Indiana Conservation Officers responded Monday evening to information from a landowner in northern Hancock County claiming to have witnessed a reptile resembling an alligator in Brandywine Creek. 

 
Indiana Conservation Officer Ted Stine responded to the area and found tracks in the mud that were consistent with an alligator. 

Conservation Officers were able to locate and capture the reptile using spot lights and large dip nets. 

Once it was captured, it was determined to be a three foot long crocodile.  The crocodile is currently being housed at a secure facility until a suitable home can be located.
 
Crocodiles and alligators are not native to Indiana, and although officers occasionally find one in our waters, they are not naturally occurring.

It is legal to possess a crocodilian up to five feet long in Indiana without a state permit, however some species may require a federal permit.
 
 “Crocodilians are generally purchased by people who are interested in caring for an exotic and exciting pet, but they soon realize that proper care is difficult and expensive.” said Capt. Bill Browne. 

“The focus now will be to determine who may have released it, and make sure they do not have any other wild animals that might be released,” noted Browne.
 
If you have any information about where this crocodile may have come from, please contact our 1-800-TIP-IDNR call line.  Callers can remain anonymous. 
 

According to a press release issued Tuesday by the West Clark Community Schools received knowledge that a staff member of the Silver Creek High School was under investigation.

Since then – earlier this morning – a staff member was arrested for child seduction.

Alonzo Richmond, 30, from Ewing Lane in Jeffersonville,  is accused of kissing and fondling a student early Saturday morning after a theater rehearsal at a park in Sellersburg, Indiana.

According to the news release, Richmond was an extra-curricular sponsor and not a certified teacher employed by West Clark Community Schools. 

West Clark Superintendent Chad Schneck said that the activities Richmond was being investigated for took place off school grounds. 

“…at an event not sponsored or endorsed by West Clark. West Clark is cooperating fully with all investigative agencies,” Schneck noted. 

Court records show one count of child seduction has been filed against Richmond.

The inappropriate contact allegedly occurred in a Sellersburg park after a theater/play practice in which the boy was acting in and Richmond was directing.

The child involved told police he and Richmond were the last two people to leave the rehearsal.

Court records say Richmond hugged the child several times and made statements about homosexual pornography. 

Richmond allegedly walked the teen to his car, kissed him and grabbed his buttocks.

Richmond was placed into custody by troopers as a result of an arrest warrant that was issued by the Clark County Circuit Court #3 also on today’s date.

The arrest warrant was the result of an investigation that began on the 16th of this month.

The complaint made to the state police post at Sellersburg by the child’s parent, alleged Richmond of having inappropriate physical contact with a male child under the age of eighteen.

After troopers investigated the alleged incident they turned the facts of the case over to the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office who in turn filed for the arrest warrant.

This investigation is continuing.

Richmond was incarcerated at the Clark County Jail on the charge of Child Seduction and is awaiting his first court appearance.

“Regardless of what the present investigation ultimately reveals, West Clark assures parents of its students that the Corporation not only immediately responds to and investigates allegations of inappropriate conduct by staff, but also reports such matters immediately to other appropriate agencies,” wrote Schneck in the news release. “By doing so, West Clark strives to maintain a positive environment conducive to learning.” 

Three people were arrested early this morning near 37th and Leeland after leading a Trooper on a short chase.

The incident began when Trooper Casey Witzigreuter attempted to pull over a vehicle near 38th Street and Wallace Avenue.

19 year old Devontai Terrell of Indianapolis was arrested along with two juveniles (17 and 16 years old).

All three now face preliminary charges of dealing marijuana, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a handgun without a permit. In addition, the 16 year old driver faces resisting law enforcement charges.

The vehicle continued driving at low speeds, turning south onto Butler Avenue then west onto 37th Street where the vehicle stopped. With assistance from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Trooper Witzigreuter was able to take all three male occupants into custody without incident. 

At one point during the pursuit, one of the occupants allegedly threw a handgun out of the passenger window. That gun was later recovered by officers. During the course of the investigation 19 grams of marijuana was located inside the vehicle along with paraphernalia that led police to believe these suspects were dealing drugs. Also in the car was a bullet resistant vest, an empty gun holster and a large amount of cash.

The charges listed are merely accusations, the case will be reviewed by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office to determine actual charges.

A 1998 graduate of Seymour High School and Seymour, Indiana native retires with 21 years of honorable service from the U.S. Navy.

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Doug M. Reinbold last served as a Navy Pilot/Mq-8 Integrated Transition Team Lead with Commander, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific (CSWP) Nasni, California.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1993 from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.

As a pilot, Reinbold accumulated more than 3,000 hours of flight time in 10 different types of aircraft. He was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal during his time in service.

