or heavy coats.
Severe Weather Preparedness Week is also a good time to go over possible evacuation routes from your home and neighborhood.
North Vernon police are looking for information on the identity of a bicyclist who was critically injured after being struck by a car Sunday evening.
According to the North Vernon Police Department, officers were called to the scene of a crash at 8:58 p.m. Sunday night near North State and Walnut streets. An adult man was found unconscious on the ground but still breathing. Officers began giving medical aid to the main and he was flown to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment.
Police say that 19-year-old Tyler J. Wells of Commiskey was driving southbound on State Street when his vehicle struck the man on a bicycle. The victim rolled over the top of the vehicle and landed on the roadway. According to police, the bicyclist appeared to be intoxicated at the time
Wells was not injured.
State Street was shut down for about 45 minutes during the investigation and cleanup.
The victim remains unidentified. If you have any information you can call the North Vernon Police Department at 812-346-1466.
Columbus officials will be holding a town hall meeting next week as part of a study on housing in the city.
According to the city’s community development department, the meeting will include discussions of what type of housing would you like to see, what are the local housing challenges and what kind of neighborhood would you like to have.
Mayor Mary Ferdon said last week in her State of the City address that the housing study and needs assessment is meant to identify existing housing and to recommend future housing strategies. She said the city is prepared to use any tools it has to increase affordable housing, saying there is a need to provide housing for those who provide backbone services for Columbus.
The meeting will will start at 5:30 p.m. the afternoon of Wednesday March 20th in the Cal Brand meeting room at Columbus City Hall.
A Greensburg man is facing several felony charges after allegedly pointing a gun at another person and then fighting with police.
According to the Columbus Police Department, city officers and Bartholomew County deputies were called to a disturbance in the 600 block of Maple Street at about 1 a.m. Sunday morning. Witnesses said that 31-year-old Jesse J. Sparks had pointed the weapon and then fled the scene in a red minivan. Police found a vehicle matching that description shortly afterwards on 25th Street and pulled it over.
Police say that Sparks refused to cooperate and to get out of the vehicle. Officers attempted to grab his arms but he continued to resist and try to reach back into the vehicle. After using a Taser, police say that they were able to take Sparks into custody. A search found that Sparks was carrying a large amount of methamphetamine and cash along with a pistol tucked into the waistband of his pants.
A deputy was slightly injured during the fight and taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment.
A search of the vehicle recovered a backpack that contained more meth, packaged as if for sale.
Police also found a small child in the back seat of the vehicle who was released to the care of a family member.
Sparks was arrested on preliminary charges including: Dealing in Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, Neglect of a Dependent, Intimidation with a Firearm, Pointing a Firearm and Resisting Law Enforcement.
Seymour rocker John Mellencamp is on tour, including a stop next week at Ball State University.
According to an announcement from the school, the “Live and In Person 2024” tour will include a stop at Emens Auditorium in Muncie on March 22nd. The tour started this month and is hitting 27 cities wrapping up in Savannah Georgia, in April. Next on the schedule is Hartford, Connecticut on Wednesday
The tour is in support of Mellencamp’s new album “Orpheus Descending,” his 25th studio album.
You can get more information and sign up for tickets at mellencamp.com.
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is welcoming two new deputies.
According to the department, Sheriff Chris Lane recently swore in the new merit deputies Ben Clancy and William Martin.
Clancy, 25, is originally from Columbus but now lives in Seymour. He graduated from Columbus East High School and served in the U.S. Marine Corps in a security forces detail.
The 23-year-old Martin is from Sellersburg and graduated from Henryville High School. He also served in the Marines in infantry and security forces. Previously he worked as a corrections officer in the Floyd County Jail.
Deputy Ben Clancy
Lane said that “(the) new deputies will be given the proper training and tools to go out and make a difference in our community.”
According to the department, the hiring process includes written and physical tests along with interviews and a background investigation. The department is accepting applications through April 30th.
Authorities are warning about a new phone scam hitting the area, where scammers record your responses to questions to access your accounts.
According to the Edinburgh Police Department, the scammers pretend to be with the Department of Homeland Security and ask if you are having any packages delivered and then other questions such as to verify your name, if needed. They are fishing for you to say the word “Yes” As soon as you say “Yes” to any question they will then hang up.
Once they have the recording of you saying “Yes” and your name, then can then use your own voice to access your online accounts.
The Department of Homeland Security warns you to be suspicious of telephone calls or emails claiming to be from DHS as scammers can fake caller ID information. The department says that it never makes outgoing calls from the numbers listed on its websites as contact numbers. If you receive a call, you should not provide any personal information.
A flood warning remains in effect for East Fork White River at Seymour.
According to the National Weather Service, minor flooding is expected and minor flooding has been happening. The river crested yesterday at 13.72 feet, which is 1.7 feet above the 12 foot minor flood stage. As of this morning, the river is at 12.5 feet, about six inches above the minor flood stage. It is expected to drop back below flood levels by this afternoon.
The flood warning remains in effect until early Tuesday morning.
