Christen Allen Wright, 38 of Phoenix Arizona, has been arrested for a felony warrant out of Maricopa County Arizona.

The warrant included charges of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, Molestation of a Child, and three counts of Sexual Conduct with a Minor, all Class 2 Felonies.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office Detectve Division, in cooperation with El Mirage Arizona Police Department and Jeffersonville, Indiana Police Department, began a joint investigation into Mr. Wright’s whereabouts after receiving information that he may be in the area.

Authorities in Arizona relayed information to our agency that Mr. Wright had aƩempted to deceive investigators into believing he was deceased by driving to a local hospital in Arizona and having an acquaintance phone his family and tell them he was deceased, and they needed to collect his personal property from the hospital.

The acquaintance posed as a nurse and dressed in scrubs to deceive family members when they collected his personal property.

This act of deception assisted Mr. Wright in fleeing Arizona.

Further investigation led to the discovery that Mr. Wright was at a residence in the 600 block of Georgian Ave. in Sellersburg, Indiana.

The Southern Indiana Regional Swat Team apprehended Wright without incident, and he is currently being held in the Clark County Jail awaiting extradition to Maricopa County Arizona.

Sheriff Maples wishes to express his graƟtude to the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation for their assistance in this case.

It is important to note that all individuals, including Mr. Wright, are considered innocent unt proven guilty in a court of law.

Early Monday morning, Troopers from the Indiana State Police-Sellersburg and Versailles Posts began investigating two separate crashes on I-65 Southbound near the 18 mile marker in northern Clark County that claimed the life of an unidentified man.

The investigation by Indiana State Police Crash Reconstructionists indicated that shortly after midnight, a maroon 2014 Ford Fusion driven by Tee’untra Moore, age 31, Frankfort, Kentucky sustained a deflated tire while traveling southbound on I-65.  The vehicle continued southbound, while traveling well below the speed limit with the hazard lights activated.  Moore’s vehicle was then struck from behind by a black 2002 Honda Civic being driven by an unidentified Hispanic adult male.  Moore’s vehicle left the west side of the road and came to rest.  The Honda entered the median where it came to rest partially in the left lane of I-65 Southbound. 

The driver of the Honda exited the vehicle and was standing next to it.  The man, along with the Honda, were then struck by a black 2020 Cadillac Escalade, being driven by Martin Rodriguez, age 56, Greenwood, Indiana.  As a result of the second collision, the unidentified driver of the Honda Civic sustained fatal injuries.  He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Clark County Coroner’s Office. 

Moore and Rodriguez both had multiple passengers in their vehicles.  Some of the occupants in both vehicles sustained non-life threatening injuries. 

Toxicology results are pending although drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be factors in the crash.

The deceased male was the only occupant of the Honda Civic.  Investigators are working to determine his identity.  Information located in the vehicle indicated that he may have been 26 years old with previous connections to the Indianapolis, Indiana area. 

Anyone with information on his possible identity is urged to call Trooper Tate Rohlfing at the Indiana State Police-Sellersburg Post, at (812)246-5424.

The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Clark County Sheriff’s Department, Monroe Township Fire Department, Tri Township Fire Department, New Chapel EMS, and the Clark County Coroner’s Office.    

A New Albany business owner was arrested Thursday on several felony charges after an investigation that started last spring.  

In April of 2022, Detective Tim Denby, with the Indiana State Police Special Investigations Section, began investigating Red Ink, Incorporated, a bar and adult entertainment company located at 1720 Old River Road in New Albany, Indiana.

Red Ink, Incorporated was doing business under the name of The Rustic Frog nightclub.

The business is solely owned by Donald R. Scott, 52, of New Albany. Detective Denby and a criminal investigator with the Indiana Department of Revenue conducted the investigation.  

As a result of the joint investigation, it is alleged that Donald Scott utilized corrupt business practices and failed to pay Indiana sales tax in the amount of $132,542 over a three-year period from 2020 thru 2022. 

