Yesterday evening, Troopers Hurley and Vennekotter initiated a criminal investigation after receiving a tip that illegal drugs were allegedly being sold from a residence located at 201 North Bittner Street in Owensville.

Troopers arrived at the residence at approximately 6:00 p.m. and identified the tenants as Ryan Bennett, 23, and Kristina Randall, 27.

During a search of the residence, Troopers discovered a large plastic bag containing approximately 98 grams of plant-like material that later tested positive for synthetic drugs.

Troopers also located a plastic container that contained over 20 grams of an unknown powder-like substance, drug paraphernalia, and a box of plastic baggies.

Bennett and Randall were arrested and taken to the Gibson County Jail. Bennett is currently being held without bond. Randall is currently being held on a $750 cash bond.

Arrested and Charges:

• Ryan Bennett, 23, Owensville, IN

1. Dealing in a Schedule 1 Drug over 28 grams, Class 2 Felony
2. Possession of a Synthetic or Look-alike Drug with a Prior Conviction, Class 6 Felony 

• Kristina Randall, 27, Owensville, IN

1. Possession of a Synthetic or Look-alike Drug, Class A Misdemeanor
2. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor

Arresting Officers: Trooper Tanner Hurley and Trooper Alex Vennekotter, Indiana State Police

A 53-year-old Farmersburg woman was arrested for theft, forgery and fraud and accused of stealing from the car dealership she worked for. 

In August of 2020, the Indiana State Police began an investigation into a woman, who once operated as the controller of finances for Burger Chrysler Jeep of Terre Haute, allegedly stealing over $50,000 worth of property and funds with the intent to deprive.

Cecia Copeland, age 53, of Farmersburg, Indiana, was employed by Burger Chrysler Jeep from February of 2014 through December of 2019. 

During her duties as the controller, she allegedly was writing checks and forging sale documents to benefit self-gain.  

After reviewing the investigation, the Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office issued a summons for Copeland to appear in Vigo County’s Division 3 Court on November 13, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., for an initial hearing.   

Investigating Officers:  Sergeant Troy Stanton and Master Trooper Detective Tony Guinn of the Indiana State Police Organized Crime Unit/Special Investigations. 

Charges: Cecia Copeland, 53, Farmersburg, IN

• Theft, Class 5 Felony

• Forgery, Class 6 Felony

• Fraud, Class 6 Felony

Under the law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This Saturday October 24, the Indiana State Police-Sellersburg Post located at 8014 CR 311, will once again partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for their 19^th nationwide “Prescription Drug Take Back” initiative.  

The “Take Back” initiative seeks to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft through proper disposal of prescription drugs.

In addition to the Sellersburg Post, collection sites will be set up nationwide. All sites will accept expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs which will be properly disposed of without threat to the environment.  

This program is for liquid and pill medications. 

Vaping pens without batteries and vaping cartridges will also be taken.  

Needles, new or used, WILL NOT be accepted for disposal. 

This service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. 

Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. 

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—pose both potential safety and health hazards.

Once again, the Indiana State Police is pleased to partner with the DEA, and as in the past, unwanted medications may be dropped off at any Indiana State Police Post, except the Toll Road Post.  The event will be on Saturday, October 24, 2020 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.   

To locate the State Police post closest to your home or business, click this link for Indiana State Police on the Map. To find other locations in Indiana or across the U.S. that are participating in the Drug Take Back initiative, click this link to the DEA.

The Drug Take Back events are the safe, popular and responsible way for the public to legally and dispose of prescription drugs with no questions asked.

Today at approximately 7:48 AM, the Paoli Police Department and Orange County Sheriff’s Department were called to a residence at 837 College Hill Street Paoli, IN reference a shooting that had occurred.

After arriving at the residence, a male was discovered deceased inside the residence.

Detectives with the Indiana State Police and Officers with the Paoli Police Department began an investigation into the events that occurred.

During the investigation, detectives learned that the homeowner, Sabrina Dunn (43), had fatally shot William Dunn (51) from Paoli, IN.

Sabrina is currently being detained as the investigation continues.

Assisting at the scene were Orange County EMS, Paoli Police Department, Orange County Coroner’s Office, and the Orange County Prosecutors Office

The investigation is currently ongoing.

Yesterday (Monday) afternoon, despite the rain, 148 people came into the Washington County Clerk’s office to vote early in the 2020 General Election. 

According to Clerk Stephanie Rockey, only 39 people voted early on Oct. 19, 2018, and even on Oct. 19, 2016 – during a Presidential election – only 52 people voted early. 

