Detectives from the Indiana State Police (ISP) in Sellersburg were called to investigate an incident in Scottsburg after a man was rushed to the hospital with a suspicious injury, which resulted in his death. 

Around 11:40 Saturday morning, Trooper Jon Cain responded to the Scott County Memorial Hospital to assist deputies after learning a man was dropped off at the emergency room with a possible gunshot or stab wound to the neck. 

The man, later identified as Scott M. Powers, 39, Clarksville, Indiana, was then flown to University Hospital in Louisville, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. 

ISP Detective Matt Busick and Crime Scene Investigator Phil D’Angelo responded to investigate. 

The preliminary investigation reveals that Powers was with a friend at the Jackson Heights Trailer Park in Scottsburg. 

During his visit, Powers unveiled and attempted shooting a home-made firearm in a wooded area next to the trailer park. 

The weapon was designed to fire a 12-gauge shotgun shell and is sometimes referred to as a “slam-fire”.

Upon firing the weapon, the barrel exploded, injuring Powers in the neck.  

Powers ran to his car and was driven to the emergency room by his friend, who also attempted rendering aid.  

The Kentucky Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on Monday morning and ruled the death as “accidental”.

At this time, Investigators believe Powers made the weapon himself.  This case is still under investigation pending toxicology reports.  

The Washington County Sheriff’s Department worked several vehicle accidents over the weekend. 

Saturday, June 13 – 4:32p – Deputy Wayne Blevins responded to a report of several motorcycles involved in a crash after avoiding a white truck pulling farm equipment that had swerved into their lane on Beck’s Mill Road. 

According to the Sheriff’s Department, the truck did not stop and continued traveling on Beck’s Mill Road after the crash. 

The injured were transported to St. Vincent Salem with non-life-threatening injuries. 

Blevins is continuing the investigation. 

Saturday, June 13 – 6:58p – Washington County 911 dispatch received a call reporting an overturned vehicle on Little York Road near New Cut Road.

Deputy Matt Hein and Reserve Deputy B. Dale Adams responded to investigate. 

The drive of the vehicle remained at the scene speaking to neighbors and Fire Department personnel but ran from the scene upon arrival of police. 

After several minutes of searching the heavily wooded area, units were unable to locate the male driver. 

The vehicle was removed from the scene and impounded. 

Hein is continuing the investigation. 

Saturday, June 13 – 8:27p – Deputy Brad Naugle was sent to a crash on State Road 60 at Motsinger Road.

The driver of one of the vehicles had an arm injury, but refused transport to the hospital by Washington County EMS. 

Naugle is continuing to investigate. 

Saturday, June 13 – 8:58p – Several 911 calls were received reporting a crash at the intersection of State Road 60 and Shorts Corner Road involving a car, truck and motorcycle. 

Deputies Matt Hein, Brad Naugle and reserve deputies B. Dale Adams and Ed Stempowkski responded to the scene. 

Three people were transported by the Washington County EMS to St. Vincent Hospital in Salem and the air ambulance was contacted to transport the driver of the motorcycle. 

Hein is continuing the investigation. 

Saturday, June 13 – 9:25p – Deputy Naugle was dispatched to another crash on Grandview Road between Beck’s Mill and Organ Springs Road. 

The driver of the vehicle lost control and ended up in a wooded area. 

No injuries were reported and no report was taken because the vehicle wasn’t damaged. 

The driver was making his own arrangements to have the vehicle removed from the woods. 

Sunday, June 14 – 12:56a – a report was received of a male walking westbound on US Highway 150 in Hardinsburg and the male was covered in blood. 

Harrison County Sheriff, Orange County Sheriff, Indiana State Police and Deputies Hein, Naugle, and reserve deputy Adams responded to the area. 

They were unable to locate the male but did find a truck that had evidence of a recent crash at the Bearcat Community Center. The vehicle was towed and impounded pending further investigation from Deputy Naugle. 

Sunday, June 14 – 4:54a – Deputy Lucas Gray was dispatched to a report of an overturned Chevy pickup on Highway 150 in Hardinsburg.

