Thursday evening, deputies from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office executed two drug-related search warrants.

One of the search warrants was executed at 3499 Red Bud Lane in rural Scott County around 9:00 pm.

This search warrant yielded Heroin, Meth, Marijuana, and over $4,000.00 in U.S. Currency. As a result of the search warrant and located items Eight (8) people were arrested out of the home.

• 1) Jessie L. Broadus, 28, from Harrod Road in Austin was arrested on the preliminary charges of Visiting A Common Nuisance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Cocaine or Schedule I, II Narcotic Drug and Possession of Marijuana.

• 2) Trista Rene Broadus, 27, from Harrod Road in Austin was arrested on the preliminary charges of Visiting A Common Nuisance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Cocaine or Schedule I, II Narcotic Drug and Possession of Marijuana.

• 3) Steven G. Webster, 34, from Red Bud Lane, Austin was arrested on the preliminary charges of Maintaining A Common Nuisance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Cocaine or Schedule I, II Narcotic Drug and Possession of Marijuana.

• 4) Scott G. Martin, 40, from Red Bud Lane, Austin was arrested on the preliminary charges of Visiting A Common Nuisance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Cocaine or Schedule I, II Narcotic Drug and Possession of Marijuana.

• 5) Jami Knight, 28, from Red Bud Lane, Austin was arrested on the preliminary charges of Maintaining A Common Nuisance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Cocaine or Schedule I, II Narcotic Drug and Possession of Marijuana.

• 6) Jessica D. Polly, 30, from Liberty Knob Road, Scottsburg was arrested on the preliminary charges of Visiting A Common Nuisance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Cocaine or Schedule I, II Narcotic Drug and Possession of Marijuana.

• 7) Jeremy R. McIntosh, 42, East County Line Road, Crothersville was arrested on the preliminary charges of Visiting A Common Nuisance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Cocaine or Schedule I, II Narcotic Drug and Possession of Marijuana.

• 8) Mike A. Martin, 36, from North Meridian Road, Austin was arrested on the preliminary charges of Visiting A Common Nuisance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Cocaine or Schedule I, II Narcotic Drug.

All the above arrested were incarcerated at the Scott County Jail.

The second search warrant executed at 1085 East Cutshall Road, Scottsburg later that evening, resulted in deputies locating Methamphetamine, a Legend Drug, and Paraphernalia. Six (6) people were arrested on this property.

• 9) Ashley Kemp, 36, from East Cutshall Road, Scottsburg was arrested on the preliminary charges of Dealing in Methamphetamine, (warrant), Maintaining A Common Nuisance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Legend Drug Possession, Possession of Paraphernalia and Possession of Schedule I, II,III or IV  Controlled Substance.

• 10) Bethany L. Sparrow, 35, from East Cutshall Road, Scottsburg was arrested on the preliminary charges of Maintaining A Common Nuisance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Legend Drug, Possession of Paraphernalia and Possession of Schedule I, II, II or IV  Controlled Substance.

• 11) Jacob Lee Donovan Allen, 25, from North Slab Road, Scottsburg was arrested on the preliminary charges of Maintaining A Common Nuisance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of a Legend Drug and Possession of Schedule I, II, III or IV   Controlled Substance.

• 12) Wesley M. Tevis, 21, from Jeffersonville, was arrested on the preliminary charges of Maintaining A Common Nuisance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of a Legend Drug and Possession of Schedule I, II, II or IV Controlled Substance.

All the above were incarcerated at the Scott County Jail.

• 13) Bryce B. Mathers, 21, Birch Street, Scottsburg was arrested on the preliminary charge of Visiting a Common Nuisance. (Released on own Recognizance after processing per Covid-19 Rules).

• 14) Presley S. Gambill, 27, from North Michael Drive, Scottsburg was arrested on the preliminary charge of Visiting a Common Nuisance. (Released on own Recognizance after processing per Covid-19 Rules).

Sheriff Goodin commented “Another win for the citizens of Scott County.” He went on to say “with every arrest Scott County gets safer.”

