Construction continues ahead of project completion this fall

Work is progressing on the U.S. 421 bridge approach project in downtown Madison. A new section of roadway is expected to open mid-to-late next week between Harrison and Main Streets as part of the nearly $10 million contracts that is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2020. Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Beaty Construction Inc. is continuing operations in the area to complete pedestrian bridge construction, water main, curb and gutter work, stormwater placement and sidewalk construction. The following traffic impacts are also planned to begin/continue next week, including: Baltimore Street closed north and south of Main Street St. Michael’s Avenue closed south of Main Street (local traffic only via East Street and 2nd Street) Barrier wall installed across 2nd Street to close the road between Clay and Harrison Streets for water main work Fillmore Street remains closed for pedestrian bridge construction 1st Street remains closed for a drive, curb and gutter work Hillside Inn and Roosevelt Street not accessible from Main Street until end of construction Motorists are reminded to slow down, use extra caution, and drive distraction-free through all work zones. All work is weather dependent.

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor E&B Paving Inc. plans to begin work this week on a $2.7 million asphalt resurface contract on S.R. 45 between I-69 and S.R. 445 in Monroe and Greene Counties, west of Bloomington.

Patching, followed by milling and paving is expected to start on or after Wednesday (June 17), weather permitting. Work will be completed under daytime lane closures with flagging. The contract was awarded in February 2020 and is scheduled to be complete in August. 

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

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor E&B Paving Inc. plans to begin structure replacement work this weekend on S.R. 160 in Washington County. The structure is located eight miles west of U.S. 31 between New Salem Road and Hickory Grove Road over a tributary of Springle Creek.

As a result, S.R. 160 will close at 7 p.m. Friday evening (June 19) between S.R. 60 and I-65 and will reopen by 7 a.m. on Monday, June 22. Following the full closure, single lane closures with flagging will be in place.

The official detour will follow S.R. 60 to S.R. 56 to I-65. The $195,000 contract was awarded in January 2020 and is expected to be complete by the end of July.

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

The suspect in the officer-involved shooting in Clay County on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, has been placed under arrest. 

Marion Tanner Joseph Haywood, 23, Owensburg, Indiana, was released from Regional Hospital in Terre Haute early this afternoon and was taken into custody by the Indiana State Police upon his release. 

Haywood has been transported to the Clay County Jail where he is now incarcerated.    

CHARGES:

• Possessing, manufacturing, transporting or distributing a destructive device, Level 5 Felony (2 counts)
• Resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, Level 6 Felony
• Domestic battery with a deadly weapon, Level 5 Felony, (Monroe County warrant) 

Detectives from the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post have were requested by Clay County Sheriff Paul Harden to investigate an officer-involved shooting incident that took place on June 17, 2020, at approximately 3:08 a.m., near Centerpoint, Indiana.    

At approximately 2:27 a.m., deputies of the Clay County Sheriff’s Department were requested at a residence near the Clay County and Vigo County line off of State Road 46, reference to a suspicious subject knocking vigorously on a residence door. 

Haywood left the residence before Clay County Deputies could arrive. 

A short time later, a Clay County Deputy observed a vehicle, meeting the description from the original call, traveling eastbound on State Road 46 near County Road 150 West, at a high rate of speed.

The Deputy then attempted to stop the vehicle, and a pursuit ensued, continuing northbound onto State Road 59. 

Haywood began to discard items from the moving vehicle, which would later be discovered as improvised explosive devices.

The pursuit continued onto County Road 100 East and County Road 300 North, in Clay County, where the subject failed to negotiate a turn, traveling off of the roadway. 

It was at that time that the pursuing Deputy caught up to the vehicle, but the subject had maneuvered the vehicle back onto the roadway and proceeded to drive the vehicle directly at the Deputy. 

Due to the fact that the Deputy felt his life was in danger, the Deputy then discharged his duty weapon at Haywood, who continued north on County Road 100 East before stopping and exiting the vehicle, attempting to run on foot. 

A Clay County K-9 officer was released at that time, and the subject was subdued. 

Medical assistance was immediately rendered at the scene. 

Haywood was subsequently transported to Regional Hospital in Terre Haute, with non-life-threatening injuries, and currently remains hospitalized. 

No Deputies were injured.   

The Indiana State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal team (EOD) out of Indianapolis arrived on the scene and used K-9 units and special tools to inspect the items within the subject’s vehicle and that was discarded onto State Road 59. 

Upon reviewing all the information, the EOD team found the discarded items to be active explosives. 

The EOD team used a device to neutralize the discarded items, deeming the scene safe.  

Clay County Deputy Hunter Gambil is the deputy involved in this incident. 

He has been placed on administrative leave, which is customary in officer-involved shooting incidents. 

Deputy Gambil has one and a half years of service to the department.   

The investigation is being conducted by Indiana State Police detectives Mike Featherling, Ryan Winters and Jason Schofstall with the assistance of Lieutenant Jeff Hearon, First Sergeant Jason Fajt, Sergeant Sam Stearley, CSI Sergeant Brandon Mullen and CSI Sergeant Michael Organ of the Putnamville State Police Post.   

