On February 18, 2020, Deputy John Smith conducted an investigation in Austin in reference to a complaint of invasion of privacy.  The investigation led to the arrest of two people.  Aaron Dunn, 31, of Austin was arrested for Invasion of Privacy.  Ashley Dunn, 31, of North Vernon, In. was also arrested for Invasion of Privacy. 

On February 19, 2020, Deputies Zach Brown and Kenton Makowsky conducted a traffic stop in Austin.  An investigation led to the arrest of Chasity Samson, 25, of Austin for Possession of a Schedule I, II, III or IV Controlled Substance, Possession of a Legend Drug and Maintaining a Common Nuisance. 

On February 19, 2020, Deputies Keith Hartman and Christopher Bowling went to an address on Main Street in Austin in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.  Upon arrival Otis Bishop, 37, of Austin was arrested on an outstanding warrant for Failure to Appear if the Charge was a Felony. 

Tuesday night a traffic stop for failing to signal a turn led to the arrest of a Muncie couple on felony drug charges.  Last night (2/18/2020) around 10 p.m. Trooper Jacob Ridgway was driving through Muncie when he observed a green Ford Explorer on East Highland St. at North Penn St. fail to signal a turn and with no functioning license plate light.

Ridgway got the vehicle stopped and made contact with the driver, Travis Hoover, age 49, of Muncie, and his passenger Kassandra Rankin, age 30, also of Muncie. Troopers Ratliff, Tinch and Garcia were nearby and came to assist Ridgway.  Trooper Ratliff took his K-9 partner “Tora” around the outside of the Explorer and the dog alerted to the presence of contraband.

Further investigation by the troopers turned up white powder believed to be Methamphetamine, a liquid believed to be Fentanyl, a baggie with suspected Heroin and pills identified as Suboxone in the vehicle.

Both Hoover and Rankin were arrested and charged with Level 6 Felony charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Narcotic Drug, Possession of a Legend Drug and Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe.

In addition, the couple was charged with misdemeanor Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Paraphernalia.  Hoover and Rankin were lodged in the Delaware County Jail.

Indiana State Police and Indiana State Parole responded to an apartment located at 1510 Riverside Drive yesterday morning after receiving information that illegal drug activity may be occurring.

When officers arrived they found Margaret Gibson, 36, inside apartment A4. Joseph Martin, 37, who is the tenant of the apartment, arrived a short time later.

While inside the apartment officers found 12 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, drug paraphernalia, a loaded .32 caliber handgun, and ammunition.

Martin and Gibson were arrested and taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail where they are currently being held without bond.

Arrested and Charges:

• Joseph Martin, 37, 1510 Riverside Drive, Apartment A4, Evansville, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 2 Felony
2. Possession of Meth, Level 4 Felony
3. Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, Level 5 Felony
4. Parole Violation Warrant
5.  

Margaret Gibson, 36, Evansville, IN

• Dealing Meth, Level 2 Felony
• Possession of Meth, Level 4 Felony

Investigating Agencies: Indiana State Police and Indiana State Parole

An Anderson couple was arrested last evening after a trooper stopped their vehicle for having a false and fictitious registration plate. Trooper Matt Dickerson was driving north on Scatterfield Rd last evening around 10 p.m. when he stopped at a red light near Lindberg Rd. next to a Ford Edge. He ran the license plate on the Edge and found it came back to another vehicle, a Dodge Dakota pickup.

As the light changed Dickerson got behind the vehicle and got it stopped, making contact with the driver Michael Pisano, age 41 of Anderson, and his wife, Jamie Pisano, age 43.  Dickerson found that Michael Pisano was driving with a suspended driver’s license and also had active arrest warrants from Madison County for Failure to Appear for Possession of Methamphetamine, Carrying a Handgun Without a License and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Troopers Trent Jones and Jared Fradenburg were nearby and came to assist Dickerson, along with officers from the Anderson Police Department. A license check on Jamie Pisano found that she was also wanted on arrest warrants out of Madison County for Conversion.  Further investigation by the officers turned up over 50 grams of Methamphetamine, smoking pipes as well as marijuana in the vehicle.