Faced with a pandemic, social media conspiracy theories and another Presidential election, voters are turning out in droves to make sure their vote counts. 

She said 2,315 returned ballots have been processed Monday, Oct. 19 (out of 19,436 registered voters) with 14 days left until Election Day. 

That’s 11.91 percent of the county has already cast a ballot. 

“We’ve been way up,” said Rockey, during a call-in interview on WSLM’s Coffee Club Tuesday morning. “I’m excited. It’s a bit chaotic. I’m competitive and I like numbers. I’m glad people are exercising their right to vote. It will be interesting to see what the numbers will be. I’ve had to order more ballots!”

She that included mail-in, walk-in early votes, and email ballots from the military and those overseas.

Rockey said at the end of election day 2016, there had been 2,219 absentee ballots cast. 

“We still have a couple of weeks to go,” said Rockey. “We still have until Noon on Nov. 2 for walk-ins and noon on Election Day to receive ballots by mail.”

Rockey said the public has had a lot of concerns. 

“A lot of people are coming in expressing their concerns,” she said. “It’s not a new process. It’s no different. But now it’s overlayed with the anxiety of a pandemic and a lot of misinformation.”

Social media has people worked up over the possibility of mail-in votes not being counted or being lost among other issues. 

“We had a major rush all across the State of Indiana with people who requested a ballot by mail, received it and because of false information, thought it wouldn’t be counted,” said Rockey. “They wanted to surrender the ballots and come in and vote. That’s against the law in Indiana.”

Rockey said voters could not surrender a perfectly good ballot before election day unless it was lost, defective or spoiled.

“Some voters figured out the loophole and would spoil it and then bring it to us,” she said. “If everyone who got an absentee ballot did that, it would cost Washington County a little over $21,000.”

Rockey takes the job seriously and said she works overtime trying to ensure the integrity of the election results. 

“We have so many checks and balances…it’s almost like Fort Knox,” said Rockey. 

Recently all voting machines and ballots were certified during a public test. 

She said absentee ballots will be counted and results will be reported closely with in-person votes on Nov. 3. 

“I will not leave here until all the results are in the state system,” she said. 

As in the spring primary, the public will not be allowed at the justice center to hear election results. 

To accommodate that, WSLM will again be present to receive the real-time votes tabulated by precinct to report live on WSLM 1220 AM and WSLM 97.9 FM as well as social media. 

In-depth reporting of results will be available later on wslmradio.com and reported on Wednesday, Nov. 4. 

For all in-person voting – whether early or on Election Day, Rockey said the election process was adhering to the CDC guidelines for Covid-19.

“We have all the PPE in place and will be cleaning machines between voters,” she said. 

Rockey said early voters will come in the main entrance to the Justice Center, get their temperatures taken, be asked a couple of questions and then directed to the Election and Voter Services Office. 

“There’s not a long wait,” she said. “Masks are required. We do honor the governor’s mandate. We are trying to keep everyone safe. We are attached to the jail and we have a population there to be concerned with. Also the courts. We have to stay safe as much as possible to keep it all going.”

Early Voting Times

October 20th – October 30th

• 8am – 4pm, closed 12-1 for lunch.

Saturdays, October 24th and 31st

• 8am – 3pm, Not closed for lunch

Monday, November 2nd

• 8am-noon

Nov. 3 Voting Locations

Some polling locations have merged to help with the effects of the pandemic.

• Salem 1-4: Salem Armory, 1100 N Shelby Street, Salem
• Washington 1-4: Washington County Fairgrounds, 118 N. Fair Street, Salem
• Brown & Vernon: Community Building, 125 S. Sycamore Street, Campbellsburg
• Franklin: Franklin Twp. Firehouse, 7047 E. SR 160, Salem
• Gibson: Gibson Twp. Firehouse, 571 N. State Road 39, Little York
• Howard:  Howard Twp. Firehouse, 5279 S. Becks Mill Road, Salem
• Jackson: Jackson Twp. Firehouse, 4330 E. Martinsburg Fire Road, Pekin
• Jefferson & Monroe: Monroe Twp. Firehouse, 8496 N. State Road 135, Vallonia
• Madison: Madison Twp. Firehouse 130 Church Street, Campbellsburg
• Pierce & Polk: Pekin Park Community Bldg, 340 S. Park Street, Pekin
• Posey:  Fellowship Baptist Mission Center (formally Bearcat Civic Center) 9271 W. US Hwy 150, Hardinsburg