Louisville Zoo Keeper Alexis Williamson has been awarded the Lutz Ruhe Professional of the Year Award by the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK). 

Williamson, who works in Gorilla Forest, was honored at the association’s national conference on Tuesday, Aug. 20 in Indianapolis.

The Lutz Ruhe Professional of the Year award recognizes outstanding commitment to professionalism.

Williamson’s conservation efforts were specifically noted which include contributions to Plinko for a Porpoise and the Zoo’s flagship Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center as well as generational record contributions for the gorillas housed at the Louisville Zoo.

In addition, she has been a vital part of the formation of the Animal Enrichment Tree Program at the Zoo while serving on the enrichment committee. Williamson has been president of the AAZK chapter at the Zoo for 14 years.

The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

A Cincinnati Ohio man was arrested earlier this week when it was discovered he was driving impaired after “huffing paint”.

On Monday, August 26^th, 2019, at approximately 5:15 p.m., First Sergeant Terrance Weems was eastbound on I-80/94 in the left-center lane (four lanes of traffic) west of Burr Street when he saw a red car overtaking him quickly. 

Traffic was heavy and moving slow.  The red car, later identified as a 2012 Hyundai, overtook and passed Weems unmarked police car and began to follow another vehicle less than a car length. 

The Hyundai eventually moved to the left lane and began passing traffic on the left shoulder, cutting off another vehicle, and changing lanes without utilizing a turn signal. 

Weems was able to stop the Hyundai at the 6.9-mile marker (approximately a mile east of Burr Street).  Upon approaching the Hyundai, Weems was hit with a strong odor of spray paint coming from inside the car. 

The driver, later identified as Alec E. Sadauskas, 21 of Cincinnati, Ohio, had red spray paint on his face, hands, neck, shirt and a blue jean jacket. 

Sadauskas’ speech was slurred and he appeared confused while Weems talked with him.  When questioned about the paint he began to get angry and said the paint can “exploded” in his face.  The paint can, however, was intact and not damaged.

Further investigation revealed that Sadauskas was under the influence, with the spray paint being used as an intoxicant. 

Sadauskas was taken and incarcerated at the Lake County Jail in Crown Point and charged with;

• Operating While Intoxicated
• Operating While Intoxicated Endangerment
• Speeding
• Improper Passing on the Left
• Following too Closely
• Unsafe Lane Movement

A DeKalb County fugitive, 37-year-old Justin Loren Crager of Garrett, Indiana, is now behind bars after holding police at bay during a five hour armed barricade in Huntington earlier this morning.  

The incident started this morning at approximately 7:30 am, when State Troopers from the Fort Wayne Post went to a residence in the 1500 block of Canfield Dr, Huntington, searching for Justin Crager who was wanted on six outstanding DeKalb County felony arrest warrants, all related to Dealing Methamphetamine and Possession of Methamphetamine charges. 

Troopers had developed information that Crager was hiding out at this residence in an apparent effort to avoid police detection and apprehension.

Troopers arrived at the residence and spoke with a female and a male associate of Crager. They identified Crager and stated that he was in an upstairs bedroom armed with a handgun.  Troopers made verbal contact with Crager and spent nearly two hours attempting to get him to peacefully surrender. 

After exhausting their options,  Troopers contacted the Fort Wayne Police Department Special Operations Emergency Services Team (EST) for assistance in resolving the situation.

At approximately 11:30 am, FWPD Hostage Negotiators were able to make phone contact with Crager, and from those successful negotiations, Crager agreed to a peaceful surrender. 

He was taken into custody by FWPD EST officers around 12:30 pm without further incident and then turned over to State Police Detectives.

As a result of today’s incident, Crager was transported to the Huntington County Jail. He was arrested on charges of Resisting Law Enforcement and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and booked into the custody of the Huntington County jail staff. 

He will be held there until transferred at a later date to the DeKalb County Jail, at which time he makes an appearance on the six outstanding felony warrants that initiated the events that took place today.

The Indiana State Police Troopers were assisted during today’s incident by the Huntington Police Department,  Huntington County Sheriff’s Department, the Fort Wayne Special Operations Units (EST/Negotiators/Air Support Units), and the Huntington EMS.       

This afternoon at approximately 3:24, Trooper Fulton was patrolling US 41 near St. George Road when he observed the driver of a 1995 Honda Accord traveling south in a reckless manner.