CHSCWP manages the administrative, operational, and training requirements of more than 3,700 military personnel, and maintenance requirements for more than 150 aircraft, to provide operational commanders with combat-ready HSC.

Reinbold s the son of Marion Reinbold and the late Sandra Reinbold of Seymour, Indiana, and brother of Betsy Reinbold of Bloomington, Indiana.

He is also the husband of Jennifer Reinbold and father of Macy Reinbold and Lucy

Salem High School is planning their homecoming to take place next Friday night, Sept. 29 during the Varsity game against Eastern High School. 

Candidates are: 

Front row, Seniors: Cameron Morris, Kailee Akers, Lexi Humphrey, Garrett Wiseman. Second row, Juniors: Evan Shelby, Aspen White, Sydney Roll, Jesus Garcia-Sales. Third row, Sophomores: Brandon Carroll, Kylie Brown, Leah Miller, Shane Mahuron. Fourth row, Freshmen: Peyton Arthur, Addison Bundy, Bailey Hypes, Reese McCoskey. 

 Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Officers and Motor Carriers Inspectors will be participating in a statewide blitz September 24-30 that will concentrate on Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) seatbelt enforcement and education.

A goal for the Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Division is to reduce the number of CMV crashes, which will also lower the number of injuries and fatalities related to those crashes. Education is a key component of this effort as troopers continue to emphasize to commercial vehicle carrier companies, their drivers and the drivers of passenger cars about the importance of voluntary compliance with seatbelt and traffic laws.  It is an undisputed fact that proper seatbelt use reduces the possibility of injury or death the result of a crash.

Specific to commercial vehicle drivers, some operators are not properly wearing their seatbelt.  “Unfortunately, we are finding – more often than not – that many CMV drivers are using a device on the shoulder strap portion of the safety belt that is designed to reduce tension on the shoulder,” stated Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division Commander Major Jon Smithers. “The loosening of the shoulder strap can compromise the effectiveness of the safety belt and is also in violation of the Indiana seatbelt law and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.”

Through continued education and enforcement of Indiana’s seatbelt laws, lives can be saved.  While our stated goal is voluntary compliance, in those situations where a traffic ticket is warranted, commercial vehicle operators will be cited for seatbelt violations.

It is important to note that semi-tractors do not have any type of air bag safety system installed within the cab of the truck, as compared to airbag systems installed in modern passenger cars and pick-up trucks. Unsecured commercial truck drivers involved in crashes can be thrown out of the driver’s seat resulting in a secondary crash when the truck is not brought to a controlled stop.

More information on the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division can be found at www.in.gov/isp.  Click on the link “Commercial Vehicles.”  

Safety Belt Facts and Tips:

Safety belts are proven to help drivers maintain control of the vehicle when involved in a crash, thus minimizing the chance of injury or death to you, your passengers, and other motorists.

Safety belts can prevent you from being knocked unconscious in a crash, improving your chances of escape from a burning or submerged vehicle.

You are four times more likely to be fatally injured when thrown from your vehicle the result of a crash. Your safety belt can keep you from being ejected.

Driver error, severe weather, mechanical failure, and tire blowouts can all cause crashes. Safety belts prevent injuries by protecting your head and spinal cord.

Safety belts are necessary even at low speeds. In a frontal collision at 30 mph, an unbelted commercial vehicle driver hits the windshield at that speed.

Seat, lap, and shoulder belts can be easily adjusted to fit comfortably and correctly.

Buckling up takes only about three seconds and can make a difference for a lifetime.

Today, a criminal investigation by Indiana State Police Detective Josh Maller has resulted in the arrest of Joshua B. Stam, 26, Columbus, IN. Stam was served a Miami Circuit Court arrest warrant alleging criminal charges for attempted murder, aggravated battery, attempted escape, and battery resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer.  

The warrant was served by Indiana State Police Trooper Tom Hanks, at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, where Stam is currently incarcerated.

On August 30, 2017, Stam, who was an inmate at the Miami Correctional Facility, near Bunker Hill, IN, was being transported back to the prison after having a court appearance in Decatur County, IN.  

As the transport car approached the prison, Stam was able to free himself from the handcuffs he was wearing and allegedly attacked Decatur County Sheriff’s Department Transport Officer David Weakley. Stam purportedly choked the officer and attempted to take his department issued handgun from the holster.  

As the inmate was getting the upper hand on the officer, a passerby witnessed the struggle, and alerted two Indiana Department of Correction auto maintenance employees, who were working in a nearby  building.

The two employees ran to the officer’s aid, stopping the alleged attack, and preventing Stam from escaping. Officer Weakley was transported to a Peru hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  Stam was transferred to the segregation unit at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility.