On August 14, 2020, Major Joe Guarneri went to a local business in Scottsburg in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant from a case that had been prepared by Detective Jacklyn Shofner for alleged battery. 

Upon arrival Andrew Hodge, 29, of Scottsburg was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for the charges of Neglect of a Dependent.

On August 15, 2020, Deputy James Ward traveled to a residence in rural Scott County in an attempt to locate the other alleged suspect in this case. 

Upon arrival Barbara Hodge, 32, of Scottsburg was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for Domestic Battery Person Less Than 14 Committed by a Person At Least 18, Domestic Battery Committed in the Presence of a Child Less Than 16 Years of Age and Neglect of a Dependent. Previously involving this same case by Detective Shofner, Austin Police Officer Brian Smith served an arrest warrant. 

Debra Mitchell was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for Battery No Injury Victim is Less Than 14 Years and the Defendant is At Least 18 Years of Age and Battery that Results in Serious Battery Injury to Another Person. 

On August 14, 2020, Deputies Chris Bowling and Darrell Cochran went to an address in northern rural Scott County in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.  Upon arrival William Cummings, 49, of Austin was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for Failure to Appear if the Charge was a Felony. 

On August 14, 2020, Scott County Detectives and Deputies served a drug-related search warrant at 237 W. Owen Street in Scottsburg.  The search warrant stemmed from an ongoing investigation by the Scott County Detectives.  As a result of the search warrant, two people were arrested and two people were cited into court.  Deborah Smith, 57, of Scottsburg, was arrested for Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Neglect of a Dependent.  Daniel Smith, 35, of Scottsburg, was arrested for an outstanding arrest warrant for two counts of Dealing in Methamphetamine.  He received two additional charges of Trafficking with an Inmate and Possession of a Schedule I, II, III or IV Controlled Substance.  Hailey Lowry, 30, of Scottsburg was cited into court and released on the charge of Visiting a Common Nuisance.  Gregory Dilger, 44, of Scottsburg was cited into court and released on the charge of Possession of Paraphernalia. 

On August 15, 2020, Deputy James Ward served an outstanding arrest warrant on Jeremy Wilson, 33, of Austin for the charges of Strangulation, Domestic Battery Committed in the Presence of a Child Less Than 16 Years of Age and Intimidation.  Jeremy Wilson was remanded at the Scott County Jail. 

On August 15, 2020, Deputy James Ward went to a disturbance call in rural Scott County.  Upon arrival, an investigation led to the arrest of Tiffany Stidham, 24, of Scottsburg for Invasion of Privacy and Criminal Trespass. 

On August 15, 2020, Deputy Charlie Morgan responded to rural Scott County for the report of a disturbance.  Upon arrival, an investigation led to the arrest of Anthony Gross, 34, of Scottsburg for Residential Entry and Resisting Law Enforcement. 

On August 16, 2020, Deputy Zach Brown responded to a property damage accident in rural Scott County.  An investigation led to the arrest of Travis Brock, 39, of Austin for Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person, Operating While Intoxicated, Operating a Vehicle with a BAC of 0.08 or more and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated with a Prior. 

Falls of the Ohio State Park is hosting it’s annual Digging the Past event on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visitors can explore fossils, minerals, and archaeology.  A variety of programs will be offered outside, behind the Interpretive Center. Masks will be required to be worn in order to approach program tables.

Parking is $2 per vehicle with discounted Interpretive Center admission of $7 per person.

Saturday’s events include:

• The park’s free collecting piles, which will be operated per ticketed times every 30 minutes. More piles will be offered later this year to accommodate social distancing.
• Refreshed Silurian and Devonian fossil piles, courtesy of Irving Materials, Inc. (IMI), and Bagshaw Trucking. New minerals will be available as well.
• An outer fossil bed hike (for ages 12 and older) beginning at 9:30 a.m.
• Hourly guided hikes at 10 and 11 a.m., noon, and 1, 2, and 3 p.m.
• Talks and tips on a variety of topics, including collecting fossils at 10:30 a.m., minerals at 11:30 a.m., collecting tools at 12:30 p.m., collecting safely at 1:30 p.m., and collecting geodes at 2:30 p.m.
• Roving naturalists to help those who don’t want to join a hike to discover the fossil beds.
• Creating an “egg carton” geology collection.
• Making a weather rock or pet rock.
• Tabletop fossil and mineral displays.
• Digging “artifacts” in one of the park’s archaeological mini-mock dig stations.
• Information on the identification of artifacts with Wade Tharp from the DNR Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology.
• A chance to get your unknown rocks and fossils identified.

Other sponsors of the day include the Mineral and Fossil Interest Club.

Falls of the Ohio State Park (on.IN.gov/fallsoftheohiosp) is at 201 W. Riverside Dr. Clarksville, 47129.

Brown County State Park has created a way for guests to experience Brown County State Park’s unique cultural and natural history from the comfort of their own vehicles.   

 The park’s Auto Tour guides guests to five stops along the park’s south loop. Signs will be posted at each location. Guests will start at the Nature Center and journey along the main park road to learn about the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp area, the two nature preserves in Brown County State Park, the state-endangered yellowwood tree, and Kelp village. There are several vista overlooks along the drive.  

 To access this tour, go to the Brown County State Park website (on.IN.gov/browncountysp) and click on Photos, Video & Audio at the bottom of the page. The link includes audio for the tour as well as a map to help you navigate.