The vehicle was clocked by radar at 82 mph and was swerving in and out of traffic. Trooper Fulton stopped the vehicle just north of Lynch Road and discovered the driver and passenger had knife wounds and were traveling to an Evansville Hospital for treatment.

The driver was identified as Sean Keith, 30, of Evansville and his passenger was identified as Stephanie Marshall, 28, of Evansville.

Both individuals were transported to Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville.

Further investigation revealed Keith and Marshall were driving in northern Vanderburgh County when an argument erupted between the two of them.

Keith allegedly pulled over at unknown location, exited his vehicle, approached the passenger’s side and allegedly stabbed Marshall.

Troopers believe Keith was attempting to stab Marshall in the neck area, but was stabbed in her hand when she tried to defend herself. Keith received his injury during the stabbing.

After the stabbing incident, Keith was in the process of driving Marshall to an Evansville Hospital when he was stopped on US 41 near Lynch Road for reckless driving. After Keith was treated for his injury, he was arrested and taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail. Marshall is still being treated for her injuries.

This is an on-going investigation.

Arrested and Charges:

• Sean M. Keith, 30, Evansville, IN

• Attempted Murder, Class 1 Felony

• Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Class 3 Felony

• Kidnapping with a Deadly Weapon, Class 3 Felony

• Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon, Class 6 Felony

• False Informing, Class B Misdemeanor

• Misdemeanor Warrant out of Rush County for Probation Violation for Possession of Synthetic Narcotics

Investigating Officers: Trooper Zack Fulton, Trooper Chase Eaton and Detective Ryan Wilson

Patoka Lake has determined hunt dates for its three waterfowl resting areas for 2019-2020.

The Sycamore Creek area will remain closed this year to act as a refuge for waterfowl, offering them a place of little disturbance.

Waters lying east of Walls Boat Ramp, as well as the Allen Creek area, will be open to waterfowl hunting, fishing, trapping, and motorized and non-motorized boat traffic on specified days beginning Nov. 1, 2019 and continuing through Feb. 29, 2020.

Patoka Lake lies within the waterfowl hunting Southern Zone. The open dates are:

Hunters are reminded that they are required to use the self-service hunter check stations around Patoka Lake. Hunter check-in cards are to be turned in daily, even if no birds are harvested. Special regulations, state, and federal game stamps and licenses, and non-toxic shot are all required by law to hunt migratory waterfowl. Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Maps for locations of hunter check stations, maps of the waterfowl resting areas, and other information about Patoka Lake can be found at the Patoka Lake park office. For more information, contact Patoka Lake at 812-685-2464.

Patoka Lake (on.IN.gov/patokalake) is at 3084 N. Dillard Road, Birdseye, IN 47513.

Patoka Lake is hosting two in-person drawings for controlled dove hunts and a non-draw hunt opportunity, all on Sept. 1.

Both drawings will be at 6 a.m. and have hunting hours of 6:30 a.m. to noon.

The first dove hunt drawing will be at Jackson State Recreation Area in Orange County in the Wildcat Cove Hunter Check Station #17 parking area. Around 15 to 20 groups are expected to be drawn.

The second drawing is an age 17 or younger hunt at the former R.A. Walton Farm in Crawford County at the R.A. Walton Farm Hunter Check Station #11 parking area. Hunting hours will be the same as for Jackson SRA. Six to eight groups will be drawn for this hunt.

Both hunts will have a maximum of two hunters per stake. All fields surrounding the controlled sunflower fields at both locations will have the same hours.

There will be no “stand-by” or refilling of shooting stations if there are early departures at either property. All fields will be considered open hunting starting Sept. 2. Shooting hours will be a half hour before sunrise until sunset.

Hunters need to purchase the proper licenses and stamps and have their Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. Patoka Lake adult hunters will be limited to 50 shells, and youth hunters will be limited to 75 shells. Hunters must use size 6 or smaller non-toxic shot and are required to have their firearm plugged so it can only contain three shells at a time.

Tillery Hill SRA will host a non-draw hunt opportunity on Sept. 1. There will be a 3-acre field at Hunter Check Station #6, and a two-acre field near Osborne Boat Ramp on W. Newton Stewart Road.

Hunters are strongly encouraged to wear blaze orange clothing for safety as other users may be in the fields and area.

Patoka Lake (on.IN.gov/patokalake) is at 3084 N. Dillard Road, Birdseye, IN 47513.