Indiana State Police K9 Barrett has retired from his patrol duties. Barrett was named after Trooper Daniel Barrett who was killed in the line of duty on January 27, 2008. Barrett and his partner, Senior Trooper Matthew Wilson, have patrolled together since 2012 and they are responsible for the seizure of significant amounts of narcotics and the apprehension of violent criminals.

One notable criminal apprehension was in November 2019 when Barrett apprehended the man suspected of shooting and killing Fishers Police K9 Harlej.

Barrett is also responsible for the seizure of:

• Marijuana 2,120 pounds
• Methamphetamine. 487 pounds
• Cocaine 280 pounds
• Heroin 146 pounds
• 1.2 million in US currency
• 15 criminal tracks/apprehensions

Trooper Wilson and Barrett spent most of their time patrolling central Indiana as part of a drug interdiction team. Barrett will now spend his retirement with the Wilson Family enjoying some well-deserved rest and relaxation. 

Yesterday, September 30, at approximately 1:25 PM, Indiana State Police All Crimes Policing Team members M/Trooper Trey Lytton, Trooper Connor Giesler, and K9 Trooper Kaitlyn Greene conducted a traffic stop on a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche on Eureka Rd and CR 200 W, near Rockport.

During the traffic stop, Trooper Greene’s K9, Drogos, alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics in the vehicle. 

During a search of the vehicle, approximately 17.5 grams of methamphetamine was located. 

The driver, Benjamin D. Shepherd, 35, of Owensboro, KY, was also found to be in possession of a substantial amount of cash. 

Shepherd was arrested and transported to the Spencer County Jail on the charges of:

• Dealing in Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 4 Felony
• Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 Felony.

All suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Yesterday, the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section along with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department conducted a methamphetamine investigation.

That investigation lead to a traffic stop by Morgan County Sheriff’s Deputies Brighton Sichting and Tim Coryell.

During the traffic stop, Deputy Sichting and his K9 partner “Dano” found Shane Robertson, 41 of Ellettsville, IN to be in possession of approximately 20 grams of a substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.

The traffic stop occurred near the 3500 block of Godsey Road, just south of Martinsville.

CHARGES –

1) Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deal (Level 2 Felony)

2) Possession of a Controlled Substance (A Misdemeanor)

3) Possession of Paraphernalia (A Misdemeanor)

4) Driving while Suspended – Prior (A Misdemeanor)  

Anyone with information regarding illegal drug activity is encouraged to contact the Indiana State Police Bloomington Post at 812-332-4411.

All Suspects Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law

What began as a report to 911 as a possible drunk driver ended in the arrest of a Louisville woman on multiple felony drug charges. 

Around 1:20 Thursday morning, Harrison County dispatchers received and dispatched information on a possible drunk driver headed eastbound on I-64 approaching the Corydon exit.

A caller stated the driver was in a black passenger car with a Kentucky license plate. Trooper Nathaniel Newton responded to the area and soon observed a vehicle matching the description exit on to SR 135 in Corydon.

While following the car, Trooper Newton observed the vehicle weaving from side to side and making improper lane changes. Trooper Newton then stopped the driver near Federal Drive. The driver was identified as Angela T. Debella, 33, of Louisville, Ky.  

Angela T. Debella was arrested and transported to the Harrison County Jail without incident. Debella is charged with the following:

1. Dealing Methamphetamine – Level 2 Felony
2. Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 3 Felony 
3. Dealing a Narcotic Drug – Level 6 Felony 
4. Possession of a Narcotic Drug – Level 6 Felony 
5. Possession of Hypodermic Syringe – Level 6 Felony 
6. Dealing in a Controlled Substance – Level 6 Felony 
7. Possession of a Legend Drug – Level 6 Felony    
8. Possession of Marijuana – B Misdemeanor
9. Possession of Paraphernalia – C Misdemeanor       

As Trooper Newton conducted the traffic stop and investigation, Harrison County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Daniel Evans and his K-9 partner Fynn arrived to assist.