 In total, the tour should take about an hour, longer if you decide to get out and look around at each stop. Please adhere to park speed limits and other park signage throughout the tour.

 This tour can also be completed on a bicycle if you’re looking for more exercise.

 Brown County State Park is at 1405 S.R. 46 W., Nashville, IN 47448.

Indiana Conservation Officers have identified those involved in Saturday night’s incident at Paynetown State Recreation Area at Monroe Lake.

They are Estella Huerta (67), Alejandro Hernandez-Huerta (31), and an adolescent juvenile, all of Lawrence, Indiana. 

An investigation into the events that led up to the incident is still underway. More information will be released as it becomes available.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. Saturday, witnesses reported seeing a vehicle drive down the Paynetown State Recreation Area boat ramp and enter the water. 

The driver called out for help and attempted to exit the vehicle. 

The witnesses were not able to rescue the occupants before the vehicle became submerged. 

Monroe County Dive Team responded and were able to locate and remove an adult male and female as well as a male child from the vehicle. 

The adults were declared deceased at the scene.  The child was transported to IU Health Bloomington and was declared deceased upon arrival.

Conservation Officers are working with Monroe County Coroner’s Office to identify the deceased and notify the next of kin.

Additional agencies assisting at the scene include: Perry Clear Creek Fire, IU Health EMS, and Monroe Fire.

A Washington County corrections officer was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with sexual misconduct with a female inmate. 

On Monday morning, Sheriff Brent Miller learned of possible sexual contact between a female inmate housed at the Washington County Jail and Jacob E. Silverthorn, who was employed as a corrections officer. 

The contact was alleged to have happened a few days prior, while Silverthorn was working at the jail and responsible for overseeing inmates in the facility. 

Sheriff Miller immediately contacted Indiana State Police Detective Travis Baker and requested an independent investigation into the allegations. 

It was also alleged Silverthorn provided liquid nicotine to the inmate.

As a result of Detective Baker’s investigation, Jacob Silverthorn, 27, Salem, was arrested and charged with one count of Sexual Misconduct with an Inmate, a Level 5 Felony, and one count of Trafficking with an Inmate, also a Level 5 Felony. 

Silverthorne was arrested without incident and is being held at the Scott County Jail.  There is no bond set for his release. 

This case is still under investigation, and all information will be turned over to the Washington County Prosecutor upon completion. 

Detective Baker was assisted by members of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.

Indiana State Police Superintendent, Douglas Carter, announced today that Jasper District Trooper Ryan Conrad has been promoted to the position of Detective at the Jasper Post. Conrad, a 20-year member of the Indiana State Police, was chosen for his new position based upon a competitive selection process that included written testing, oral interview, seniority, education, and past job performance.

Conrad, who is from Marengo, Indiana, graduated from Crawford County High School in 1993 and then from Vincennes University in 1995.  He then graduated from the Indiana State Police Academy on December 13, 1999, and was assigned to the Versailles District.

In 2001 Conrad transferred to the Jasper District, where he has served as a road trooper assigned to Crawford County. Conrad is an ILEA Certified Instructor as well as a Field Training Officer. Conrad will start in his new position on August 23, 2020.

Saturday at approximately 11:25 am, the Indiana State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on I-74 near Greensburg, Indiana that claimed the life of an Indianapolis man.

The initial investigation by Master Trooper Jason Hankins, Indiana State Police-Versailles, indicated that the westbound lanes of I-74 were slowed near the 134-mile marker due to two separate crashes that had occurred in the area and caused a traffic backup. 

A 2017 Volvo truck pulling a tanker trailer, driven by Jason M. Cranfill, age 41, Seymour, Indiana had stopped in the right lane of I-74 near the 135.5-mile marker. 

A 2018 International box truck being driven by Kevin J. Porter II, age 37, Indianapolis, Indiana failed to stop for the slowed traffic.  Porter’s vehicle collided with the rear of Cranfill’s trailer. 

Both vehicles came to rest in the westbound lanes of I-74. 

Porter sustained fatal injuries in the crash.  He was transported to Decatur County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg, Indiana where he was pronounced deceased. 

Cranfill sustained minor injuries in the crash.

Toxicology results are pending and the investigation is ongoing at this time.

The westbound lanes of I-74 were closed for approximately three hours for crash investigation and cleanup.

Kevin Porter’s family has been notified.

M/Trp. Hankins was assisted by numerous troopers with the Indiana State Police-Versailles District, Decatur County Sheriff’s Office, Greensburg Police Department, Greensburg Fire Department, Decatur County EMS and Decatur County Coroner’s Office.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the death of three individuals at Monroe Reservoir late last night.  

At approximately 10:30 p.m., witnesses reported seeing a vehicle drive down the Paynetown State Recreation Area boat ramp and enter the water. 

The driver called out for help and attempted to exit the vehicle, according to police.

The witnesses were not able to rescue the occupants before the vehicle became submerged. 

Monroe County Dive Team responded and was able to locate and remove an adult male and female as well as a male child from the vehicle. 

The adults were declared deceased at the scene. 

The child was transported to IU Health Bloomington and was declared deceased upon arrival.

Conservation Officers are working with Monroe County Coroner’s Office to identify the deceased and notify the next of kin.

Additional agencies assisting at the scene include Perry Clear Creek Fire, IU Health EMS, and Monroe Fire.