On Wednesday, December 25th, 2019 at approximately 1:50 p.m. confinement officers at the Adams County Detention Center contacted emergency services to respond to their facility in reference to an inmate found unresponsive.

First responders and paramedics arrived on the scene to find CPR being performed on the inmate by Adams County Sheriff Deputies and Confinement Officers.

All efforts at resuscitation were unsuccessful. The inmate was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

An investigation of this incident is being conducted by the Indiana State Police and the Adams County Coroner’s Office.

The name of the deceased inmate is being withheld at this time pending notification of family members.

Late last week the Indiana State Police concluded a lengthy investigation and arrested two individuals for methamphetamine-related offenses. The Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section and the Indiana State Police Bloomington District ACES had information that Brandy Shifflett, 40 years old of Bedford, was possibly involved in dealing methamphetamine. Shifflett was also known to be wanted on two active arrest warrants – one from Lawrence County and one from Owen County.

Probable cause was then established for the issuance of a search warrant in the 5800 blocks of Taylor Ridge Road in Greene County.

DES Detectives, along with Sgt. Greg Day, Trp. Caleb Garvin, Trp. Robert Whyte, and Trp. Matt Hatchett (with K9 partner Axe), executed the search warrant on Friday afternoon. Upon arrival, troopers encountered the homeowner, Garry Chaney, 52 years old of Bloomfield near the edge of the yard. Upon entry into the residence, Troopers located Shifflett and took her into custody.

During the search, troopers located methamphetamine near the area where they first encountered Chaney after he had attempted to conceal it by throwing it into the weeds. They also located what was believed to be an illegally taken whitetail deer. 

The Indiana Conservation Officers were notified of the deer.

Chaney was arrested and incarcerated in the Greene County Jail for the offenses of Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony) and Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony).

Shifflett was arrested on the two warrants and transported to the Lawrence County Jail. 

Once there, jail staff located methamphetamine and marijuana that Shifflett had concealed in a body cavity. Shifflett was then charged with Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony) and Possession of Marijuana (Class B Misdemeanor), in addition to the warrants.

Anyone with information regarding illegal drug activity is encouraged to contact the Indiana State Police Bloomington Post at 812-332-4411.  Your tip can remain anonymous.

 A man and woman from Indianapolis were arrested last night after Trooper Christopher Stout pulled them over for an improperly registered vehicle.

The traffic stop occurred near 38th Street and Shadeland Avenue just after 11 p.m. last night. During his interaction with the two occupants of the Ford Explorer, Stout determined the driver was a Habitual Traffic Violator, making it a felony to drive a vehicle, and the female passenger was wanted on a burglary warrant out of Marion County. 

Trooper Brandon Fletcher arrived on scene to assist and both occupants were taken into custody.

Stout could see two syringes laying on the driver’s floorboard as the driver was stepping out. A subsequent search of the vehicle and the two occupants revealed 27 syringes, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and 121 pills.

Both subjects were transported to the Marion County Jail.

• Driver: Michael Jobe (39)
  • Possession of a Syringe (24 counts) Level 6 Felony
  • Operating a Vehicle while a Habitual Traffic Violator (1 count) Level 6 Felony
  • Possession of a Narcotic Drug (1 count) Level 6 Felony
  • Possession of a Narcotic Drug Under 5 Grams (1 count) Level 5 Felony
  • Possession of Methamphetamine (1 count) Level 6 Felony
  • Possession of Methamphetamine under 5 Grams (1 count) Level 5 Felony
  • Possession of Marijuana (1 count) B Misdemeanor
  • Visiting a Common Nuisance / Legend Drug (121 Counts) B Misdemeanor
• Passenger: Christina Kimmerle (40)
  • Possession of a Syringe (3 counts) Level 6 Felony
  • Wanted on Warrant – Burglary 

Any person named above is considered innocent until proven guilty in court. All charges listed are merely accusations, actual charges will be determined by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.

The Indiana State Police Bloomington District ACES (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Section) and the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section arrested James Sykes, 55, of Bedford. Troopers had probable cause to believe Sykes was involved with dealing methamphetamine and heroin in Lawrence County.

At approximately 1:00 pm, Trp. Caleb Garvin observed Sykes operating a white, Honda scooter near 15^th and G Street in Bedford. While traveling westbound on 15^th Street, Sykes was observed changing lanes multiple times without the use of a turn signal and also disregarding a red light.