In addition to their active arrest warrants, Michael and Jamie Pisano were arrested and charged with Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 3 Felony, Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 3 Felony and Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Paraphernalia. Michael Pisano was also issued traffic tickets for Driving While License Suspended and False and Ficitious Registration Plate. The couple was lodged in the Madison County Jail. Anyone with information about illegal drug activity may call the Indiana State Police Drug Tip Line at 1-800-453-4756. Tips can be made and kept anonymous.

The Indiana DNR Division of Law Enforcement is looking to fill Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO) positions across the state with highly motivated, outdoor-centered individuals.

Anyone interested in a career as an ICO should first read “Becoming a Conservation Officer” at dnr.IN.gov/lawenfor and complete the pre-screening test at dnr.IN.gov/lawenfor/9801.htm.  Completion of the pre-screening test by midnight Feb. 28 is required to be considered for the 2020 hiring process, which starts in early March.

To be qualified to pass the pre-screening test, you must be a U.S. citizen; be 21 years old by April 16, 2021; and have an associate’s degree from an accredited college or completed 60 hours toward a bachelor’s degree, or have four years full time active military service with an honorable discharge by Sept. 21, 2020. You must be able to pass minimum Indiana Law Enforcement Academy physical fitness requirements as listed at ilea.IN.gov/2338.htm.

Conservation officers comprise Indiana’s oldest state law enforcement agency. ICOs are fully recognized Indiana police officers who enforce and uphold all DNR rules and regulations as well as all other Indiana state laws. ICOs spend the majority of their time enforcing fishing and hunting regulations, conducting marine boat patrol on Indiana’s waterways, and patrolling DNR properties to keep them safe and family friendly.

In addition to traditional law enforcement work, ICOs also engage in many specialty areas, including Scuba, K-9, search and rescue, swift water rescue and many more.

Just before 2:00 p.m. today emergency crews were called to the scene of a semi tractor-trailer crash on the ramp from I-465 southbound to I-70 eastbound on the east side of Indianapolis. 911 calls were indicating the semi overturned and there was a large fire.

Trooper Chris Hanson was the first on the scene and assisted three other Good Samaritans with treating the driver’s injuries until medics arrived.

Preliminary information is three people stopped when they saw the wreckage and helped the driver escape the flames. The driver was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. 

Preliminary investigation revealed the semi tractor-trailer was exiting from I-465 onto I-70 when it overturned on the curve of the ramp.

Investigators believe unsafe speed contributed to the roll-over. The driver was identified as 59 year old Jeffrey Denman of Brownsburg Indiana. 

I-70 eastbound and westbound was closed in the area for approximately two hours while the fire was extinguished and the scene rendered safe, it is now open.

I-465 southbound ramp to I-70 eastbound will remain closed for several hours while the wreckage is removed. 

The state police were assisted in this investigation by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Indianapolis Fire Department, Indiana Department of Transportation, the Marion County Health Department, Zores Wrecker Service, and Indianapolis EMS

The Office of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) has filed criminal charges in two counties following its investigation of a nurse who admitted diverting pain medications intended for hospice patients for her personal use.

The nurse, Jennifer L. Daniel, 40, of New Albany, also admitted forging prescriptions for hydrocodone for herself, which she subsequently filled in Clark County.

In Clark County, Daniel faces felony charges of interference with medical services; forgery; and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, deceit or subterfuge.

In Scott County, she faces a felony charge of interference with medical services.

Prosecutors in those counties gave the MFCU permission to proceed with the prosecution pursuant to a provision of Indiana law designed for that purpose.

The same investigation also led to felony charges being filed by the Floyd County Prosecutor’s Office.

“Health care professionals are trusted to deliver the medication that patients need to treat their conditions,” Attorney General Curtis Hill said.  “When that trust is violated, there must be consequences.”

Daniel was licensed as a registered nurse in Indiana on March 13, 2015.

She was terminated from Southern care Hospice in New Albany for failing to follow the procedure.

Her license currently remains active.