K-9 Fynn alerted to the presence of controlled substances in the vehicle, and Trooper Newton subsequently searched the car. Trooper Newton located almost 15 grams of suspected methamphetamine during the search, along with over two grams of suspected heroin with fentanyl, Xanax, and Alprazolam pills, over 31 grams of marijuana, Hypodermic needles, and various items of paraphernalia.

Debella also had over $5,600 in U.S. currency in her possession.                             

The Indiana State Police would like to thank the public for reporting suspected intoxicated drivers and remind everyone that calls such as this often result in unrelated charges that would likely go undetected without the public’s help.

More than 70 rural and volunteer fire departments from 47 Indiana counties have been awarded more than $320,000 in Volunteer Fire Assistance grants, DNR Director Dan Bortner announced today.

The awards will be used for training, installation of dry hydrants, or to purchase necessary firefighting equipment and gear to combat wildland fires. The grants are administered by the DNR Division of Forestry and made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

Recipients were selected based on population density, acres of public wildlands protected, and wildland fire reporting to DNR Fire Control Headquarters. As in past years, the emphasis was given to projects that involved the fighting of wildfires.

The awarded grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 and were given to 76 departments.

Fire departments receiving the grants in 2020, the amount of the grant, county and the project category are:

Fire departments interested in applying for future grants should contact Mark Huter, Assistant State Fire Coordinator, Fire Control Headquarters, 6220 Forest Road, Martinsville, IN 46151, or call 765-792-4654.

To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.

Today, the House of Representatives passed America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (S.3051) which included Rep. Trey Hollingsworth’s (R-IN) Livestock Protection Act.

This legislation addresses the deadly and costly black vulture attacks on livestock during the calving season and allows Hoosier farmers to protect their livestock without interference by a bloated federal bureaucracy.

During an agriculture roundtable in Washington County, a farmer shared his story with Rep. Hollingsworth about how black vultures are destroying livestock and his frustrations with current federal law.

Hollingsworth took this feedback to the House of Representatives and introduced the Livestock Protection Act to allow cattle farmers to proactively prevent damage of livestock by predatory black vultures.

The Livestock Protection Act was included in S. 3051, comprehensive wildlife conservation legislation that passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support.

“I’ve heard from farmers across Indiana’s Ninth District about costly black vulture attacks and the inability to protect their own cattle because of the federal government,” said Rep. Hollingsworth. “I took these stories to the House and introduced the Livestock Protection Act, encouraging our federal government to help, not hurt, our agriculture community’s way of life. I’m thrilled on behalf of Hoosier farmers that the Livestock Protection Act has now passed both the House and Senate.”

Background

Migratory black vultures are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), which provides for the protection of all migratory birds in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Black vultures are a costly nuisance to livestock farmers during calving season because they attack and destroy newborn calves and other young livestock animals. 

According to 2015 data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the estimated total monetary loss from all cattle/calf predation was $183.65 million in 2015. 26,770 cattle and calf deaths have been attributed to vultures.

In Indiana, 42 percent of all calf deaths caused by predators have been attributed to predatory birds.

Black vulture populations are plentiful and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the international body that determines the conservation status of wildlife, considers black vultures as a species with a conservation status of least concern. Their protection in the MBTA is unrelated to conservation status or efforts, and their population has never been under threat in modern history.

Currently, livestock farmers may apply for limited depredation permits from US Fish and Wildlife Service, but the permits cost $100, must be renewed each year, and may only be approved after damage to property has already occurred.

As migratory birds, black vultures will descend upon farms in the southeast and Midwest with little warning, damage and destroy livestock, and be gone by the time the farmer can produce proof of damage, apply for the permit, and receive it several days later.

Though first-time farmer applicants may petition to have the application fee waived, the process serves little purpose or recourse for farmers losing property by the hour while awaiting FWS permit approval.

Summary

This legislation would allow the Secretary of the Interior, in conjunction with the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to issue depredation permits to livestock farmers authorizing the taking of black vultures otherwise prohibited by law to prevent damage to livestock during calving and lambing season.

The bill also requires any farmers who take black vultures under the state or regionwide depredation permit to report to the appropriate enforcement agencies the takings of black vultures.