Thanks to a grant from the NBA All-Star Host Committee, the Washington County YMCA will be getting money to construct Pickle Ball and Outdoor Basketball courts. 

Indiana State Police will be participating in Operation Pull Over during two of the heaviest drinking events of the year: St. Patrick’s Day and the NCAA tournament.

The increased enforcement efforts start February 28 and run through March 22.

Troopers at the Evansville District will be coordinating at least one sobriety checkpoint during this enforcement period. Additional troopers will be conducting overtime patrols to apprehend impaired drivers and to deter others from driving while impaired.

The increased patrols are part of a statewide enforcement campaign, funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, there were 433 alcohol-related crashes across Indiana in March of 2019.

From those crashes, 205 people were injured and five fatalities were reported. During the St. Patrick’s Day holiday weekend, 65 crashes (15 percent) and one fatality occurred.

The following list includes several safety tips to prevent impaired driving this March.

• Before the celebration begins, plan a safe way home.
• Never drive impaired.
• Remember: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.
• If you do drink, use a taxi, public transportation, ridesharing service or designate a sober friend or family member, and give them your keys.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 911.
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride impaired, take their keys and help make arrangements to get them home safely.

Over the past week, Indiana State Police arrested two Floyd County residents on child pornography charges after separate investigations led by the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes against Children task force (ICAC).

On Tuesday, February 25, 2020, a New Albany man was arrested in a case that began in November of 2019. 

Indiana State Police Investigators received a tip from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, leading officers from the Sellersburg ICAC Task Force to interview David Hilliker, 37, of Green Valley Road in New Albany.

Officers also requested and were granted a search warrant for his residence based on information gathered. 

As a result of the investigation, Hilliker is charged with Possession of Child Pornography and Dissemination of Child Pornography.  Both charges are felonies. 

On Wednesday, February 19, 2020, ISP Sellersburg ICAC investigators served a search warrant at a New Albany residence on a separate and unrelated case. 

This case began in July of 2019 after investigators obtained information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

A juvenile male was taken into custody in this case for charges that would equate to Possession of Child Pornography if charged as an adult. 

Both investigations are ongoing. 

Investigators incarcerated David Hilliker at the Floyd County Jail without incident.   

Yesterday evening, officers from the Mitchell Police Department were able to serve an arrest warrant on Jackie D. Leatherman, 48 of Mitchell.

Leatherman had been charged with Dealing in a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death, a Level 1 Felony, after an investigation into the January 9^th, 2020 death of Kevin S. Bowden of West Warren Street in Mitchell.

Mitchell Officers were able to take Leatherman into custody after he attempted to flee and physically resisted both Officers Taylor Tritle and Luke McCameron.

Through search warrants, evidence collected and witness interviews, the January 9^th investigation led ISP Troopers from the Drug Enforcement Section, the Crime Scene Investigations Division, and Detectives from the Bloomington District to probable cause that indicated Jackie Leatherman had allegedly dealt controlled substances that led to the death of Kevin Bowden.

Bowden’s cause of death has been attributed to Fentanyl toxicity along with moderate Methamphetamine toxicity.

Leatherman was transported to the Lawrence County Jail on the following charges;

• Dealing in a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death, a Level 1 Felony
• Resisting Law Enforcement
• Battery on Law Enforcement Resulting in Bodily Injury

Ivy Tech Community College was awarded nearly $4 million as part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship: Closing the Skills Gap grant program. The College was one of 28 public-private apprenticeship partnerships to receive funding to support large-scale expansions of apprenticeship in industries including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and information technology.

As a result, Ivy Tech will launch the Industrial Internet of Things Apprenticeship Expansion (IIoTAE) program which includes a new curriculum to lead apprentices to Industry 4.0 credentials, including the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) and other recognized certifications. Industry 4.0 certifications are hybrid credentials of Ivy Tech’s advanced automation and robotics (AART) program and the Industrial Apprenticeship degree, creating a workforce alignment associate of applied science degree with additional coursework and elective options. The program is built on an existing apprenticeship platform that has a proven track record of employee engagement and apprenticeship completion. 

The project will run for four years and serve 3,200 apprentices. The grant will help provide additional resources to support faculty, equipment, and curriculum upgrades. Students will earn SACA credentials as they complete courses in the program and will complete several other industry certifications that will make them even more valuable in companies implementing Industry 4.0 (smart factories).

“Ivy Tech looks forward to working closely with industry partners to actualize this innovative apprenticeship model with curriculum aligned to their specific needs,” said Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann. “Apprenticeship is the gold standard for training full-time employees to master a particular trade or occupation. Ivy Tech is excited to be among the first in the country to provide the IIoTAE apprenticeship helping Indiana manufacturers lead the nation with Industry 4.0.”