The caller reported that the engine was still smoking, however, no one was in or around the vehicle. 

Indiana State Police assisted in checking the area and trying to contact the owner of the vehicle, with negative results. 

This vehicle was also impounded, pending further investigation by Gray. 

Sunday, June 14 – 5:37a – A report of another motor vehicle accident, this one involving a deer. 

The damage was minor and there were no injuries. 

A report was placed on file by Deputy Gray. 

The Washington County Sheriff’s Department was assisted throughout these events by the following agencies – Washington County Ambulance Service, Air Methods, Pierce-Polk Volunteer Fire Department, Gibson Volunteer Fire Department, Indiana State Police, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, Howell’s Towing and Wilcox Towing. 

There is no realistic scenario in which government units in Indiana come out of the COVID-19 pandemic unscathed, says a new report from Ball State University.

“COVID-19 Effects on Indiana’s State and Local Taxes,” an analysis by Ball State’s Center for Business and Economic Research, finds that the economic shutdown caused by COVID-19 has deeply damaged the state’s economy.

The study estimates state and local governments are now facing tax revenue losses for all local governments that range from $240 million to $700 million in 2020. CBER anticipates tax revenues will rebound by the end of 2021 but remain beneath the 2019 levels by as little as $39 million and as much as $559 million.

“Our scenarios reflect a state that will not fully recover from this pandemic before 2022, if not much longer,” said Michael Hicks, CBER director who conducted the study with Dagney Faulk, CBER research director, and Srikant Devaraj, a CBER research professor. “These estimates are for a deep and lengthy downturn, and each of our scenarios are among the seven worst since the start of the Great Depression.”

CBER estimates decreases in tax revenues to state and local government for five familiar economic scenarios resulting from the pandemic in 2020 and 2021:  a V-shaped recession (downturn followed by a quick and lasting recovery), a V-shaped recession with hangover (quick down, quick upturn followed by slow growth), Nike swoosh (gradual, but still aggressive recovery), roller coaster (up and down economic growth), and L-shaped recession (fast downturn followed by long, brutally-slow recovery).

For each scenario, CBER estimated the impact on Indiana state sales tax, personal and corporate income tax, and other tax revenue with reasonable assumptions. For calendar year 2020, researchers expect tax losses to range from 3.8% to 10.9% of 2019 total revenues for the state. In 2021, the study anticipates tax revenues will still range from 0.7% to 9.4% beneath those of 2019.

“While we generally anticipate improved economic conditions in 2021, our most optimistic scenario places GDP at only 2% above that of 2019,” Hicks said. “Our most pessimistic scenario considers GDP in 2021 at 2% beneath the 2019 level. “

Compared to the state, county-level tax losses comprise a smaller share of total revenues, ranging from losses of 2.4% to 6.8% across the five scenarios in 2020 and between 0.4% to 5.8% losses in 2021. In 2020, the report anticipates county-level revenue losses to range from less than 1% of total tax revenue to more than 48%.

Hicks said the wide variation in anticipated tax losses for local governments can be attributed to variations in local economic structures, with a higher share of employment in the most “at-risk” sectors of recreation, eating and drinking establishments, and accommodations.

Variation in tax revenue losses can also be attributed to variation in the local share of non-property tax revenues, which is a local decision, he said.

Faulk said the goal of this study is to help state and local policymakers better understand the fiscal impacts of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic and aid with budget planning considerations.

“We also hope that our work will help federal policymakers understand the risks of diminished public services to state and local economies,” she said.

A Corydon man lead ISP Troopers, along with several sheriff deputies, on a lengthy pursuit through Harrison and Floyd Counties early Saturday morning. The chase ended with his arrest on multiple charges. 

The driver, identified as Mark Christopher Kirby, 22, of Corydon, Indiana, was incarcerated at the Harrison County Jail and is charged with the following: 

1. Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle – Level 6 Felony 
2. Resisting Law Enforcement – A Misdemeanor
3. Driving While Suspended (Prior) – A Misdemeanor 
4. Possession of a Handgun without a License – A Misdemeanor
5. Reckless Driving – C Misdemeanor 

Around 2:40 Saturday morning, Trooper Nathaniel Newton was patrolling on Highway 337 near Quarry Road in Harrison County when he observed a motorcycle in front of him with no taillights, no license plate light, and no license plate.

