Troopers from the Indiana State Police Bloomington District were recently advised that Timothy A. Brinegar, a 58-year-old male from Bedford, was allegedly involved in the continued use and dealing of methamphetamine while currently out of jail on a cash bond after being arrested for Dealing Methamphetamine in January of 2019.

After obtaining this new information, Bloomington District A.C.E.S. (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Section) and Indiana State Police D.E.S. (Drug Enforcement Section) launched an investigation, which concluded on Tuesday, June 7th.

On Tuesday afternoon, around 3:30 pm, ISP A.C.E.S. Sgt. Greg Day located Brinegar in a 2015 Ford truck, at the intersection of Tunnelton Road and US 50. Brinegar was then observed turning west onto US 50 without properly utilizing his turn signal which resulted in Sgt. Day conducting a traffic stop. During the encounter, Sgt. Day observed indicators of alleged criminal activity and then Bedford Police Officer Faheem Bade arrived on the scene of the traffic stop and deployed his canine, Zazu, who gave a positive alert on the truck.  

Troopers Chance Humphrey and Tyler Trueblood, along with Bedford Police Major Jesse Crane arrived to assist. Brinegar and his passenger had been asked to exit the vehicle to search the truck when Major Crane observed a baggie of methamphetamine on the ground next to Brinegar, who had tried to discard it. Brinegar was also found to have a second baggie of methamphetamine in his pants pocket.

A search of the truck revealed hypodermic syringes, digital scales with methamphetamine residue, and three firearms. There was a loaded .380 handgun in the cab of the truck, along with an unloaded .12-gauge shotgun. An unloaded .22 Magnum revolver was in the toolbox of the truck.

Brinegar was arrested and transported to the Lawrence County Jail for the following charges,

• Possession of Methamphetamine with a Firearm (Level 5 Felony)
• Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon (Level 4 Felony)
• Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony)
• Possession of a Handgun without a permit (Class A Misdemeanor)

Anyone with information of illegal drug activity is requested and encouraged to call the Indiana State Police Bloomington Post at 812-332-4411, the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office tip line at 812-545-4700, or send an email to drugactivity@lawrencecounty.in.gov. All calls are confidential.

Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews plan to begin chip seal operations next week on S.R. 356 in Jefferson and Scott Counties.

Work will take place starting as early as Wednesday, June 1, between S.R. 62 and the east junction of S.R. 203 in Lexington. State Road 356 will close daily from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. while work is in progress.

Chip seal work typically lasts three to four days per location depending upon weather. During operations, existing pavement is coated with liquid asphalt, which seals cracks and provides waterproof protection.

This extends the service life of the roadway and lowers maintenance costs. Once the seal coat is complete, loose aggregate is applied and swept from the road. After a curing period, crews will return to fog seal the new driving surface and apply pavement markings.

Chip seal is a cost-effective pavement preservation technique that is utilized across the state of Indiana, saving an estimated six to 14 dollars in taxpayer expenditures for every dollar invested in extending the life of a roadway.

INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, avoid distractions, and consider worker safety when traveling through active work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change. 

Sunday morning, Troopers from the Indiana State Police began investigating a single vehicle crash on a rural Ripley County roadway that resulted in the death of a nineteen-year old Osgood, Indiana man.

The initial investigation by Troopers with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Crash Reconstruction Team indicated that, at approximately 1:00 am this morning, a Black 2016 Dodge Truck being driven by Landon Turner, age 19, Osgood, was traveling northbound on Michigan Road near County Road 525 North. 

Turner’s vehicle went off the east side of the roadway before striking a guardrail and embankment.  The vehicle then overturned, ejecting Turner from the vehicle.  The vehicle came to rest and then caught fire.

Turner sustained fatal injuries in the crash.  He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Ripley County Coroner’s Office.

The investigation indicated that speed was a likely factor in the crash.  Toxicology results are pending at this time.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Landon Turner’s family has been notified.

A Memorial Day pursuit ended with the arrest of an Arkansas man after he first evaded arrest and fled on foot before eventually stealing a car and leading officers on a chase.

Just before noon on Memorial Day, Trooper Tyler Line from the Indiana State Police Jasper District was northbound on I-65 in Clark County when he observed a man walking away from his disabled car near the northbound rest park.

After attending a Memorial Day event, Trooper Line was in plain clothes but was in his fully marked police car.

Trooper Line stopped to assist the motorist and identified the man as Mario Rodriguez, 34, of Arkansas. Rodriguez was also the owner of the disabled vehicle. As both men talked on the side of the interstate, Rodriquez abruptly fled on foot into the nearby rest area at the 22-mile-marker.

After trying several vehicles, Mario Rodriquez got into an unlocked car but exited when Trooper Line caught up to him and attempted to take him into custody.

Rodriquez then broke free from Trooper Line as Line attempted to handcuff him and fled again into a wooded area on the east side of the interstate.  

Within a few minutes, a property owner called 911 and said a man matching Rodriquez’s description was sitting on his back porch after the homeowner witnessed him swimming across the lake on his property located along U.S. 31. Sergeant Matt Marshall from the Sellersburg post soon arrived; however, Mario Rodriquez was able to avoid apprehension a second time and fled into the woods.

As other officers arrived and began a K9 track, Clark County Dispatch advised Rodriquez had just stolen a Silver Nissan Juke belonging to a nearby resident.  

A short time later, a Scott County Deputy spotted the car headed eastbound on Beagle Club Road towards U.S. 31. Officers from the Indiana State Police, the Clark County Sheriff’s Department, and the Austin Police Department soon joined to assist as Mario Rodriquez continued to flee.

The Nissan eventually struck stop sticks deployed by the Scott County Sheriff’s department before making its way onto U.S. 31 southbound. Even though two of the tires were deflating, Rodriquez continued to drive at excessive speeds and veered towards oncoming traffic.

Senior Trooper Mark LaMaster from the Sellersburg Post then completed a PIT (Pursuit Intervention Technique) Maneuver on the fleeing car and brought the Nissan to a stop on the side of the roadway.  

After being medically cleared at the scene, Mario Rodriquez was taken into custody and arrested on the following charges:  

1.  Resisting Law Enforcement with a Motor Vehicle – Level 6 Felony 
2.  Resisting Law Enforcement – class A Misdemeanor (two counts)
3. Theft of a Motor Vehicle – Level 6 Felony
4. Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony
5. Criminal Recklessness with a Motor Vehicle – Level 6 Felony 
6. Reckless Driving – class A Misdemeanor 

Mario Rodriquez was remanded into the custody of the Clark County Jail without further incident.  

According to Washington County Clerk Stephanie Rockey, several deadlines for the General Election are coming up in July. 

Rockey released information about those deadlines for withdrawing and filing to run in the fall election. 

Candidates have until Noon on July 15th to file a CAN-24 to withdrawal from the
General Election.

For those still running in the fall election, candidate financial information — the Pre-Election CFA-4 is due by Noon, Oct. 21st

Those who are independent candidates, minor parties or towns have until Noon on July 5th to file.

Those running for school board positions can begin filing on July 27. The deadline is Noon on August 26th.

Rockey said each potential school board candidate must file a CAN-34 petition and a CAN-12.

She said ten signatures are required for school board candidacy, but she recommends 20 signatures. 

Rockey said voter registration ends on October 11th for the fall election. 

Rockey said the Clerk’s Office was also taking requests and processing ABS applications. Ballot packets will not go out until September 23rd!

Early voting begins October 12th from 8a – Noon and 1-4p until November 7th at Noon.

Early voting will also be held on Saturdays Oct. 29th and Nov. 5th, 8a-3pm. Times are subject to change.