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.

Deputy Josh Juliot responded to a vehicle accident in the area of Coffee Pot Road and Highway 31.

Upon arrival, Deputy Juliot began conducting his investigation and discovered the driver of the vehicle, identified as Roger White, age 59, of Scottsburg, admitted to having marijuana in the vehicle.

Further investigation resulted in a search of White’s vehicle. Deputy Juliot located marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and methamphetamine. White was arrested and transported to the Scott County Jail.

White was charged with POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE, POSSESSION OF PARAPHERNALIA, and POSSESSION MARIJUANA/HASH OIL/HASHISH OR SALVIA.

On December 23, 2019, Deputy Kenton Makowsky and Deputy Johnney Coomer responded to a residence on County Line Road in reference to a possible medical issue.

Upon arrival, Deputy Makowsky located Daniel R. Goetzinger, age 32, of Underwood, Alexus Smith, age 22, of Underwood, and Tristen Jackson, age 22, of Underwood. A search of the residence revealed illicit drugs and paraphernalia. All three were arrested.

Upon arrival to the Scott County Jail, Smith denied any illicit drugs on her person. It was discovered Smith was in possession of illicit drugs while being processed into the Scott County Jail, specifically methamphetamine. She was charged with MAINTAINING A COMMON NUISANCE, POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE, and TRAFFICKING WITH AN INMATE.

Jackson was arrested and transported to the Scott County Jail. She was charged with MAINTAINING A COMMON NUISANCE, NEGLECT OF A DEPENDENT, POSSESSION OF PARAPHERNALIA, POSSESSION OF A SYNTHETIC DRUG OR A SYNTHETIC DRUG LOOKALIKE, and POSSESSION MARIJUANA/HASH OIL/HASHISH OR SALVIA.

Goetzinger was arrested and transported to the Scott County Jail. He was charged with POSSESSION OF COCAINE OR SCHEDULE I OR II NARCOTIC DRUG – AT LEAST 5 LT 10 GRAMS, MAINTAINING A COMMON NUISANCE, POSSESSION OF A SYNTHETIC DRUG OR A SYNTHETIC DRUG LOOKALIKE, and POSSESSION MARIJUANA/HASH OIL/HASHISH OR SALVIA .

On December 24, 2019, Deputy Kenton Makowsky served an active warrant on Ashley McIntosh, age 24, of Austin, at her residence. McIntosh was arrested for DOMESTIC BATTERY and transported to the Scott County Jail.

Sherif Goodin is wanting to notify the public that a registered sex offender has moved from Jackson County, and is now residing at 974 S. 1st Street Scottsburg, In 47170.

Name: Deontre Robinson

DOB: xx/xx/1983

 New Address: 974 S. 1st Street

Scottsburg, In 47170

This offender was convicted of Child Molesting in St. Joseph County, Indiana in 2003.

This Offender is not wanted by law enforcement at this time.

This notification is not intended to increase fear; rather it is our belief that an informed public is a safer public.

This information cannot be used to threaten, intimidate, or harass Registered Sex Offenders. Citizen abuse will not be tolerated.

Such abuse could potentially end law enforcement’s ability to do community notifications.

A Scottsburg City police officer was arrested by Indiana State Police detectives after receiving a complaint of alleged domestic battery. 

Shortly after noon on Sunday, Indiana State Police Detective Travis Baker and Detective Sergeant Dave Mitchell were contacted in reference to a possible battery that occurred during the early Sunday morning hours at a Lexington, Indiana residence. 

After interviewing the female victim, Detectives Baker and Mitchell met with, and interviewed the suspect, Shane R. Gibson, 33, of Lexington, Indiana, at the Scottsburg City Police Department where Gibson is currently employed as a Patrol Officer. 

Gibson was off duty and not in uniform at the time of the alleged incident and interview. 

As a result of the investigation, Shane R. Gibson was arrested on charges of Criminal Confinement, a Level 6 Felony and Domestic Battery, a level 6 Felony.  Gibson was then transported and remanded into the custody of the Washington County Jail without incident.