Today, troopers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post arrested a South Carolina truck driver for operating a commercial motor vehicle with a BAC of nearly three times the legal limit.

The investigation by Troopers Andrew Garrett and Gavin Ludwig began around noon when a motorist reported observing a 2016 Freightliner pulling a trailer that was driving erratically on I-65 Southbound in Bartholomew and Jackson Counties. 

The vehicle was located and stopped near the 54-mile marker, just north of Seymour, in Jackson County. 

During the traffic stop, troopers observed that the driver, Mikhail Popov, age 62, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina showed signs of being intoxicated. 

Popov was transported to the Seymour Police Department where he submitted to a breath test for intoxication.  The test determined that Popov’s BAC was .225%. 

He was arrested and transported to the Jackson County Jail on preliminary charges of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated with a Prior Conviction, Level 6 Felony, and misdemeanor charges of Operating While Intoxicated-Endangerment and Operating with a BAC of .15% or greater. 

He was incarcerated pending his initial appearance in court.

Troopers Garrett and Ludwig were assisted by other troopers from the ISP-Versailles Post and Master Motor Carrier Inspector Mary Eglen.  31 Wrecker responded and removed the vehicle from the scene.

The Indiana State Police encourages those who witness unsafe and dangerous driving to call 9-1-1 to report the driving behavior.  Troopers continue to target those who are driving recklessly on our roadways in an attempt to make the roads safer for all motorists.

Early Saturday morning, January 15, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Trooper Roberts was patrolling US 41 near SR 64 when he observed a vehicle traveling north at a high rate of speed.

Trooper Roberts activated his radar and clocked the 2005 Chevrolet at 93 mph in the 60 mph zone. A traffic stop was conducted at US 41 at CR 100 North. 

The driver was identified as Justin McGiffen, 31, of Vincennes. During the traffic stop, McGiffen displayed signs of impairment.

After failing field sobriety tests, McGiffin produced a wallet from his pocket and displayed a gold badge. McGiffin was transported to the Gibson County Jail where further investigation revealed he had a BAC of .07%.

McGiffen was arrested and is currently being held on bond in the Gibson County Jail.

Arrested and Charges:

• Justin B. McGiffen, 31, Vincennes, IN

1. Impersonating a Public Servant, Level 6 Felony
2. Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Class C Misdemeanor
3. Reckless Driving, Class C Misdemeanor

Arresting Officer: Trooper Doug Roberts, Indiana State Police

According to Washington County Clerk Stephanie Rocky, the following new filings were received on Wednesday:

• Roy M. Dick- Jackson Twp. Adv. Board- Democrat
• Thomas Guthrie- Brown Twp. Adv. Board- Democrat
• Sherry L. Wingler- Assessor- Republican.

The deadline to file to run for party nomination in the primary election on Tuesday, May 3 is February 4 at noon.

Others who have filed to run include: 

• Gary D. Chastain- Brown Township Advisory Board- Democrat
• Marnie Bennett- Jefferson Township Trustee- Democrat
• Kathleen Zelivetz- Howard Township Trustee- Democrat
• Todd Ewen- Commissioner, Dist. 2- Republican
• Marvin Butch Jenks- Posey Township Advisory Board- Republican
• Ken Armstrong- Posey Township Trustee- Republican
• P Matthew Incantalopo- Jackson Township Trustee- Republican
• Jerome Jacobi- Posey Township Advisory Board- Democrat
• Wayne Blevins- Sheriff-Republican
• Kyra Stephenson- Auditor- Republican
• Larry W. Medlock- Circuit Court Judge- Republican
• Brent Miller- Sheriff- Republican
• Joshua G. Anderson- Washington Township Trustee- Republican
• Steven L. Anderson- Franklin Township Trustee- Republican
• Marsha Guthrie- Vernon Township Trustee- Democrat

On the ballot this year are the following positions:

• US Senate

Indiana State

• Secretary of State
• Auditor of State
• Treasurer of State
• State Senator #47
• State Rep. #73

Washington County:

•   Assessor
•   Auditor
•   Circuit Court Judge
•   Superior Court Judge
•   Prosecutor
•   Sheriff
•   Recorder
•   District 2 Commissioner
•   Council Dist. #1
•   Council Dist. #2
•   Council Dist. #3
•   Council Dist. #4
•   Township Trustees
•   Township Advisory Board Members
•   Town of Campbellsburg Clerk-Treasure
•   Town of Campbellsburg Council Member
•   Town of New Pekin Clerk- Treasurer
•   Town of New Pekin Council Member At-Large
•   Town of Saltillo Clerk-Treasurer
•   Town. of Saltillo Council Member

School Boards:

Salem:  3 At-Large Seats

East Washington: Franklin Twp., Pierce Twp. and Jackson Twp.

West Washington: Brown Twp, Howard Twp., the Town of Campbellsburg and an At-Large seat.

These positions will only appear on the fall ballot. 

Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem) has announced her intention to seek the Republican nomination for Indiana’s 9^th Congressional District in the 2022 election on the eve of Indiana Republican US Congressman Trey Hollingsworth’s announcement he would not seek re-election this year.

