A 57-year-old Seymour man passed away yesterday as the result of injuries from a crash on Saturday.

James S. Hinton, age 57, Seymour, died at an Indianapolis area hospital Monday.

On Saturday, at approximately 1:00 pm, the Indiana State Police and Seymour Police Department responded to a two vehicle crash at the intersection of US 50 and US 31, just east of Seymour. 

The initial investigation by Trooper Matt Holley, Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team, indicates that a black 1998 Jeep Cherokee, being driven by Justin L. Gudgel, age 19, Seymour, Indiana was traveling eastbound on US 50 at the intersection with US 31.  Gudgel’s vehicle was in the left turn lane to turn northbound on US 31.  

Gudgel then turned northbound into the path of a silver 1999 Chevrolet Camaro, being driven by Hinton, who was traveling westbound on US 50.

The vehicles collided in the middle of the intersection. 

As a result of the collision, Hinton’s vehicle went off the roadway and down an embankment before coming to rest. 

Gudgel’s vehicle came to rest in the intersection.  Gudgel was uninjured in the crash. 

Hinton sustain numerous injuries in the collision.  He was airlifted from the scene to an Indianapolis area hospital for treatment.

The investigation by the Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team is ongoing.  Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the crash at this time although toxicology results are pending at this time.

Trooper Matt Holley was assisted at the scene by the Seymour Police Department, Jackson County EMS, Seymour Fire Department, and Lifeline Medical Helicopter. 

Troopers from the Indiana State Police Versailles Post will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint at an undisclosed location in Jennings County on September 21st, 2017.  

Those drivers passing through the checkpoint area should have their licenses and registrations ready to present to troopers and will only be detained briefly while troopers determine whether further investigation is necessary. 

The purpose of sobriety checkpoints is to remove those motorists from the highways who are alcohol or drug impaired and pose a danger to all who use the roadways.  Impaired drivers are responsible for billions of dollars in property damage, person injury, and death annually.   

To help to ensure your weekend is safe and enjoyable, observe the following tips:

• Plan ahead and always use a designated driver.
• Don’t get behind the wheel of a vehicle if you’ve been consuming alcoholic beverages; call a taxi, a family member, or friend who has not been drinking to give you a ride.
• If you are hosting a party, always offer alcohol-free beverages and make sure all of your guests leave with a sober driver or allow them to spend the night.
• Remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.  Take the keys and never let a friend leave your sight if you think that they are about to drive while impaired.

If you see a vehicle exhibiting erratic driving behavior, call 911 and give a complete description of the vehicle, its location, and direction of travel.  These reports can be made anonymously.

The Indiana State Police is investigating a crash involving a motorcycle which occurred late last night on US 30 between 500 E and 600 E that resulted in the death of a 43 year old woman from Cromwell.

The investigation conducted by Trooper Jeremy Brice indicated at approximately 10:00 p.m., a 2012 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by Micheal S. Miller, 40 of Cromwell was traveling westbound on US 30 in the right lane.  Miller may have been trying to change lanes, which were uneven due to roadwork, when the motorcycle crashed.

As a result of the crash, the passenger on the motorcycle Mari L. Miller, 43 of Cromwell was thrown into the roadway and was struck by a passing vehicle.  She was pronounced dead at the scene.  Mr. Miller was transported to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne and his condition is not known at this time. 

The westbound lanes of US 30 were closed until this morning at approximately 1:30 a.m. while Brice and State Police reconstructionists conducted their on-scene investigation.  Brice was assisted by the Whitley County Sheriff Department, Columbia City Police Department, Union Township Fire Department and Parkview EMS.

This morning at 10:30, Indiana State Police Trooper James Tret spotted a gold 2004 Kia Sedan traveling at 107 miles-per-hour, eastbound on Interstate 70 near the 21 mile marker.

Senior Trooper Bill Bradbury was patrolling eastbound near the 23mm, when suddenly the vehicle approached the rear of Trooper Bradbury. The vehicle was stopped and during conversation with the driver, S/Trooper Bradbury noticed the smell of what appeared to be Marijuana.

Further search of the vehicle yielded a loaded .45 caliber semi-auto handgun near the driver’s seat and a loaded .32 caliber revolver in a duffle bag near the rear seat area. Less than one gram of suspected Marijuana was found.  

The driver was identified as 26-year-old Raymone L. Melton of Terre Haute, IN. He was immediately taken into custody and was somewhat uncooperative. During transportation to the Clay County Jail, the handcuffed Melton attempted several times to remove his seatbelt and unlock the door of Bradbury’s police commission.  

Melton was preliminarily charged with Possession of Handgun by a Serious Violent Felon, Possession of a Handgun without a License, Resisting Law Enforcement, and Possession of Marijuana. 

The case was investigated by ISP S/Tpr. Bill Bradbury. Assisting were Tpr. James Tret, Master Trooper Don Farris, Trooper Ryan Winters, Clay County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit, and the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office. 

