A 60-year-old Bedford man was arrested for burglarizing a local business.

Robert J. Brummett, age 60, of Bedford, Indiana was taken into custody and charged with:

• Burglary, Level 5 Felony
• Theft, Level 6 Felony
• Criminal Mischief, Class A Misdemeanor
• Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor

The Bloomington Indiana State Police Post investigated a burglary that occurred at Tri-County Rental, 1313 Bundy Lane, Bedford, Indiana, on Tuesday evening, November 24^th. 

When employees arrived at Tri-County Rental, they discovered that someone had cut through a chain-link fence and had stolen a pull behind air compressor, valued at approximately $10,000.  Immediately upon this discovery, Tri-County Rental employees contacted the Bloomington Indiana State Police.

Sergeant Greg Day, along with Troopers Caleb Garvin and Chance Humphrey, began an investigation.  Troopers reviewed video footage from several local businesses and were able to piece together a timeline before, during, and after the burglary occurred.  A suspect vehicle was identified and evidence at the scene was also collected. 

A photograph of the suspect vehicle and stolen air compressor was released on social media and tips from the public were generated.

On Thursday morning, November 26^th, a tip was received that the stolen air compressor and the suspect vehicle were located at a residence in the 1000 block of Q Street in Bedford.  Troopers were able to identify the air compressor, partially covered in the back yard near the alley, as the one stolen from Tri-County Rental.  Sergeant Day applied for, and obtained, a search warrant for the property and residence.

Trooper Garvin and Trooper Patrick, along with Sergeant Day, executed the search warrant that morning and recovered the stolen air compressor.  In addition, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were also seized from the residence.  Interviews were conducted and the air compressor was returned to Tri County Rental. 

The course of the investigation leads to the arrest of Robert J. Brummett, age 60, of Bedford, Indiana. 

Brummett was taken into custody without incident and was transported to the Lawrence County Jail where he is now incarcerated.

The Bloomington Indiana State Police Post would like to thank the local business and the citizens of Lawrence County for their assistance on this investigation. 

Today at approximately 1:37 PM,  a 70-year-old Celestine man crashed a single-engine plane just west of the French Lick Airport.

Around 2:09 PM,  Orange County Sheriffs Department received a 911 call of a possible plane crash west at the French Lick Airport. 

When Orange County Emergency Response personnel arrived, they confirmed the plane crash and requested assistance from the Indiana State Police (ISP) in Jasper. 

The preliminary investigation reveals that a 1962 Piper Cherokee single-engine, fixed-wing airplane, piloted by Johnnie Bush, 70, of Celestine, IN, crashed when approaching to land on Runway 8 at French Lick Airport.

Bush reported he had experienced engine trouble prior to the crash.  Investigators do not yet have a cause for the crash. 

Bush was the pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft and was uninjured.  

Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been contacted and are expected to arrive on Sunday to further the investigation.

Assisting at the scene were the Orange County Sheriffs Department, French Lick Airport Management, French Lick Fire Department, and several neighbors from the area.

On November 17, 2020, Brent Baker 31, of Austin was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant by the Austin Police Department. 

This warrant stemmed from an investigation conducted by Detective Paul Clute of the Scott County Sheriff’s Office where Brent Baker was charged with Dealing in a Schedule I, II or III Controlled Substance at least one gram but Less Than 5 Grams, Possession of Methamphetamine and Unlawful Possession of a Syringe. 

On November 23, 2020, First Sergeant John Hartman checked a suspicious male walking in rural Scott County. 

An investigation led to the arrest of Kenneth Taylor, 30, of Nabb, IN, for Possession of a Schedule I, II, III or IV Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession or use of a Legend Drug or Precursor Prior, Public Intoxication and Possession of Paraphernalia. 

On November 23, 2020, First Sergeant John Hartman attempted to make a traffic stop in rural Scott County. 

The driver of the vehicle refused to stop causing a vehicle pursuit.  Shortly thereafter the vehicle struck a guardrail and the driver fled on foot. 

First Sergeant Hartman was assisted by the Scottsburg City Police and the Indiana State Police with eventually finding the driver identified as David Ross, 36, of Underwood, IN, who was arrested for Resisting Law Enforcement Using a Vehicle, Resisting Law Enforcement on Foot, Operator Never Licensed, Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident and Reckless Driving.  

On November 24, 2020, First Sergeant John Hartman and Deputies John Smith and Nate Love went to an address in Scottsburg in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant. 

Upon arrival Andrew Hansrote, 25, of Scottsburg was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for Resisting Law Enforcement and Public Intoxication. 

Yesterday evening, deputies with the Scott County Sheriff’s Office descended on two different locations in Scottsburg following up on drug activity tips.

The first arrest started with an investigation by Detective Jacklyn Shofner for allegations of Domestic Battery and Intimidation. 

Her investigation led to the case being submitted to the Scott County Prosecutor’s Office where an arrest warrant for Domestic Battery and Intimidation was issued for David Zollman, 29, of Scottsburg.

