A Salem man was arrested after a Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department deputy stopped his vehicle on Doc Hamilton Boulevard for speeding.

“The driver, 31-year-old Sean Lozier, had a rifle on the front seat passenger seat and refused to several commands by the deputy to exit the vehicle,” according to Chief Deputy Aaron Shoults.

Police arrested Lozer on a charge of resisting arrest.

“At that point, a Mitchell Police officer arrived with his K9 and the dog alerted to possible drugs in the vehicle,” Chief Deputy Shoults noted.

During a search of the vehicle, officers found 7.35 grams of meth, a scale, and straws with meth residue on them.

Lozer was charged with dealing meth, possession of meth, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A Sellersburg woman was pulled over on a traffic stop and found to be in possession of drugs while having a young child in the car. 

Rachel A. Wiggins, 37, of Sellersburg was found to be driving while suspended.

Further investigation led to the discovery of methamphetamine, numerous syringes, and drug paraphernalia.  

Wiggins was arrested and transported to the Clark County Jail, she is charged with the following:  

1.  Neglect of a Dependent, a Level 6 Felony
2.  Possession of Methamphetamine, a Level 6 Felony
3.  Unlawful Possession of Syringe, a Level 6 Felony
4.  Possession of Paraphernalia, a Class C Misdemeanor
5.  Unauthorized Possession, Display, Use of Suspended License, a Class C Misdemeanor

On Monday, September 9th, Trooper Tate Rohlfing made a traffic stop for driving left of center, that stopped landed the driver in jail on drug and other charges. 

At approximately 3:45 p.m. on Monday, Trooper Rohlfing observed a Ford Mustang drive left of center on Randolph Avenue and initiated a traffic stop for the violation.

Monday morning, September 9 at approximately 4:30 am, the Indiana State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash where a semi ran off the road and overturned on I-65 Northbound in Jackson County. 

The driver of the semi was arrested for operating while intoxicated.  The northbound lanes of I-65 remained closed for approximately eight hours for crash investigation and cleanup.

The initial investigation by Trooper James Herbert indicated a 2009 Volvo semi pulling an enclosed trailer being driven by James M. Murphy, age 56, was traveling northbound on I-65 near the 51.5-mile marker, just north of Seymour. 

The vehicle left the east side of the roadway before striking a guardrail and overturning off the east side of I-65.

During the initial investigation, Trp. Herbert observed that Murphy had been drinking alcohol and he showed signs of being intoxicated. 

A roadside preliminary breath test indicated Murphy had a .26% BAC.  Murphy was transported to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, Indiana where a search warrant was served to obtain a blood sample from him. 

The toxicology results are pending at this time.

Murphy was arrested and transported to the Jackson County Jail on charges of Operating While Intoxicated and Operating with a BAC .15% or greater. 

He was also cited for Open Container Violation and Disregarding a Traffic Control Device.  Murphy will soon receive an initial court appearance in the Jackson County Superior Court.

Neither Murphy nor an adult female passenger in the vehicle was injured in the crash.

The investigation is ongoing.  

All I-65 Northbound traffic was diverted onto US 50 and then to US 31 north from Seymour during the interstate closure.

The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Seymour Police Department, Redding Township Fire Department, and 31 Wrecker Service.

Last Friday, just before midnight Patricia Ann Ritzenthaler, 73 of Bloomington allegedly operated her vehicle while intoxicated.

She was discovered shortly after she purportedly drove over concrete curbing at the State Police Post in Bloomington, causing the vehicle to become immobile.

She was driving a 2003 Ford Thunderbird. 

Her vehicle was hanging freely over a steep ledge when Trooper Sam Wagner arrived at the scene.

Trooper Wagner’s investigation, his experience, and a certified breath test led him to discover several factors of probable cause that Ritzenthaler was intoxicated.

Ritzenthaler was charged with operating while intoxicated and operating with a blood alcohol content of greater than .08% BAC.

She was remanded into the custody of the Monroe County Sheriff.

Troopers encourage all motorists to call 911 or the closest Indiana State Police Post when they observe another motorist that may be impaired. Please be prepared to give a description of the vehicle, location, and direction of travel.

Indiana State Police arrested a 15-year-old Scottsburg High School student after he allegedly called in a bomb threat to the school on Monday morning.

Today, at approximately 9:45 a.m., Scottsburg High School authorities were alerted to a possible bomb threat when a student received a text stating a bomb had been placed in a school locker. 

School officials immediately evacuated the building and alerted police.  Officers utilized bomb-sniffing dogs to search and clear the building.  

Police eventually determined the threat to be a hoax.

Working alongside Scottsburg school resource officers, Detective Matt Busick with the Indiana State Police ascertained the threat was transmitted via a texting app which is sometimes used in an attempt to disguise the sender. 

Detective Busick was later able to associate the text with a 15-year-old Scottsburg student, who was then questioned. 

As a result of the investigation, Detective Busick arrested the student at approximately 2 p.m. today and transported the teen to the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center. 

The student is charged with Intimidation, a Level Six Felony.