The Orleans Town Council has set this week April 12-17 as “Town-Wide Pride Clean Sweep Week,” and is encouraging all its residents to participate in the spring clean-up efforts.  

Town crews are picking up large items of discard free of charge. Discard items should be placed curbside for easy pickup.  In addition, a large dumpster has been set at the Orleans Town Garage for resident use as well. 

The dumpster will be available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and until 12 Noon on Saturday. 

Orleans Town Residents are welcome to bring any unwanted or junk-type items they want to dispose of and place in the dumpster.

To arrange for pick up of items or for more information on the “Clean Sweep” contact the Orleans Town Offices at 812-865-2539 or visit the town online at www.town.orleans.in.us

Sunday afternoon a 52-Year-Old North Vernon man was arrested in connection with a shooting incident earlier this morning in Scott County. 

An Indiana State Trooper and a Conservation Officer made the arrest in a wooded area near where the original incident took place just off Terry Road in Scott County.

At approximately 1:30 pm, ICO K-9 Smoky and his handler, ICO Jim Schreck, along with ISP Trooper Brett Walters, located the subject hiding in a wooded area a short distance from the original scene. 

The suspect, identified as Todd A. Lacey, 52, of North Vernon, Indiana, was taken into custody without further incident. 

According to the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Lacey was not injured in the arrest and was found laying in a wooded area near where the pursuit ended.

At this time, no suspect weapon has been located; however, Lacey was found to be in possession of ammunition at the time of his arrest.  

Toddy Lacey was transported to the Washington County Jail and is currently charged with Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, a Level 6 Felony. 

Indiana State Police Detectives were called to investigate a police-involved shooting early Sunday morning, after a Scott County Deputy reported being fired upon and returning fire. 

Around 5:45 Sunday morning, a Scott County Deputy was on patrol on SR 256 near Terry Road when he observed an off-road vehicle (ATV) turn east on SR 256 from Terry Road without stopping at the stop sign.

The deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on the ATV, but the vehicle fled into a nearby field. 

Shortly after entering the field, the deputy advised the ATV to stop, and the deputy exited his patrol vehicle and continued the pursuit, approaching the suspect on foot. 

The deputy reported that he heard what he believed to be gunfire, and the deputy returned fire as he took cover behind a nearby house trailer. 

When responding officers arrived, they did not locate the suspect near the ATV and established a perimeter. 

Further attempts to locate the suspect were unsuccessful.  

The Scott County Sheriff’s Department then requested the assistance of Indiana State Police detectives and crime-scene technicians from the Sellersburg Post. 

As the investigation continued, ISP detectives were able to identify a possible suspect after speaking with residents in the area. 

Indiana Conservation Officers (ICO) offered the assistance of their search canines (K-9) and assisted troopers and deputies in conducting a more in-depth search of the nearby wooded area where the suspect was believed to have fled. 

This investigation is ongoing. 

The Indiana State Police was assisted by Indiana Conservation Officers and officers from the Scott County Sheriff’s Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.  

Police are looking for a person who shot at a Scott County Deputy this morning.

At approximately 5:45 am this morning,  a deputy with the Scott County Sheriff’s Office attempted to make a traffic stop on an A.T.V. (4-wheeler) near State Road 256 and Terry Road in rural Scott County. 

As the deputy attempted to make the traffic infraction stop the A.T.V. fled turning down a side street where the deputy lost sight of the A.T.V. and canceled the pursuit. 

Shortly thereafter, the deputy observed the A.T.V. traveling through a field on the Northside of State Road 256. 

The deputy attempted to stop the A.T.V. again and the driver of the A.T.V. and the deputy got into a foot pursuit.

While running towards the suspect on foot the deputy heard what was believed to be gunshots. 

The deputy fired shots back towards the suspect as he began taking cover. 

A perimeter was set up and attempts to locate the driver of the A.T.V. were unsuccessful.

As of this time, the suspect has still not been located.

The suspect was thought to be wearing blue jeans and a gray t-shirt.

The suspect fled north of State Road #256 between the county roads of Terry Road and Whitsitt Road in rural Scott County.

The A.T.V. was abandoned by the driver and police are looking for help from the public to identify the person the A.T.V. could belong to, (photo attached).

If anyone knows who the A.T.V. belongs to or if anyone saw anything this morning in the pursuit area please contact the Indiana State Police at 812-246-5424 or the Scott County Sheriff’s Office at 812-752-5550.

There is no reason to believe the general public is in any danger at this time. The officer was not injured however it is unknown if the suspect was injured.

The Indiana State Police have been called in with Evidence Technicians and Detectives to continue the investigation. 

On March 12, 2021, First Sergeant Keith Hartman received information of possible neglect to an elderly person in Scottsburg being cared for at their home. The elderly person was hospitalized after a welfare check was completed by deputies.  

After completing an investigation and sharing the investigation with the Scott County Prosecutor’s Office the decision was made to charge two people for Neglect charges. 

As a result of charges being filed arrest warrants were issued for the two suspects.  On April 8, 2021, First Sergeant John Hartman, Deputy Eric Balingit, Corporal Johnney Coomer and a Scottsburg City Police Officer went to a local business in Scottsburg in an attempt to locate the suspects. 

