Friday, November 12, 2021:  The Indiana State Police held their annual awards ceremony on Friday afternoon to recognize troopers and state police civilian employees throughout the state for various accomplishments and awards.  The ceremony was postponed several times due to COVID restrictions. ISP employees were recognized for their service, bravery, and devotion to the department and the citizens of Indiana.  

From the Sellersburg State Police Post the following officers were recognized:

Master Trooper Nathan Abbott, Master Trooper Matthew Busick, Master Trooper William Hannon, and Master Trooper (Retired) Kevin Fisher, each received the Combat Action Award for their actions on June 24, 2013.  On that date, the Sellersburg City Police Department requested assistance with a subject that was in possession of a firearm, had pointed it at officers, and was running through yards in an attempt to elude capture. 

At approximately 1230 p.m., Trooper Abbott and K-9 Kilo were conducting a building search at a residence where the suspect was last seen and where the back door had been broken into. Trooper Abbott gave loud verbal commands at the back door, stating that he was sending the dog inside. 

Once S/Trooper Abbott released K-9 Kilo, S/Trooper Abbott went into the house, followed by M/Trooper Matthew Busick, M/Trooper William Hannon and M/Trooper Kevin Fisher. A short time after K-9 Kilo was released to search the residence, K-9 Kilo began barking in the bedroom area toward the back of the house.

 K-9 Kilo barked a second time when several gun shots rang out coming from the rear room.  The suspect shot K-9 Kilo and then immediately shot several times down the hallway toward the officers in the kitchen area.

When the gun shots started, all four Troopers exited the home and took up cover positions around the house.  After several hours of the suspect shooting from the house and a long stand-off, the suspect surrendered and was taken into custody.

Trooper Justin Mears received both the 2020 Sellersburg District DUI Award as well as the DUI Life award which is presented to the top 5 Troopers each year in recognition of total DUI arrests.  Trooper Mears was recognized for exceeding expectations by removing 100 impaired drivers off Indiana Roadways in 2020. 

Trooper Clay Boley was recognized as the 2020 Sellersburg District Trooper of the Year.  Trooper Clay Boley was appointed to the department in December of 2019.  After completing his field training, he was assigned to 3rd shift patrol in Clark and Floyd Counties. During 2020, Trooper Boley arrested 51 impaired drivers, 35 for controlled substances, 4 habitual traffic violators, investigated a child molestation and numerous other case reports.  Trooper Boley accomplished this during a national pandemic which added great stress and obstacles to completing investigations and everyday policing activities.   Lt. Chris Keeton, the commander of the Sellersburg Post, further stated that Trooper Boley is a quiet, self-reserved, and a humble trooper and that Trooper Boley is usually one of the first troopers on scene to back up a fellow officer, no matter what agency.

Defendants Abused their Positions of Trust to Sexually Exploit the Children Over Several Years

A Monroe County, Indiana couple have been sentenced for their roles in a scheme to sexually abuse five children and keep that scheme hidden from authorities. Matthew Cole, 31, was sentenced to over 41 years in prison and his wife, Dolores Cole, 41, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. All of the children were rescued as a result of the investigation.

Beginning in 2014, the Coles were living in Arizona and had custody, care, or supervisory control of six children. A child protection agency received a report that one or both Coles were sexually abusing the children. Over the next few years, multiple allegations of abuse were made. To avoid having the children permanently removed from their care and to prevent police or child protection agencies from discovering the sexual abuse, the Coles moved the children to residences in different states. The Coles moved through Arizona, Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma, and ultimately to Indiana, where their scheme ended when search warrants were executed at their residence in August of 2018.

The investigation by authorities in Indiana uncovered evidence that five of the six children had been sexually abused. And investigators found evidence that Matthew Cole produced and distributed sexually explicit images of one of the children. Investigators also learned that both Coles threatened the children, telling them that they should not tell law enforcement officers what was happening to them, which led to prolonged abuse of the children. 