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

On Friday, September 15, 2017, at approximately 9:45 pm, the Indiana State Police and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two vehicle crash on US 421 near Old State Road 62 near Madison, Indiana that claimed the life of a Madison man.

The initial investigation by Trooper Andrew Garrett, Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team, determined that a gold 2010 Ford Fusion being driven by Kelly Gilles, age 24, Madison, Indiana was traveling northbound on US 421 at Old State Road 62.  Gilles’ vehicle struck the rear of a 2006 Roketa motor driven cycle being driven by Justin George, age 37, Madison, Indiana that was also traveling northbound on US 421.

As a result of the collision, George was thrown from the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries in the collision.  George was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.  Gilles was not injured in the crash.

Toxicology results are pending in this investigation at this time.  It is unknown if drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.

The investigation is ongoing.

This evening at 6:30, an alert Indiana State Police Trooper from the Putnamville Post noticed a blue 1998 Ford Ranger abandoned on the westbound shoulder of Interstate 70 near the 35 mile marker.

Larry Joseph Woods, age 45, of Terre Haute, IN. and Samuel Eugene Crowther, age 48, of Terre Haute, IN. were both preliminarily charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Theft, Possession of Ginseng without Permission, and Possession of Paraphernalia. 

Troopers recovered under three grams of methamphetamine, methamphetamine smoking devices, and approximately a quart size or slightly larger bag containing Ginseng. 

This was the third time in approximately four weeks the trooper noticed the same vehicle abandoned on the shoulder in a two to three mile section of the interstate. Each time he would check the area, the trooper was unable to locate anyone. 

However, this evening was an exception. After securing assistance from another nearby trooper, the officers located two males approximately one-half mile into the wooded area that were smoking methamphetamine and illegally hunting Ginseng.

The suspects were taken into custody without incident and incarcerated in the Putnam County Jail with assistance from Putnam County Sheriff’s deputies. 

A multi-agency drug investigation has landed 17 people behind bars for their connection to a large narcotics operation spanning from Indianapolis to Muncie.

The investigation began in March of this year and led police to serve 14 search warrants earlier this week.

The search warrants were executed in a cooperated effort with the Muncie Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, The Deleware County Prosecutor’s Office, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Indiana State Police SWAT, Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Investigators and Troopers from both the Indianapolis and Pendleton Districts. 

As a result of this investigation, police seized:

• 1 pound of heroin
• 5 ounces of methamphetamine
• 20 grams of cocaine
• 15 pounds of marijuana
• $88,945 in suspected drug money
• 7 handguns (one of which was stolen)
• 3 rifles
• 1 shotgun

The Indiana State Police arrested 17 people in this case, most are now facing serious drug related charges. All suspects are from Indianapolis unless otherwise noted.

• Marcus Bennett, 37
• Cory Poore, 28
• Joseph Majko Jr., 63
• Michael Campbell, 45 (was wanted on an unrelated warrant)
• Tara Martin, 30
• Buddy Rutar, 32
• John Smith, 61
• Jaquise Reed, 18
• Dontae Lawrence, 19
• Broderick Bullock, 33
• Anton Holland, 31
• Danny Terry, 33
• Alysia Muir, 24
• Richelle Bennett, 39
• David Eads, 29 (Elletsville)
• Letha Kersey, 34
• Vera Kersey, 58

A Parallel investigation conducted by the Muncie Police Department Narcotics Unit resulted in the arrest of Deleware County Deputy Jerry Parks. For more information about this arrest please contact the Deleware County Prosecutor’s Office.

A Seymour woman was arrested today by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department on several charges stemming from investigations that started in 2016.

Teresa L Cantu, 50, of Seymour, IN, was arrested on a charge of perjury, insurance and bank fraud. 

In August of this year, Ms. Cantu attempted to get public assistance for a utility bill from the Redding Township Trustee in Reddington, IN. 

During her application process, Ms. Cantu failed to report all sources of income and property that she owns in Jackson County. 

The trustee’s office reported the incident to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.  Ms. Cantu was arrested on 9/17/17 for perjury a level 6 felony and welfare fraud a class A misdemeanor.

Ms. Cantu was also arrested for insurance fraud level 5 felony and theft a level 6 felony from an investigation starting in 2016. 

Ms. Cantu had received a settlement check from an insurance company from a crash she had been involved in.  She submitted the false information to the insurance company from her former place of employment, an attorney’s office in Seymour, IN.

Ms. Cantu was also arrested for fraud on a financial institution a level 5 felony from an investigation that also started in 2016 involving her application to have her house in Seymour, IN, refinanced through a mortgage company. 

Ms. Cantu submitted false income information from the same former employer’s office that was used to receive the refinancing on her home.

Reserve Deputy Scott Davis conducted the investigations and arrested Ms. Cantu.

Cantu is being held without bond in the Jackson County Jail.