Goodin also praised the citizens again saying, “The tips are what helps us make the arrests.” He said, “Keep them coming.”  

Sheriff Goodin also wanted to thank the Scott County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance.

The Columbus Police Department has requested assistance from detectives and crime scene investigators from the Indiana State Police Versailles Post to investigate an officer-involved shooting that took place in the city of Columbus early this morning.

At approximately 4:05 a.m. this morning, a homeowner from the 3000 block of Grove Parkway was out of town on vacation. The homeowner noticed security footage showing an unknown person on his property.

The homeowner contacted 911 to report the suspicious activity. A Columbus police officer arrived at the residence at approximately 4:12 a.m.

At 4:13 the officer reported shots had been fired.

The officer requested an ambulance which arrived on the scene approximately one minute later to provide medical care to the suspect.

The suspect has been transported to IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where he is currently undergoing surgery and is believed to be in critical condition.

The officer was not injured in the shooting and has been placed on administrative leave per Columbus Police Department protocol.

This is an active and ongoing criminal investigation by the Indiana State Police. Once the criminal investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office for their review and determination of charges, if any, to be filed.

Investigators will release the name of the suspect when the information is available. The name of the officer involved in this incident may be released by the Columbus Police Department after the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office has reviewed the completed case investigation and subsequently authorizes the release of that information.

DNR biologists have confirmed a black bear sighting that occurred in northeast Vanderburgh County before sunrise this morning.

The closest town to the location is Elberfeld, in Warrick County.

Biologists confirmed the bear from photos taken by the landowner, which is about 100 miles west of Salem and approximately 50 miles groom Holiday World.

“This is Indiana’s fourth confirmed black bear,” said Brad Westrich, DNR mammalogist. “With expanding bear populations in neighboring states, this is expected.

“Human-bear conflicts can be avoided if you remove or secure potential food sources from your yard. Bears can smell food from more than a mile away.”

Black bears are rarely aggressive toward humans.

If you see a black bear:

• Do not feed it.
• Observe it from a distance.
• Do not climb a tree.
• Advertise your presence by shouting and waving your arms and backing slowly away.
• Report bear sightings to the Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife at https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/animals/report-a-mammal/

Most problems that occur with bears arise when bears associate food sources with humans and lose their fear of people.

More guidelines for reducing or eliminating the potential for bear-human conflicts:

• Remove bird feeders and bird food if a bear is reported in your area.
• Clean and store away grills after use.
• Eliminate food attractants by placing garbage cans inside a garage or shed.
• Pick ripe fruits and vegetable as soon as possible or place an electric fence around them to ensure bears cannot reach them.
• Consolidate beehives you may have and place an electric fence around them.
• Don’t leave pet food outside overnight.
• Don’t add meat or sweets to a compost pile.
• Don’t climb a tree if you encounter a bear; wait in a vehicle or building for the bear to leave the area.

More information on black bears is at https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/animals/black-bear/

An 18-year-old Vallonia man faces at least four criminal charges related to a pursuit Friday afternoon that ended when he crashed his motorcycle in a cornfield in southern Jackson County, according to police.

Payton Brice Prewitt, 18, Vallonia, has been preliminarily charged with two counts of resisting law enforcement, possession of methamphetamine and criminal mischief involving damage to the property of an agricultural operation, was booked into the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown at 3:21 p.m. Friday.

According to a news release from Brownstown Police Chief Tom Hanner, the pursuit that led to Prewitt’s arrest started when Hanner attempted to stop the driver of a motorcycle for a traffic violation at State Road 135 and County Road 100S.

Police said the cyclist, later identified as Prewitt, refused to stop leading to a pursuit that went south on State Road 135 and ended when Prewitt failed to make a turn and went into a cornfield.

At that point, Prewitt was arrested and taken to the jail, where he was being held without bond Saturday.

Brownstown Officer Ryan Cherry and Assistant Chief Joe Kelly along with Jackson County Sgt. Ben Rudolph assisted with the pursuit and arrest of Prewitt.