Hollingsworth, who defeated Houchin in her bid to take the congressional seat back in the 2016, announced Wednesday that he would keep his word about term limits and would not seek re-election this year. 

Hollingsworth has served three terms in the office to represent Indiana in Washington. He had argued for strong term limits and said he made a pledge to limit himself to four terms.

Houchin was first elected to the Indiana Senate in 2014, defeating Richard D. Young, the incumbent. She represents District 47. She ran against Hollingsworth in 2016 but was deafened in the May primary. 

“The problem of politicians using their office to catapult themselves to another office, to a Committee assignment, or to a high-paying lobbying job is the misaligned incentive that tears at the most fundamental promise of democracy: elected officials represent electorates,”Hollingsworth wrote in an Indianapolis newspaper editorial.

“As a proven conservative fighter, I have always stood up for our Hoosier values and individual liberties, protected our Second Amendment rights, defended the unborn, and protected the integrity of our elections,” said Houchin. “I’ve fought to keep our families and communities safe, standing firm with the brave men and women in law enforcement and holding criminals accountable for their actions.”

“My conservative record demonstrates that the 9^th District can count on me to stand up to the radical Left and the Biden agenda that has led to disastrous issues at our southern border, the highest inflation in 40 years, and a liberal laundry list for more spending that the country cannot afford.”

“Now is the time for proven conservative leadership to re-take the House of Representatives, and our country, and I look forward to joining the fight.”

Since her election to the Indiana Senate, Houchin has voted for honestly balanced budgets, resisted burdensome regulations and tax increases, and supported our local communities and small businesses. She authored legislation that expanded access to affordable and efficient broadband services in Indiana’s rural, underserved communities and worked to guarantee every Hoosier child receives a quality education and parents have the freedom to choose what is best for their children in the classroom.

Houchin has maintained a 100 percent voting record on Right to Life issues and was endorsed by Indiana Right to Life and the National Rifle Association in her previous campaigns.

Houchin lives in Salem with her husband, Dustin, and their three children.

After filing this week to seek the Republican Party nomination a second time, Washington County Deputy Wayne Blevins has officially entered the May 3 Primary and makes it a race against current Washington County Sheriff Brent Miller. 

Miller filed earlier in January to seek the Republican Party’s nomination for sheriff. 

Miller won the election on the Democratic ticket in 2018, beating Republican Candidate Roy Overshiner by almost 1000 votes. 

Miller has worked for the sheriff’s department for over 30 years. 

Overshiner defeated Blevins by 11 votes in the 2018 Spring Primary to move to the fall election to face Miller.  

Overshiner received 1,138 (41.26 percent) votes over Blevins’ 1,127 (40.88 percent) votes. Tracey England who also ran on the Republican ticket only took 493 votes (or 17.88 percent).

There have been no Democratic candidates filing so far to run for Sheriff. 

The deadline to file for an office is February 4 at noon. 

Current filings 

• Gary D. Chastain- Brown Township Advisory Board- Democrat
• Marnie Bennett- Jefferson Township Trustee- Democrat
• Kathleen Zelivetz- Howard Township Trustee- Democrat
• Todd Ewen- Commissioner, Dist. 2- Republican
• Marvin Butch Jenks- Posey Township Advisory Board- Republican
• Ken Armstrong- Posey Township Trustee- Republican
• P Matthew Incantalopo- Jackson Township Trustee- Republican
• Jerome Jacobi- Posey Township Advisory Board- Democrat
• Wayne Blevins- Sheriff-Republican
• Kyra Stephenson- Auditor- Republican
• Larry W. Medlock- Circuit Court Judge- Republican
• Brent Miller- Sheriff- Republican
• Joshua G. Anderson- Washington Township Trustee- Republican
• Steven L. Anderson- Franklin Township Trustee- Republican
• Marsha Guthrie- Vernon Township Trustee- Democrat

On the ballot this year are the following positions:

• US Senate

Indiana State

• Secretary of State
• Auditor of State
• Treasurer of State
• State Senator #47
• State Rep. #73

Washington County:

•   Assessor
•   Auditor
•   Circuit Court Judge
•   Superior Court Judge
•   Prosecutor
•   Sheriff
•   Recorder
•   District 2 Commissioner
•   Council Dist. #1
•   Council Dist. #2
•   Council Dist. #3
•   Council Dist. #4
•   Township Trustees
•   Township Advisory Board Members
•   Town of Campbellsburg Clerk-Treasure
•   Town of Campbellsburg Council Member
•   Town of New Pekin Clerk- Treasurer
•   Town of New Pekin Council Member At-Large
•   Town of Saltillo Clerk-Treasurer
•   Town. of Saltillo Council Member

School Boards:

Salem:  3 At-Large Seats

East Washington: Franklin Twp., Pierce Twp. and Jackson Twp.

West Washington: Brown Twp, Howard Twp., the Town of Campbellsburg and an At-Large seat.

These positions will only appear on the fall ballot.