Consequently, Detective Denby requested an arrest warrant thru the Floyd County Superior Court, and an arrest warrant was issued on March 16, 2022. Donald Scott was later arrested without incident on the following charges and incarcerated at the Floyd County Jail without bond.

1. Corrupt Business Practices – Level 5 Felony
2. Money Laundering – Level 5 Felony
3. Money Laundering – Level 6 Felony (2 counts)
4. Theft – Level 5 Felony
5. Theft – Level 6 Felony (2 counts)
6. Failure to Remit Taxes – Level 6 Felony (3 counts)

The County Election Board voted unanimously on February 13 to have a Republican ONLY Primary for the 2023 Municipal Primary election that will be held Tuesday, May 2^nd.

There was only one Democratic candidate that filed to run for the Primary election, according to Clerk Stephanie Rockey.

The lone Democrat, Paul L. Holsapple filed for City Council, District II, uncontested.

So under IC 3-10-6-4, and with consultation from the Indiana Election Division, the County Election Board voted unanimously to save the city and county money.

“We are aware this is a first in our county’s history of elections, according to election records that only a Republican Primary is being held, but the deciding factor was the cost savings to our taxpayers, “ said, County Election Board Secretary and Election Administrator Stephanie K. Rockey. 

“We just want to make sure that the voters are informed, mainly the Democratic voters,” she said. “It is strictly up to the voters of Salem on how they want to vote in the Primary, but they need to be informed that only a Republican ballot will be available.”

Concerned voters may call our Election and Voter Services Office at 812-883-5748 x1128 with any questions or concerns.

Rockey provided additional  important election dates:

• Voter Registration ends at midnight on April 3^rd.
• Early Voting in our office starts on April 4^th, 8am to Noon and 1 to 4pm Monday through Friday till Noon on May 1^st.
• Early Voting Saturdays are April 22^nd and the 29^th from 8-Noon.

Washington Superior Court will be open to the public for election night results and WSLM will be providing live election results. 

There is currently only two races to be decided during the primary and they are for Mayor and City Council District 4. 

Incumbent Justin Green filed to seek re-election and former State Representative and Senate candidate J. Davisson filed to oppose Green for the party nomination. 

In City Council District 4, incumbent Gail Napier will face off against Randy Lee Jr in the primary for the Republican nomination.

Tommy Brown III filed to run as a Libertarian party candidate but won’t be on the ballot until the General Election.

Sally Hattabaugh is seeking another term as Republican Clerk-Treasurer, Dan Libra is seeking another term as Republican City Council, District 1 member.

Dylan Moore is seeking a seat on the City Council District 2 seat while Holsapple is running as a Democratic candidate. 

Liberarian Tina Ransom will challenge the primary winner and Holsapple for the seat in the fall.

Steve Crane (R) will seek the City Council District 3 position unopposed. 

Newcomer and Republican Roger Pennington will seek the City Council At Large position unopposed. 

The City of Salem has had an ongoing issue with turkey buzzards causing a nuisance within the city.

Mayor Justin Green said Salem Animal Control has developed a plan with state agency partners to address the problem.

Beginning in March, Animal control will be utilizing an air cannon to act as a deterrent throughout the city.

The cannon emits a loud “boom” and repeats several times.

Mayor Green said the cannon will not injure the birds and is the preferred method of addressing a turkey buzzard problem by other state agencies.

“We understand that these cannons can be loud and hope the use of this method will be effective and short term. The cannon scares the birds, prompting them to flee the area and ideally will send them back to the country to roost,” said Mayor Green.

The air cannon will be utilized on a rolling set-up basis. It will be used randomly until the birds are dispersed.

Mayor Green said the cannon will be used in the evenings, typically between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., starting on the West side of Salem.

Black in color with a distinctive red head, turkey buzzards are also known as turkey vultures.

They feed on carrion and tend to congregate around dead meat. The City encourages residents to keep trash contained in a bin secured with a lid, which will prevent attracting the birds to the area.