Just before 9:30 a.m., an Indiana State Police Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a green Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck for a traffic violation for a seat belt violation just North of Spring Mill State Park.

After initially refusing to stop, the driver led the trooper to the Lehigh Cement Plant near Mitchell. Once the pickup stopped, the driver waited for the trooper to walk up, when without warning, the driver attempted to run over the trooper.

The trooper was not hit and proceeded to give chase to the pickup. The pickup truck was located shortly thereafter, unoccupied near the Lehigh Plant, off of Meridian Road just north of Ind. 60.

Police are combing the Mill Creek Road area and set up a perimeter that includes Mill Creek, Lawrenceport and Sams roads and part of Lehigh Cement Company property.

Several K-9 teams were brought in to search the area, and an ISP helicopter was summoned.

Officers also told radio dispatchers to request Mitchell Community Schools and Spring Mill State Park both go into a lockdown as a precautionary measure until the suspects were apprehended.

West Washington High School Principal Keith Nance said he consulted with Washington County Sheriff Claude Combs earlier. Combs said the situation should not affect them at the school. Despite rumors on social media, the school was never placed on a lockdown.

During a School Reach message issued by MCS Superintendent Steve Phillips at 10:08 a.m., he said no one is being allowed to enter or exit any of the MCS school buildings. He said the school system was advised by the Mitchell Police Department that there are possibly two men in the area who should be “considered armed and dangerous.” Phillips said school officials will continue to monitor the situation.

Currently, the Indiana State Police along with local law enforcement are looking for two unidentified white males that had occupied the S-10. The only description available is two white males, unkempt and unshaven.

Updates to follow as more information becomes available.

The Indiana State Police at the Bloomington Post is asking for any information regarding this case. Please call (812) 332-4411. All tips will remain anonymous.

According to Washington County Coroner Rondale Brishaber, Patty Knight, 71, of Salem was the body found in the apartment fire at Parkview Apartments last Tuesday afternoon.

Brishaber said the cause of death was smoke inhalation. He was waiting to hear from the pathologist.

WSLM reported that a late afternoon two-alarm fire on Dec. 2 that damaged a four-plex apartment building in Parkview Apartments on Salem’s east side claimed the life of a resident. The fire was put out by 16 fire fighters, two engines and a ladder.

Day spent about two hours after the fire was extinguished with the Fire Marshall investigating the scene for a cause.

The fire broke out in unit 102, destroying the unit and damaging the other three units in the building. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Salem Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal. Day said the fire likely started in the living room/family room area. Day said fire was shooting out the front windows and door when firefighters arrived.

Day said today that more information on the cause of the fire will be released by the fire marshall.

One apartment was a total loss with an adjacent apartment receiving some smoke and water damage.  Two other apartments in the building received some minor smoke damage.

The department received the alarm at 4:40p Tuesday afternoon and responded to 817 Parkview Drive, Apartment 2 within minutes.

Members of the Salem Fire Department, Salem Police Department and EMS were on scene most of the afternoon.

Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control by about 6p, said Day.

“I have to credit the firefighters for doing a good job of keeping the fire contained to one apartment,” said Day late Tuesday night.

Stay tuned to WSLM RADIO and wslmradio.com for more details on Wednesday.