On December 27, 2019, Deputy Johnney Coomer and Reserve Deputy Todd Hooker with the Scott County Sheriff’s office and Indiana State trooper Cameron Collins went to an address in Scottsburg in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.  Upon arrival Deontre Robinson, 36, of Scottsburg was arrested on an outstanding out of county warrant. 

On December 28, 2019, Deputy Kenton Makowsky conducted a stop of a bicyclist in Scottsburg.  An investigation led to the arrest of Jeremy Mcintosh, 41, of New Albany, In. for Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Marijuana. 

On December 30, 2019, Deputies Kenton Makowsky, Johnney Coomer and Skylar Thompson went to a local business in Scottsburg in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.  Upon arrival Jeff Graham, 51, of Scottsburg was arrested on an outstanding out of county warrant. 

The Scott County Commissioners mandated that the Scott County Sheriff’s Office take over security from the existing security company at the Scott County Courthouse. Beginning January 2nd, the Scott County Courthouse will be changing the way people enter and exit the courthouse.

As part of the changes, everyone, including employees, entering and exiting the courthouse will have to enter and exit on the east side of the courthouse, (side containing the handicapped accessible ramp). Every person to include any purse or bag they are in possession of will be subject to a search and walking through a metal detector, looking for weapons or instruments of harm to others.

The Scott County Courthouse already has an existing Local Rule that was ordered by the Scott County Courts known as LR72-AR00-15. This local rule states:

No guns, knives or weapons of any kind shall be allowed in the Scott County Courthouse except those in possession of law enforcement or other persons duly authorized by the Judges or the Scott County Commissioners to possess the same in the Courthouse. Law enforcement, Courthouse Security or Court Staff are authorized to conduct searches of anyone in the Courthouse to ensure compliance with the rule.

Security cameras, in keeping with professional judicial standards, are authorized within the Courthouse and under such terms and conditions as approved by the Judges. The provisions of this rule apply to the security devices with the Courtrooms. No recordings or reproductions from such security cameras shall be made without the approval of the Judges and no recordings made from such cameras shall be used for any purpose without the approval of the Judges.

We know it may be confusing or frustrating at first but, as time goes on, it will become as commonplace as the way things operate now. Actually, most courthouses across the United States and Indiana already have this style of security in operation and it was mandated by the Indiana Supreme Court. The Indiana Supreme Court adopted Administrative Rule 19, Court Security Plans, which was effective January 1, 2014.

If anyone has a question about how to access the courthouse for any reason, you can call 812-722-0905, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, (regular courthouse hours).

Sergeant Curt Durnil was recently recognized in a ceremony in Indianapolis for achieving 25 years of service with the Indiana State Police.

Durnil graduated from the 51st ISP Recruit School on December 4th, 1994.

For reaching this milestone, he received an award from Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas G. Carter that consisted of a framed certificate and a longevity pin to be worn on the uniform.

A native of Monroe County, Durnil grew up in Ellettsville and graduated from Edgewood High School in 1989. Durnil attended Bethel University in McKenzie TN from 1989-1991 and then graduated from Indiana University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Education.

Sgt. Durnil also served at the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office from 1991-1994 in various positions including Director of the Check Deception Division.

Upon his graduation from the ISP Academy, Durnil was assigned to the Connersville Post where he served as a road trooper until ultimately transferring to the Bloomington Post in 1997. Sgt. Durnil was then promoted to his current position as Public Information Officer in 2007 where he is primarily responsible for coordinating and facilitating department public education and information programs.

Durnil can be heard mornings and afternoons on local Bloomington radio stations with updates on area traffic and construction. Sgt. Durnil also co-hosts the award winning call in radio show “CopTalk” on Friday’s at 1pm on WHCC 105.1 FM.

Sgt. Durnil is the son of ISP Captain Jimmie Durnil (Ret) and the brother of Master Trooper Todd Durnil, who also serves the Bloomington District. Durnil, his wife Lori and their seven children reside in rural Monroe County.

