Wednesday morning, September 7, Mt. Vernon Police and Indiana State Police initiated a criminal investigation after a threatening text message was sent to a Mt. Vernon Senior High School student.

The message was sent through an app that disguises the true sender. The message alleged a shooting was going to occur the following day at Mt. Vernon Senior High School.

During the investigation, officers were able to identify the sender as a 15-year-old male from Mesa, AZ.

The teen had previously attended Mt. Vernon Senior High School and knew the student the message was sent to. 

Indiana State Police and Mt. Vernon Police collaborated with Mesa Police and were able to locate the teen.

During the investigation, it was revealed the teen made the alleged threat using the text app.

The 15-year-old was arrested for Interfering with an Educational Institution, a Level 6 Felony and for Threatening and Intimidating, a Class 1 Misdemeanor.

The juvenile is currently in custody in a juvenile detention center in Phoenix, AZ.

All threats toward students, staff, and schools are taken seriously and will be thoroughly investigated.

It is also important to remind students and parents to immediately report threats to police or school administrators.

Investigating Officers: Detective Deig, Detective Walden, Sergeant Chandler, Indiana State Police

Detective Ben Boehleber and Captain Korben Sellers, Mt. Vernon Police

September 6, 2022, Detectives with the Indiana State Police-Jasper Post began conducting a death investigation after an adult male was found dead in Paoli near the Tractor Supply store. 

At approximately 7:30 am yesterday, the Paoli Police Department responded to a call of an unresponsive  male near the Tractor Supply Store, 889 North Gospel Street Paoli, IN. 

Officers responded and located the man laying along the north side of the building. 

The Indiana State Police were asked to lead the investigation.

The  Paoli Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Orange County EMS and the Paoli Fire Department assisted at the scene. 

The male was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Orange County Coroner’s Office.

An autopsy is scheduled for today to determine the cause of death.  The deceased has been identified as, Joshua Wade, 38, of Paoli. His family has been notified.

Indiana State Police Detectives are being assisted in the ongoing investigation by the Paoli Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.   

A 41-year-old woman from Sellersburg was killed when the car she was driving overturned after colliding with the rear of a northbound semi-truck in northern Scott County.  

Around 1:15 Wednesday morning, the Scott County Sheriff’s Department requested assistance with a two-vehicle crash on I-65 northbound near the 32 mile marker.

Initial information indicated that a red 2017 Ford Escape, driven by Renee M. Smith, 41, of Sellersburg, Indiana, had collided with the rear of a northbound semi-truck and trailer before overturning.

Responding units immediately called for a medical helicopter to respond to the scene.

Tragically, however, Renee Smith died at the scene.  

The driver of the northbound semi was not injured in the crash.  

This crash is still under investigation, and the cause of the crash is yet to be determined.    

The family of the deceased has been notified.  

Assisting agencies in the crash include the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, the Scottsburg Police Department, Scott County EMS and Fire, the Scott County Coroner, and the Indiana Department of Transportation.