A 30-year-old Dugger man is in jail after being charged with stealing catalytic converters.

Jarod Collenbaugh, 30, Dugger, was incarcerated at the Greene County Jail for the following offenses:

• Theft (Catalytic Converter), Level 6 Felony
• Theft (Catalytic Converter), Level 6 Felony
• Trespass, A Misdemeanor
• Criminal Mischief, B Misdemeanor
• Criminal Mischief, B Misdemeanor

On Tuesday, August 17, 2021, Indiana State Police Bloomington District A.C.E.S. (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Section) Trooper Caleb Garvin, along with Greene County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Harvey Holt, investigated a theft of catalytic converters in eastern Greene County.

Deputy Holt was dispatched to the 6000 block of E. Washboard Road after receiving a report of a male who was trespassing on private property.

The male had left prior to Deputy Holt’s arrival.

Trp. Garvin and Deputy Holt were able to identify the male after the property owner gave information about a previous encounter with him.

After officers spoke with the victim, it was discovered that two catalytic converters had been cut from a vehicle that was parked next to a detached garage.

Trooper Garvin and Deputy Holt located Collenbaugh at his residence and conducted an interview.

After utilizing various investigative techniques on August 18, Trooper Garvin suspected another theft had occurred in the area.

He went to a second address in the 3000 block of E. Gallimore Road. It was determined that a catalytic converter had also been cut from a vehicle outside of this residence.

The homeowners did not yet know that they had been the victim of a crime.

As a result of the investigation, a probable cause affidavit was prepared and submitted to the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office for review. On August 20 an arrest warrant was issued for Collenbaugh.

Collenbaugh turned himself into the Greene County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday, August 21, 2021.

Indiana State Police Bloomington District A.C.E.S. Sergeant Greg Day commended the efforts of both ISP and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office for the teamwork involved in this case. 

“When officers from multiple agencies can communicate, share information, and work together, quality investigations are the result. These officers did not stop at the initial call, and they were able to locate a second victim that otherwise could have gone unnoticed.”

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Labor Day weekend is coming up, and the Bloomington District of the Indiana State Police is warning residents against drinking and driving.

The department is taking part in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization to educate motorists about the dangers and consequences of impaired driving. Now until Sept. 6, officers will be increasing patrols showing zero tolerance for anyone caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The extra high-visibility enforcement is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).

“Driving under the influence is a problem on our roadways and as a result, we continually see serious and, in some cases, devastating outcomes,” said Lt. Paul Bucher, Commander of the Bloomington Post. “These tragedies are preventable and we remind the public to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out celebrating,” 

About 28 people die in the U.S. in drunk driving crashes every day. That’s approximately one person every 52 minutes and more than 10,000 annually, according to NHTSA.

In Indiana, drunk driving has been on the rise. Of the 898 traffic fatalities that occurred last year in the state, 151, or 17 percent, were alcohol-related. That’s up from 130 in 2019. During Labor Day weekend alone, there were 12 fatal collisions with one involving a driver over the legal limit. 

“Impaired driving continues to take a terrible toll on our state and nation,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “While these overtime patrols are effective and will undoubtedly save lives, we can’t enforce our way out of this issue. It’s up to everyone to drive sober and make smart choices behind the wheel.”

In Indiana, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher. In addition, drivers under 21 with a BAC of .02 or higher are subject to fines and a license suspension for up to one year. 

However, impaired driving includes more than just alcohol. Drugs and even some over-the-counter medications can also cause impairment and can slow coordination, judgment, and reaction times on the road.

Officers will be on the lookout for all forms of impairment, in which the consequences can include thousands of dollars in legal fees, increased insurance rates, loss of license, a criminal record, and possible jail time.

To avoid those, plan a safe and sober ride home before going out. Even if only one drink is consumed, designate a sober driver or plan to use a rideshare service, public transportation, or taxi. Motorists that encounter a drunk driver on the road are encouraged to call 911.

To learn more about the Indiana State Police Bloomington District, please visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by searching @ispbloomington or our Department website, in.gov/isp