Mathew Cole pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport minors across state lines with the intent to engage in a criminal sexual activity, sexual exploitation of a child, and witness tampering.  Dolores Cole pled guilty to being an accessory after the fact to sexual exploitation of a child, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice.

“The pain and damage inflicted on these children at the hands of adults they trusted is unimaginable,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “No sentence of imprisonment will undo what these victims have suffered, but the serious consequences imposed for these heinous offenses demonstrate that those who sexually exploit vulnerable children will be held accountable for their reprehensible actions.”

“To prey on children in your care and harm them in such a heinous way is reprehensible and beyond comprehension,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan. “Their sentences should serve as a strong reminder that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to identifying and holding accountable those who victimize innocent children to ensure they can never again inflict such abuse.”

This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Indiana Department of Children’s Services.

According to Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley P. Shepard and Kristina M. Korobov, who prosecuted the case, Matthew Cole must pay restitution of $50,000 to the victims and will be supervised for the remainder of his life following release from prison. Dolores Cole must pay restitution of $18,000 to the victims and will be supervised for 3 years following her prison term.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc

Indiana State Police (ISP) Sergeant Tracy Spencer arrested a Boston, Kentucky man after a brief pursuit Tuesday.  

Around 1:20 Tuesday afternoon, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department requested assistance at a Little York address after receiving a 911 call from a distraught female caller.

The caller advised she was in a truck possibly stolen out of Kentucky; however, dispatchers said she was speaking quietly and did not provide many details before the call ended.  

When Sergeant Tracy Spencer arrived at the residence, he observed a man sitting in a running red Ford Ranger truck with a woman standing next to the passenger door.

When Sergeant Spencer asked the female what was going on, the truck sped off through the yard and struck a state road sign before continuing north on SR39.  

Trooper Spencer pursued the vehicle and observed that the right front tire had gone flat after the truck struck the road sign.

The driver continued to flee, driving on the rim of the right wheel, and turning off onto county roads. As the Ranger approached the intersection of Mt. Eden Road and SR39, he was met by several ISP Troopers who had set up “Stop Stick” tire deflation devices.

The driver, identified as Thomas H. Spencer, 36, of Boston, Kentucky stopped before hitting the Stop Sticks and was taken into custody. As the investigation continued, officers located marijuana, pills, paraphernalia, and syringes in the truck.  

Thomas Spencer was transported to the Washington County Jail without further incident, and is charged with the following offenses: 

1. Resisting Law Enforcement with Vehicle – Level 6 Felony 
2. Unlawful Possession of a Legend Drug – Level 6 Felony 
3. Possession of Syringe – Level 6 Felony 
4. Reckless Driving – A Misdemeanor
5. Driving While Suspended, Prior – A Misdemeanor
6. Possession of Marijuana – A Misdemeanor
7. Possession of Paraphernalia – C Misdemeanor

Sergeant Spencer was assisted by numerous fellow Troopers and Deputy Wayne Blevins from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.  

Cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) led to the arrest of a Bartholomew County man for possession of child pornography.  

Master Trooper/Detective Kevin Getz with the Indiana State Police – Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force began an investigation in January 2021 after receiving four cyber tip reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The cyber tip reports indicated that a specific account user for four separate social media applications was possibly in possession of child pornography image and video files.

Master Trooper Getz requested a search warrant based on information gathered during his investigation.

On Wednesday, members of the Indiana Crimes Against Children Task Force, which included members of the Indiana State Police’s ICAC Unit, the Cyber Crimes Unit, and IMPD Detective Darin Odier, with K-9 Hunter, executed a search warrant at a Spring Valley Drive address in Columbus.

As a result of the investigation and search, Gavin Christopher Denton Haight, 21, of Columbus, was arrested on four counts of Possession of Child Pornography. 

Each charge is a Level 5 Felony. 

Gavin Haight was transported and remanded into the custody of the Bartholomew County Jail without incident.