This is an active and ongoing Indiana State Police investigation.  

Progress continues on railroad overpass at S.R. 46 and S.R. 11

Eastbound S.R. 46 is now reduced to one lane west of S.R. 11 in Columbus as crews begin work to tie-in existing S.R. 46 to the new alignment and overpass as part of the $30 million interchange project that began late last year.

The current configuration is expected to be in place for the next two weeks, with two lanes remaining open westbound. Motorists should watch for various traffic changes as work continues near the new interchange.

Progress is also continuing on the 3rd Street bridge deck overlay, with lane closures in effect through late June into early July. A rainy May caused some delays on the heavily weather-dependent portion of the project.

In addition, the current closure of S.R. 11 just south of S.R. 46 is planned to be removed by the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The road closed on June 1 for pavement reconstruction and storm sewer work between Garden City and S.R. 46. The official detour remains I-65.

Motorists are reminded to slow down, use extra caution and drive distraction-free through all work zones.

On June 17, 2020, Corporal Kenton Makowsky, Deputies Charlie Morgan, and Josh Juliot, served a search warrant at a local motel in Scottsburg stemming from an ongoing investigation. 

As a result of the search warrant, two people were arrested. 

Ashlee Marshall, 27, of Austin was arrested for Dealing a Schedule I, II, III or IV Controlled Substance, Dealing in Cocaine or a Narcotic Drug, Possession of a Schedule I, II, III or IV Controlled Substance, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Unlawful Possession of a Syringe and Possession of Cocaine or a Schedule I or II Narcotic Drug At least 5 Grams but less than 10 Grams. 

Earl Estep, 29, of Austin was arrested for Dealing in Cocaine or a Narcotic Drug, Dealing in a Schedule I, II, III or IV Controlled Substance At Least 1 Gram but Less Than 5 Grams, Possession of Cocaine or a Schedule I or II Narcotic Drug At Least 5 Grams but Less Than 10 Grams, Possession of a Schedule I, II, III or IV Controlled Substance, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Unlawful Possession of a Syringe. 

Police did not name the location of the arrest. 

Sheriff Jerry Goodin wanted the drug dealers to know,” you cannot go to motels or hotels and think you are hiding while selling drugs, we will find you and arrest you”.

The sheriff also asked that local businesses, motel and hotel owners and/or employees to contact the sheriff’s office and report any suspicious activity.

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) today announced he will be an original cosponsor of Senator Tim Scott’s (R-S.C.) legislation to address police reform, accountability, and transparency. The Just and Unifying Solutions to Invigorate Communities Everywhere (JUSTICE) Act provides long-term solutions to repair the broken trust between communities of color and law enforcement, and also promotes efforts to identify solutions to systemic issues affecting people of color such as education and health disparities.

“Since the murder of George Floyd and the protests that have ensued, two words have been on my mind: Listen and Act. Over the last several weeks, I’ve reached out and listened to black leaders across Indiana, and sought their advice on realistic solutions to improve the criminal justice system and repair trust. The JUSTICE Act is an important step toward enacting meaningful reform,” said Senator Young.

“This comprehensive legislation ends the practice of chokeholds and provides grants for de-escalation tactics training and the use of body-worn cameras. It also enacts penalties for those who fail to comply with these provisions. The bill seeks to ensure greater transparency and accountability from law enforcement, while building stronger community relations. Additionally, it will establish two commissions to examine and propose solutions to the broader systemic challenges black Americans face, something I have sought to do through my Fair Shot Agenda. The JUSTICE Act is a critical step forward for our nation, and we owe it to our fellow Americans to come together and swiftly pass this bill,” Senator Young added.

  The full text of the JUSTICE Act is here, and a section by section analysis is here. A summary is below.

 Law Enforcement Reform

• The JUSTICE Act strengthens the training methods and tactics throughout law enforcement jurisdictions, especially regarding de-escalation of force and the duty to intervene, providing law enforcement with new funding to do so, and will also end the practice of utilizing chokeholds.
• Additionally, the bill will reform hiring practices by providing more resources to ensure the makeup of police departments more closely matches the communities they serve.
• The JUSTICE Act also ensures when a candidate is interviewed, the department looking to hire will have full access to their prior disciplinary records.

• Too often, after a tragic incident, we have learned the offending officer had a disciplinary past in another jurisdiction of which their current employer was unaware.

 Accountability

• Studies show that when body cameras are properly used violent encounters decrease significantly.
• The JUSTICE Act will put more body cameras on the streets, and ensure that departments are both using the cameras and storing their data properly.
• The JUSTICE Act also requires a report establishing best practices for the hiring, firing, suspension, and discipline of law enforcement officers.

 Transparency

• Currently, only about 40 percent of police officers from jurisdictions nationwide report to the FBI after an incident where an officer has discharged his or her weapon or used force.
• The bill will require full reporting in these two areas.
• There is also very little data as to when, where, and why no knock warrants are used, and the JUSTICE Act will require reporting in this area as well.

 Additional Steps

• The JUSTICE Act will finally make lynching a federal crime.
• It also creates two commissions to study and offer solutions to a broader range of challenges facing black men and boys, and the criminal justice system as a whole.