When the warrant was issued, First Sergeant John Hartman and Deputy John Smith made contact with David Zollman at his residence in Scottsburg on West Lake Road and placed him under arrest for the outstanding arrest warrant.

Acting on neighbors’ tips about the residence deputies began investigating further.

David Zollman also received additional charges for Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of a Syringe, Possession of a Legend Drug, Possession of a Schedule I, II, III and/or IV Controlled Substance, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, and Possession of Paraphernalia. 

A few hours later, First Sergeant John Hartman, Corporal Johnney Coomer, Detective Paul Clute, Deputies John Smith, Nate Love, and a detective with the Scottsburg City Police Department went to a local motel as a result of a complaint of alleged illegal drug use and activity. 

Upon arrival, the room was searched which led to the arrest of two people on drug-related charges. 

George Boyle, 38, of Scottsburg, was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Cocaine or a Schedule I or II Narcotic Drug At Least 5 Grams but Less Than 10 Grams, Unlawful Possession of a Syringe and Visiting a Common Nuisance. 

Destiny Hodge, 20, of Crothersville, IN, was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of a Syringe, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Possession of Paraphernalia. 

Deputies wanted to send a strong statement on the eve of Thanksgiving that drug-related crimes will be vigorously investigated when the tips come in.  

Sheriff Goodin stated from quarantine that, “even though the pandemic has hit Scott County and the Thanksgiving Holidays are here, drug offenders need not think deputies are standing back. I continue to be humbled by the absolute commitment our deputies have to make Scott County a safer place.”

A Fishers woman was arrested in Scott County for driving intoxicated and was five times the legal limit.

Indiana State Police (ISP) Sergeant Tracy Spencer arrested a Fishers, Indiana Woman, on numerous driving and alcohol-related charges.

Shortly after Noon on Saturday, Trooper Spencer observed a north-bound Chrysler 200 passenger car on I-65 just south of the Scottsburg exit after receiving 911 reports of a vehicle matching that description driving recklessly. 

Trooper Spencer observed the car straddling the center line and saw a string of other cars backed up behind the Chrysler, unable to pass. 

Sergeant Spencer attempted to stop the vehicle after it exited onto the Scottsburg ramp, and the car stopped in the middle of State Road 56 even though the traffic light was green. 

After eventually pulling to the side of the highway, the driver then began to back up towards Spencer, forcing him to back up to avoid being struck. 

During the traffic stop and subsequent DUI investigation, Sergeant Spencer also learned that a vehicle matching Chrysler’s description was involved in a hit-and-run crash near Henryville just prior to his traffic stop. 

The Clark County Sheriff’s Department later handled that investigation. 

As a result of the DUI investigation, the driver, Kayla Ann Akin, 27, of Fishers, was transported to Scott Memorial Hospital for a blood draw. 

Akin’s Blood Alcohol Content was .405, over five times the legal limit. 

After being cleared by medical staff, Kayla Akin was transported to the Scott County Jail and was charged with Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) – Impairment, OWI with BAC over .15 percent, and Reckless Driving; all Class A Misdemeanors.  Akin was also cited for Open Container. 

Indiana Conservation Officers arrested an Evansville man on Nov. 20 after a year-long timber theft investigation.

Conservation officers identified 17 victims in Gibson and Posey counties who have not received payment for their timber per agreements going back as far as 2018.

Christopher L. Collins, 40, of Evansville is being held at the Posey County Jail on a $25,000 cash bond.

Conservation officers began their investigation in 2019 after receiving information that Collins had failed to pay for timber as agreed in Gibson County. The investigation revealed that Collins failed to pay more than $250,000 for the timber he purchased over a two-year period.

The investigation also revealed that Collins had operated under the following business names: C&K Forestry Management LLC, C&K Forestry LLC, C&M Forestry LLC, Blackhaus Forestry LLC, and Collins Family Forestry.

This August, conservation officers executed arrest and search warrants on Collins at his residence for violations that occurred in Gibson County. Information and evidence as a result of these warrants led to the discovery of victims.

As a result of the investigation, Collins faces the following charges:

Gibson County:

One count – Corrupt Business Influence – Level 5 Felony

Five separate counts – Theft – Level 6 Felony

Two separate counts – Check Deception – Level 6 Felony

Five separate counts – Failure to Pay for Timber as Agreed – Class A Misdemeanor

Posey County:

One count – Corrupt Business Influence – Level 5 Felony

Nine separate counts – Theft – Level 6 Felony

Three separate counts – Check Deception – Level 6 Felony

Eleven separate counts – Failure to Pay for Timber as Agreed – Class A Misdemeanor

One count – Unlicensed Timber Buyer – Class A Misdemeanor

All charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The DNR Division of Forestry oversees the licensing and regulation of timber buyers and agents. For information on timber buyers, or if you are a landowner seeking to sell timber, please visit: dnr.IN.gov/forestry/2846.htm.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of timber theft, you are asked to call Indiana Conservation Officer Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536.