After over 8 hours, police arrested a 76-year-old Birdseye man who had barricaded himself in his house after allegedly shooting at a county worker earlier in the afternoon, closing Interstate 64 for the duration of the event.
At 11:13 pm after several hours of communicating with suspect, Indiana State Police SWAT breached the front door, and he then surrendered peacefully.
The suspect, Virgil Lee Crews, 76, 4715 Pine Ridge Road was taken to Jasper Memorial Hospital for evaluation before being taken to the Dubois County Security Center.
Crews is charged with Criminal Recklessness with a Firearm and Battery.
“We are pleased that this incident ended peacefully and that no one was seriously injured. I would like to thank everyone that assisted with this detail. The peaceful outcome was truly a team effort,” said Lt. Allen, Commander of the Jasper Post.
State Road 64 was officially re-opened at 11:45 pm.
Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies responded to the area of State Road 64 and Pine Ridge Road around 3 p.m. after the Dubois County 911 Center received a call from a Dubois County Highway Department worker saying he had been shot at.
Indiana State Police say a preliminary investigation indicates that the Dubois County Highway Department was grading the snow on Pine Ridge Road north of the highway.
As the driver turned the grader around and started north on Pine Ridge Road, he noticed a male standing near the mailbox of 4715 Pine Ridge Road. Shortly after seeing him, police said, the window of the grader was shot.
Shortly after seeing the male, the window of the grader was shot. The driver of the grader left the area and called 911.
Fortunately, the Dubois County Highway Department employee only received minor cuts to his face from the broken glass.
Officers responded and established a perimeter around the residence at 4715 Pine Ridge Road and attempted to establish communications with the suspect.
Investigators are asking for anyone who might have been in the area at the time the shooting occurred to call the Indiana State Police Jasper Post at 812-482-1441.
Assisting Agencies: Dubois County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Conservation Officers, Ferdinand Police Department, American Red Cross, SE District School Corporation
