Indiana State Police Detective Brian Maudlin initiated a criminal investigation on March 6, 2021, after receiving information from a family member that Josie M. Huff, age 31, of Robinson, Illinois, had allegedly misused and misappropriated funds for self-gain from the estate of her son, in the amount of $248,653.81.

Huff is the Guardian of the Estate for her child, who is the son of fallen Terre Haute Police Officer Robert Pitts. 

Officer Pitts was killed in the line of duty on May 4, 2018. 

After reviewing the investigation, Sullivan County Prosecutor Ann Mischler issued a warrant for Huff’s arrest. 

Earlier this evening, Huff was arrested by the Robinson Illinois Police Department and transported to the Crawford County Illinois jail. 

Huff will be transported to Sullivan County, where she will be held on a $15,000 bond with 10% allowed.

The suspect who was shot and seriously injured by a Columbus Police Officer on June 27, 2021 was recently released from an Indianapolis area hospital. 

Upon being released, he was arrested for attempted murder and other charges related to the incident.

The investigation by Detectives with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post determined that in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 27, 2021, Sergeant Lukas Nibarger, a seven-year veteran of the Columbus Police Department, responded to a residence in the 3000 block of Grove Parkway to investigate a suspicious person on the property.

Upon arriving at the residence, he encountered a man later identified as Jacob Dale Rice, 38, Columbus, IN.

Rice ignored the officers’ verbal commands and attempted to flee on foot.

Sgt. Nibarger chased Rice into the back yard of the residence where he again gave verbal commands in an attempt to detain Rice.

Investigators believe Rice fired one round from a firearm in the direction of Sgt. Nibarger.

Sgt. Nibarger was not struck and was able to return fire with his department-issued handgun striking Rice one time.

Sgt. Nibarger called for an ambulance, which arrived within minutes and was able to provide medical attention to Rice. Rice was transported to the Columbus Municipal Airport where a medical helicopter was waiting to transport him to IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana for treatment of serious injuries.

The investigation revealed that Rice had stolen the firearm used in the shooting from a vehicle in the Columbus area before his interaction with Sgt. Nibarger. Investigators do not believe Rice was able to make entry into the residence before being confronted by Sgt. Nibarger

Rice was released from IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana on July 19, 2021. 

Upon being released from the hospital, he was taken into custody on arrest warrants from an unrelated case and transported to the Bartholomew County Jail. 

Shortly after being incarcerated, an arrest warrant was issued for Rice with charges related to this case.  

Rice has now been charged with Attempted Murder, Level 1 Felony, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, Level 4 Felony, Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon, Level 6 Felony, Theft of a Firearm, Level 6 Felony, and Theft of Property (over $750), Level 6 Felony.

Rice was incarcerated pending his initial appearance in the Bartholomew County Circuit Court.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) and is forecasting high ozone levels for Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in the following regions:

• Central Indiana – Marion, Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Delaware, Hamilton, Hendricks, Howard, Madison, Shelby 
• Southeast Indiana – Clark, Floyd
• Southwest Indiana – Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Warrick 
• West Central Indiana – Vigo, Carroll, Tippecanoe 

And an action day has also been called for Clark and Floyd Counties on Wednesday, July 28. 

IDEM encourages everyone to help reduce ozone while remaining safe during the COVID-19 health crisis by making changes to daily habits. You can:

• Drive less: carpool, use public transportation, walk, bike, or work from home when possible
• Combine errands into one trip
• Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.
• Keep your engine tuned, and don’t let your engine idle (e.g., at a bank or restaurant drive-thru)
• Conserve energy by turning off lights and setting the thermostat to 75 degrees or above 

Air Quality Action Days are in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. on the specified date. Anyone sensitive to changes in air quality may be affected when ozone levels are high. Children, the elderly, and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors.

Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather combine with vehicle exhaust, factory emissions, and gasoline vapors. Ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks ultraviolet radiation, but ozone near the ground is a lung irritant that can cause coughing and breathing difficulties for sensitive populations. 

IDEM examines weather patterns and current ozone readings to make daily air quality forecasts. Air Quality Action Days generally occur when weather conditions such as light winds, hot and dry air, stagnant conditions, and lower atmospheric inversions trap pollutants close to the ground.

To learn more about ozone or to sign up for air quality alerts, visit SmogWatch.IN.gov.