Ivy Tech is working to fill the skills gap which many employers across the state, especially manufacturers, are experiencing. At a 3.2% unemployment rate in Indiana, companies are struggling to fill their available high-skilled jobs as their companies grow in our strong U.S. economy.

“Our business owners, manufacturers, and distribution facilities are thriving and are hiring, but their biggest challenge is they can’t find the talent and people they need to keep up with demand,” said Rep. Trey Hollingsworth (IN-09). “Ivy Tech’s program is offering Hoosiers the skills they need to fill these open jobs and be successful in their careers. I’m excited that the Department of Labor recognized Ivy Tech’s efforts and is investing in skills training for Hoosiers.”

Rep. Hollingsworth’s congressional district includes Ivy Tech’s Bloomington, Mooresville, Seymour, and Sellersburg locations. Rep. Hollingsworth has supported multiple Ivy Tech federal grant applications and is a vocal supporter of job and skills training programs in Congress.

Ivy Tech’s new IIoTAE will target the workforce in Indiana to educate men and women in Indiana with varying skills about high-wage and high-demand apprenticeship in digital manufacturing.  For example, the program may work to recruit into the industry those who are unemployed and, as opportunities arise, will work with campus service areas to recruit underrepresented populations, including homeless individuals and recovering opioid addicts.

Across the country, millions of people attend school and work safely every day.

Tragically, in light of events locally and across the world, police agencies must now be prepared for the unthinkable. 

Both in our schools, and increasingly in our places of work, worship, and recreation, individuals with violent intent bring tragedy into our daily lives.

The French Lick Resort has generously provided local and area first responders a venue to conduct an Active Shooter Event training, which will be held on February 26^th.

First responder agencies from around Orange County will gather for a half-day training event, which will help local law enforcement, fire and EMS to learn and train together in preparing to respond to an active shooter event in, should one ever occur our community.

The Orange County Sheriff Department, French Lick and West Baden Police and Fire Departments, Orange County EMS and the Indiana State Police will all be taking part in the training.

The general public should expect to see higher numbers of police, fire and EMS personnel and vehicles in the area throughout the day.

It is our hope that none of us are ever faced with a situation where these skills must be put to the test, but preparation is key to prevention and a positive outcome should we ever be faced with this type of situation.

Since the spring of 2013, the Indiana State Police has provided free presentations on Unarmed Response to Active Shooter Events.

These presentations are offered for schools, businesses, and places of worship.

If you wish to schedule a program, please visit the Active Shooter Preparedness page on the Indiana State Police website: http://www.in.gov/isp/3191.htm.

An investigation that began in mid-January has led to the arrest of a Franklin man on the charges of Criminal Confinement and Neglect of a Dependent, both level 6 Felonies.

On January 9, 2020, a staff member at Franklin High School was made aware of a situation that occurred off school property involving a 15-year-old student.

That staff member immediately reported the information to the Department of Child Services who subsequently started an investigation into the matter.

DCS contacted the Franklin Police Department who then turned the case over to the Indiana State Police when it was determined the alleged crime occurred in Marion County. 

According to state police detectives, 37-year-old Timothy Hayes Jr. who at the time was a reserve police officer for the Southport Police Department, allegedly utilized his position as a police officer for an attempted scare tactic for his 15-year-old son.

Hayes Jr. allegedly left his son handcuffed and unattended in an intake holding area at the Southport Police Department for more than thirty minutes.

Hayes Jr. then drove his son, who was still handcuffed, to the Adult Processing Center for the Marion County Jail and parked in an area designated for police vehicles, however, neither Hayes Jr. nor his son exited the vehicle.

Hayes Jr. then drove back to his home in Franklin. 

Indiana State Police detectives presented the results of their investigation to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors reviewed the case and subsequently issued an arrest warrant for Timothy Hayes Jr. on February 24th, 2020.

Earlier this morning, Hayes Jr. turned himself into the Marion County Jail.  

The Southport Police Department has been fully cooperative with this investigation.

The Police Chief has placed Hayes Jr. on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation. 

All crimes mentioned in this release are alleged and all suspects named are considered innocent until and unless proven guilty in the court of law.

Washington County Circuit Judge Larry Medlock has set a bench trial for April 14 and 15 to determine Justin Green’s eligibility to be Mayor of the City of Salem. 

Green was sworn in after the November election in which he defeated Democrat challenger William Ackerman by 572 votes and continues to serve in office. 