Last year during New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, more than 900 crashes occurred throughout Indiana resulting in 174 injuries and four fatalities.

To help ensure everyone’s safety last night and early this morning, Indiana State Police increased their patrols and targeted dangerous and impaired drivers.

Troopers at the Evansville District arrested three impaired drivers overnight. One of those impaired drivers had a blood alcohol content of .35%, which is four times over the legal limit.

The following were arrested for Driving While Intoxicated:

Pike County:

• Robert W. Daugherty, 32, Petersburg, IN (BAC .14%)

1. Driving While Intoxicated with a Prior DUI Conviction, Level 6 Felony

Gibson County:

• Kenan J. Bajzath, 27, Elberfeld, IN (BAC .13%)

1. Driving While Intoxicated with a Prior DUI Conviction, Level 6 Felony

Knox County:

• Isaac W. Schmitt, 36, Vincennes, IN (BAC .35%)

1. Driving While Intoxicated, Class A Misdemeanor

Arresting Officers: Trooper Johnathan Lukeman, Trooper CJ Boeckman and Trooper Brock Buchanan

A 36-year old Bedford man was arrested for dealing meth on Thursday, December 26^th. the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section and the Indiana State Police Bloomington District ACES concluded a lengthy investigation that resulted in the arrest of a Bedford man.

ISP Troopers had obtained information that Danny Collins, 36, of Bedford was involved in dealing methamphetamine. In addition, it was also known that Collins was wanted on two active arrest warrants; one for Failure to Appear and the original charge of Dealing Methamphetamine.

DES Detectives, along with Sgt. Greg Day, Trp. Caleb Garvin, Trp. Matt Hatchett and Officer Shaun Cabral of the Lawrence County Highway Interdiction Team discovered that Collins was at a residence in the 1300 block of U Street in Bedford. Upon arrival at the residence, the homeowner allowed officers to enter. 

They located Collins and arrested him without incident.

While taking Collins into custody, troopers discovered he was in possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and several hundred dollars. Along with evidence found at the time of arrest, troopers developed probable cause to show that Collins was dealing methamphetamine.

Just after 8:00 a.m., on Sunday, December 29, 2019, the Cloverdale Fire Department was responding to a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 70 near the thirty-eight-mile marker.  Upon arrival to the scene, fire department personnel positioned all emergency vehicles in the passing lane of I-70, with all emergency lights activated.

A 2019 Tesla, driven by a Derrick N. Monet, age 25, of Prescott Valley, Arizona, failed to observe the emergency vehicle positioned in the passing lane of I-70, running into the back of the parked fire truck. 

Derrick Monet and a passenger, his wife, Jenna N. Monet, age 23, also of Prescott Valley, Arizona, received serious injuries from the impact. 

Both occupants had to be extricated and were transported to the hospital for immediate medical care.  Jenna Monet later succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at Terre Haute Regional Hospital. 

There were no injuries to firefighters. 

Senior Trooper Adam Edwards of the Putnamville State Police Post is the lead investigator, being assisted by Senior Trooper Tim Rader who will be conducting the reconstruction of the accident. 

Drugs and alcohol are not a contributing factor of the crash. 

Family members have been notified. 

Assisting Agencies: Troopers from the Putnamville State Police Post, Putnam County Operation Life, STAR Ambulance, Cloverdale Fire Department, Indiana Department of Transportation, and Curtis Wrecker Service. 

Jackson County Sheriff Rick Meyer says his office has learned about a scam of an unknown man calling residents pretending to be a police officer.

A subject has reportedly been phoning people saying he is Officer Nathaniel Johnson with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. The caller then tells residents they missed a jury trial and they need to report to the sheriff.

Sheriff Meyer wants the public to know they do not have an officer named Nathaniel Johnson in their department, and anyone who receives the suspicious call should report the incident to the sheriff’s office.