When Trooper Newton tried to pull the bike over, the driver failed to stop and then led Trooper Newton and other joining officers on a 58-mile pursuit.

The chase eventually entered Floyd County on SR64 before returning to Harrison County along SR62.

The driver committed numerous traffic violations throughout the chase, including running stop signs, traveling in the opposite lane of travel, and speeding.

The pursuit lasted nearly an hour and ended near Trestle Road in Harrison County when the driver drove off into a field. Harrison County Deputies then gave chase on foot and were able to stop the driver and take him into custody. 

Indiana State Police Detectives initiated a criminal investigation on May 30 after receiving an allegation that a male under the age of 14 had been sexually molested by Harley Deweese, 21, of Petersburg.

The alleged incident occurred during the month of May at an undisclosed location in Pike County. After reviewing the criminal investigation, the Pike County Prosecutor’s Office issued an arrest warrant for Deweese.  He was charged with Child Molesting, a Level 1 Felony.

At approximately 12:30 this afternoon, Deweese was arrested at his residence without incident and taken to the Pike County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.

Arrested and Charge:

• Harley Deweese, 21, Petersburg, IN

1. Child Molesting, Level 1 Felony

Assisting Agencies: Pike County Sheriff’s Office and Petersburg Police Department

On Wednesday, June 10, 2020, a Jefferson County, Indiana man was arrested on a charge of Child Molesting after an investigation by detectives with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post.

The investigation began this week when the Indiana State Police was notified about a 13-year-old female victim reportedly being pregnant. 

The investigation led detectives to identify Manuel Lopez Velasquez, age 26, as the father of the baby. 

Investigators also determined that Lopez Velasquez and the victim had been living together in Jefferson County and involved in a relationship.

As a result of the investigation, Lopez Velasquez was arrested on a charge of Child Molesting, Level 1 Felony.  He was transported to the Jefferson County Jail where he was incarcerated pending his initial appearance in the Jefferson County Circuit Court.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana Department of Child Services.

Dave O’Mara Contractor Inc. plans to begin work on U.S. 31 in Bartholomew and Johnson Counties next week as part of an $8.4 million asphalt resurfacing project from just south of I-65 near Taylorsville and S.R. 252 in Amity. The contract also includes resurfacing work in Franklin, which began late last month.

Starting Monday (June 15), crews will begin saw-cutting, followed by patching, milling and paving. The work will be completed under lane closures and is expected to be complete this fall.

Motorists should slow down, use extra caution and drive distraction-free through all work zones. All work is weather dependent.

Following an emergency motion filed by the Office of the Attorney General, a federal appellate court has ruled that convicted killer John Robert Myers II must stay in prison during ongoing court proceedings.

In 2006, a jury convicted Myers of murder in connection with the death of Jill Behrman.

A 19-year-old Indiana University freshman, Behrman went missing after taking a morning bike ride on May 31, 2000.

Her remains were found three years later, and an investigation revealed she died from a gunshot wound to her head.

A U.S. district court ruled in 2019 that Myers should be given a new trial based on Myers’ contention that his defense attorneys provided inadequate representation at his original murder trial. The Office of the Attorney General filed an appeal, which remains pending.

In April, Myers’ current attorneys argued that he should be released from prison pending the outcome of his ongoing pursuit of a new trial.

A U.S. district court agreed, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on Wednesday sided with the Office of the Attorney General and overturned the lower court’s decision granting a release, which would have occurred on June 15.

The effect of the appellate court ruling is that Myers will remain imprisoned until at least 60 days following the end of the state’s appeal of the U.S. district court’s decision ordering a new trial.

“This result is a just one, allowing the appellate process to play out properly and giving some peace of mind for Jill’s family and friends,” said Steve Creason, chief counsel of appeals for the Office of the Attorney General.