On February 19, Medlock held another hearing and ruled on several topics brought up by the petitioner, Ackerman, who brought the suit against his Republican challenger in the Nov. 2019 general election. 

This matter was originally brought up in the fall by Washington County Democratic Chair and attorney Darlene Briscoe. 

Briscoe alleged that because Green owned two pieces of property in Washington County (one inside the City of Salem limits and one outside the Salem voting district) that he was living in the residence that was outsisde the city limits. 

However, Green showed proof that he lives in Salem, complete with a home with running water, cable and utility bills addressed to the residence. 

Ackerman filed the suit on November 18, alleging that Green wasn’t a resident of Salem and therefore not eligible to run in the election for mayor. 

Green filed a motion on Feb. 4 to continue a hearing to quash a lawsuit brought by Ackerman who has continued arguing that Green should not have been a candidate for Mayor based on his residency.

Green asked for the hearing to be moved to Feb. 19 at 4p.

Medlock set an emergency order for a hearing to sort out several motions filed by Green in his ongoing battle with Ackerman who has questioned Green’s legitimacy to be mayor.

Medlock responded to each of those as follows:

1.  Ackerman’s Objection to Motion to Quash contains nothing of evidentiary value that would lead the Court to believe that there are no genuine issues of material fact.
   2. Ackerman designated the Amended Verified Petition to Contest the Election includes only conclusory statements that are not evidence.
   3. Ackerman’s statements of facts and sequence of events includes the his legal contentions but are not evidence.
   4. Ackerman’s Response to Subpoena Duces Tecum does not include reliable evidence which could lead the Court to conclude that there are no genuine issues of material fact.
   5. The Affidavit of William Ackerman encompasses [a] wide range of allegations. He attached documents which are not certified or authenticated. Those documents have notations in the margins, but the Court cannot determine who made the notions,
   whether they are accurate, or the purpose of the notions. The Affidavit also contains conclusory determinations of law which Ackerman is not qualified to make. It contains third party hearsay statements and alleged statements from currently confidential sources which cannot be evaluated for reliability or accuracy.
   6. Memorandum in Support of Summary Judgment contains no admissible evidence which would allow the Court to find that there are no genuine issue of material fact. 

Green’s Motion to Strike is granted and because Ackerman’s
Motion for Summary Judgment is so lacking in the designation of evidence, the Court summarily denies the Motion for Summary Judgment, according to Medlock.

Summary Judgment requires [a] party at the time of filing the motion or response, to designate all parts of pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, admissions, matters ofjudicial notice, and any other matters which it relies upon for purposes of the motion. party opposing the motion shall also designate to the Court each material issue of fact which that party asserts precludes entry of Summary Judgment and the evidence relevant thereto.

The judgment sought shall be rendered forthwith if the designated evidentiary matter shows that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as matter of law.

Medlock wrote that the summary judgment cannot be granted based upon Ackerman’s assertion and his conclusions of facts and law that are unsupported by admissible evidence.

On February 19^th, 2020, detectives from the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post arrested a man and woman in connection with a fraudulent home repair scam that had been taking place in the Bluffton (Wells County) area.

Arrested were 

Austin R. Boswell, 24, Hanceville, Alabama

Charged:        Ct. 1- Home Improvement Fraud, Level 6 Felony

                      Ct. 2- Theft, Level 6 Felony

Candace Lane Prairie, 29, Peru, Indiana

Charged:         Ct. 1- Home Improvement Fraud, Level 6 Felony

                       Ct. 2- Theft, Level 6 Felony

Both taken into custody and booked into the Wells County Jail last Wednesday evening, charged with felony offenses related to the alleged home improvement scam.

The investigation began when a concerned family member of the victim contacted the Bluffton Police Department after discovering large sums of money transfers out of the victim’s bank account.

The investigation found that from January 8^th through February 20^th the suspects purported to have done work on the victim’s foundation, driveway, roof, and lighting rods that were attached to the house.

The suspects also expanded their scheme by utilizing perpetrators other than just contractors, who presented themselves as State agents and inspectors.

Documents were presented to the victim falsely claiming back taxes were due on his property and then attempted to collect payment for the alleged back taxes.

Although these two alleged suspects were identified, taken into custody, and charged during this investigation, it is believed that there were several other accomplices involved in the fraudulent activities and a strong possibility that other homeowners in the region may have been victimized under similar circumstances.

If you think that you may have been the victim of a recent home repair fraud in or around the Wells County area, or if you as a caregiver or family member of a person that may have been victimized, you are urged to contact detectives at the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post at (260)432-8661.

Your information may prove valuable in preventing others from falling prey to these types of scam artists.