Monday morning, November 9, Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit and Cyber Crimes Unit (CCU) arrested Phillip Brundage, 41, of Haubstadt, for Possession of Child Pornography, a Level 5 Felony.

Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit initiated a criminal investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

A search warrant was executed yesterday morning at Brundage’s residence located on Hirsch Woods Lane in Haubstadt.

During the search of Brundage’s property, officers located child pornography. Brundage was arrested and taken to the Gibson County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.

This is an on-going investigation.

Troopers with the Indiana State Police Bloomington Post will be increasing seat belt enforcement patrols now through the end of November as part of the national Click It or Ticket mobilization. The department will be joined by more than 250 law enforcement agencies around the state that will be working overtime to reduce motor vehicle deaths and injuries in Indiana.

The patrols are supported with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds provided by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. Last year, out of the total number of motorists involved in passenger vehicle crashes, 90 percent were wearing a seat belt. Despite this, unrestrained motorists accounted for over half of all vehicle fatalities in 2019 (308 out of 565), according to data from the criminal justice institute.

Drivers under the age 34, particularly young male drivers, were more likely to be found not wearing a seat belt. Additionally, individuals not buckled up in crashes were three times more likely to get injured when the driver was speeding and seven times more likely when the driver was impaired.

Indiana has a primary seat belt law, which allows law enforcement officers to stop and cite drivers and passengers for failing to wear a seat belt. Drivers can also be cited for each unbuckled passenger under the age of 16.

“Every time you go somewhere in a vehicle, whether you’re a driver or passenger, you should always wear a seat belt,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “Not only is it the law, but it’s the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself on the road.”

When it comes to seat belt safety, the department recommends making sure the lap belt is properly secured across the hip and pelvis, below the stomach. The shoulder belt should be positioned across the middle of the chest and away from the neck – never behind the back or under an arm.

If the seat belt doesn’t fit, or the car is older and only has lap belts, ask the car dealer or vehicle manufacturer about seat belt adjusters, extenders, or retrofits.

Additionally, children under eight must be properly restrained in a federally approved child or booster seat. Parents and caregivers can choose the safest car seat for their child by visiting TheRightSeat.com, or to find a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, who can inspect and assist with the installation of a car seat, visit www.childseat.in.gov.

Select Indiana state park properties will temporarily close in the coming weeks so controlled deer management hunts can take place.

Each hunt runs two days. The first is on Monday, Nov. 16, and Tuesday, Nov. 17.  The second is on Monday, Nov. 30, and Tuesday, Dec. 1. Participating state park properties will close to the general public on the evening before each of the two hunts.

Participating state park properties are: Brown County, Chain O’Lakes, Charlestown, Fort Harrison, Harmonie, Lincoln, McCormick’s Creek, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Prophetstown, Shades, Spring Mill, Turkey Run, Versailles, and Whitewater Memorial state parks, as well as Trine State Recreation Area.

These state park properties will re-open the morning after each two-day hunt. All Indiana state park properties not mentioned will be operating under normal hours.

Indiana DNR biologists evaluate which state park properties require a deer management hunt each year based on habitat recovery and previous harvest rates at each park property. The state park properties are home to numerous natural communities that serve as significant habitat. The deer management hunts help control browsing by deer to a level that ensures habitat for native plants and animals.

Only individuals selected from the draw may participate at any site.

A full report on the 2019 deer management hunts is at stateparks.IN.gov/files/sp-DeerRMRR.pdf. The 2020 report will be available in March 2021.

Information regarding 2021 state park deer management hunts, including online applications, will be available next summer at on.IN.gov/reservedhunt. The application deadline is usually in mid-August of the year in which the hunts are to take place.