As Sykes turned north onto Lincoln Avenue, from 15^th Street, Trp. Garvin turned on his emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop on multiple violations. However, Sykes accelerated the scooter and refused to stop. 

A pursuit was initiated.

During the pursuit, Garvin observed Sykes throw a small bag near the alley between L and K Street, north of 15^th Street. As the pursuit continued, the scooter overturned. Trp. Garvin and Sgt. Greg Day then took Sykes into custody. 

Sykes was uninjured from the crash and the scooter was not damaged.

Trp. Garvin went back and retrieved the baggie that he observed Sykes throw. Inside the baggie, troopers located approximately 7 grams of methamphetamine along with heroin and controlled substance pills. 

Sykes was also found to be in possession of several hundred dollars.

Sykes was arrested and incarcerated at the Lawrence County Jail for the following offenses;

1. Dealing Methamphetamine with a Prior Conviction, Level 2 Felony
2. Dealing a Narcotic Drug (Heroin) with a Prior Conviction, Level 4 Felony
3. Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 4 Felony
4. Possession of Narcotic Drug (Heroin), Level 5 Felony
5. Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, Level 6 Felony

On Thursday, December 19^th, while conducting a patrol in Lawrence County the Bloomington District ACES arrested Jacqueline Hardy, 42 years old of Bloomington. Trp. Caleb Garvin and Sgt. Greg Day conducted a traffic stop along State Road 37, just south of Ingram Road, on a black Chevrolet Avalanche for a traffic violation.

While at the vehicle speaking with the occupants, troopers detected indicators of criminal activity.

The female passenger, later identified as Hardy, was unable to produce any identification. She gave troopers a name, date of birth, and social security number that were all found to be false. Troopers were able to eventually confirm her true identity and discovered that Hardy had two active arrest warrants – one from Monroe County and one from Owen County.

Trp. Richard Klun arrived and deployed his canine, Loki, who gave a positive alert for the presence of drugs in the vehicle. As troopers arrested Hardy for her warrants, they located approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine in her possession.

Hardy was arrested and then incarcerated at the Lawrence County Jail for the following offenses;

1. Possession of Methamphetamine Over 10 Grams, Level 4 Felony
2. Identity Deception, Level 6 Felony
3. Two Arrest Warrants

Anyone with information about illegal drugs is encouraged to contact the Indiana State Police Bloomington Post at 812-332-4411.

Detectives with the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section (DES) and the Bloomington District A.C.E.S. (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Section) executed a search warrant at 511 15^th Street, in Bedford yesterday afternoon. 

Troopers found probable cause to believe Kassandra Young was dealing large amounts of methamphetamine in and around Lawrence County after working a lengthy investigation.

The investigation leads troopers to the residence on 15^th Street where Young was arrested on a warrant for previous methamphetamine charges in Lawrence County. 

Troopers then executed a search warrant at the residence locating digital scales, paraphernalia and over 20 grams of alleged methamphetamine. 

Young was then incarcerated for the active warrant for her arrest along with charges of;

• Dealing Methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine a Level 4 Felony.

Anyone with information regarding illegal drug activity is encouraged to contact the Indiana State Police Bloomington Post at (812) 332-4411. Your tip can remain anonymous.

On December 18, 2019, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Trooper Andrew Mattern was patrolling in the area of Poplar and 25th Street, when he stopped a 2005 Ford for exceeding the posted speed limit of 46 mph in a 30 mph zone. 

The driver was identified as Manuel D. Akers, age 56, of Terre Haute, IN.  Suspicious activity was detected and a search of the vehicle was conducted. 

Trooper Mattern located 2.3 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Further investigation by Trooper Mattern also revealed that Akers displayed signs of impairment.  Akers agreed to submit to a certified test and failed. 

Akers was arrested and taken to the Vigo County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.    

Arrested and Charges:  Manuel Akers, 56, Terre Haute

• Possession of Methamphetamine, Felony 6 
• Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor
• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, Class C Misdemeanor
• Operating a vehicle with a schedule I or II controlled substance, Class A Misdemeanor

Assisting:  Senior Trooper David Petrowski of the Putnamville State Police Post. 

All criminal defendants are to presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.