As a result, both suspects were located and arrested.  Barbara Lowe, 45, of Scottsburg, was arrested for the arrest warrants for two counts of Neglect of a Dependent Causing Bodily Injury and received additional charges of Unlawful Possession of a Syringe, Visiting a Common Nuisance, Possession of Paraphernalia and Possession of Cocaine or a Schedule I or II Narcotic Drug At Least 5 Grams but Less Than 10 Grams. 

Ryan Smith, 40, of Scottsburg, was arrested for the arrest warrants for two counts of Neglect of a Dependent Causing Bodily Injury and received additional charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Unlawful Possession of a Syringe, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Cocaine or a Schedule I or II Narcotic Drug At Least 5 Grams but Less Than 10 Grams. 

Sheriff Goodin praised his deputy’s dedication and the effort they gave in getting justice for our elderly. One of Sheriff Goodin’s main priorities as Sheriff is protecting our elderly as he has increased training and knowledge of investigating and identifying elderly crimes.  He went on to ask anyone who knows of an elderly person who is being abused or needs assistance to contact his office and report it.

Milestone to begin building acceleration lane at the U.S. 50 WB ramp to I-65 NB

Traffic will be reduced to one lane on I-65 NB near Seymour (Exit 50) starting at 9 p.m. Sunday (April 11) for temporary striping work that will shift existing travel lanes toward the inside median. Two shifted lanes are expected to reopen by 6 a.m. Monday morning.

Lanes will remain in this configuration for four-to-six weeks as Milestone Contractors, L.P. constructs an acceleration lane for the U.S. 50 WB to I-65 NB ramp. New pavement will extend the acceleration area around 700 feet for traffic merging onto I-65 NB from U.S. 50.

Motorists will continue using temporary ramps and signals at Exit 50 to enter and exit I-65. Pavement reconstruction will continue along the U.S. 50 between U.S. 31 and Agrico Lane through the fall.

Drivers are reminded to slow down, use extra caution, and travel distraction-free through all work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.

On Friday, April 9, 2021, around 11:30 a.m., a Bedford man was arrested for dealing heroin after a traffic stop along Bellback Road in Bedford.

This concluded a multi-week joint investigation conducted by the Bedford Police Department, the Indiana State Police Bloomington District A.C.E.S., and the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section.

Through the course of their duties, officers had obtained information that Lordmiester Swift Eagle Powers, 31, of Bedford was allegedly involved in dealing heroin in Lawrence County. 

Utilizing a large variety of investigative techniques, officers determined that Powers was dealing heroin around a local hotel.

On Friday morning, Powers was observed as a passenger in a vehicle being driven on Bellback Road toward the motel. Bedford Police Officers, Clint Swanson, Robert Looney, and Faheem Bade conducted a traffic stop.

During the stop, Officer Bade deployed his canine, ZuZu, who gave a positive alert to controlled substances on the vehicle. A subsequent search eventually resulted in locating almost 3 grams of heroin. 

Powers, who initially did not comply with the officer’s commands and then physically resisted, was placed under arrest and incarcerated in Lawrence County Jail for the following offenses.

• Dealing in a Narcotic Drug Between 1 and 5 Grams, Level 4 Felony
• Possession of Heroin, Level 6 Felony
• Resisting Law Enforcement by Force, Class A Misdemeanor 

Other officers who assisted throughout the investigation included BPD Officer Jarrett Tedrow, BPD Captain Kevin Jones, and ISP Sergeant Greg Day.

Sgt. Day expressed how well the two agencies worked together to make the community a little safer. “I cannot stress enough the great work that was done during this joint investigation. Unfortunately, we all know that the opioid epidemic is real and has hurt countless families. Hopefully, this investigation will serve notice to those that want to wreak havoc in our community by peddling their drugs. I want to thank the Bedford Police Department for their excellent work throughout this investigation.”

Anyone with illegal drug activity is requested to call the Indiana State Police Bloomington Post at 812-332-4411, the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office tip line at 812-545-4700, or send an email to drugactivity@lawrencecounty.in.gov. All calls are confidential.

Last night at approximately 11:35, Trooper Hurley was patrolling northbound US 41 near the 38 mile-marker when he observed the driver of a Toyota Highlander traveling south in the northbound passing lane.

Arrested and Charged was Macray Robinson, 19, of Fort Branch, IN

1. Driving While Intoxicated, Class C Misdemeanor
2. Minor in Possession of Alcohol, Class C Misdemeanor

Trooper Hurley immediately activated his emergency lights hoping the driver would stop, but the driver of the Toyota continued to drive south in the northbound lanes.

Trooper Hurley turned around and while traveling south to catch up to the Toyota he observed the driver of the Toyota pass five vehicles that were traveling north on US 41.

Trooper Hurley eventually was able to pass the Toyota by utilizing the southbound lanes and then used the cross-over at Old US 41 to block and shut down both northbound lanes.

Moments later, the wrong-way driver stopped in the northbound lanes approximately 15 yards from Trooper Hurley’s patrol car. 

Robinson displayed signs of impairment and failed field sobriety tests. Further investigation revealed Robinson had a blood alcohol content of .16%. Robinson was arrested and taken to the Gibson County Jail where he is being held on bond.

Arresting Officer: Trooper Tanner Hurley, Indiana State Police

Assisting Agency: Gibson County Sheriff’s Office