A 66-year-old Sacramento, California man was killed this evening on Interstate 70 while securing his roadside warning devices, following repairs made to his disabled truck, by a roadside repair company.

Indiana State Police investigators received information regarding a 2009 Chrysler van that was driving recklessly on Interstate 70. 

911 dispatchers had received numerous calls on the van starting at the 56-mile marker, advising that the vehicle was all over the roadway and driving recklessly in and out of traffic. 

Troopers were en route in an attempt to locate the van. 

Freddie L. Smith, 66, of Sacramento, California was securing his roadside warning devices when the identified Chrysler van drove off the roadway and across the white line, striking Smith. 

Despite life-saving efforts by responding to emergency personnel, Smith was pronounced deceased at the scene.  

The driver of the van was identified as Brian P. Rosano, 42, Brazil, Indiana.

He was arrested and charged with:

• Possession of Paraphernalia, Class A Misdemeanor
• Operating a Motor Vehicle under the Influence of a Controlled Substance, Class C Misdemeanor 
• Operating a Motor Vehicle While Endangerment of Others, Class A Misdemeanor 
• Possession of Syringe Needles, Level 6 Felony
• Causing Death of Another Person When Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance, Level 5 Felony 

Rosano was transported to the Putnam County Hospital for minor injuries sustained from the accident. 

Rosano also submitted to a blood draw for drugs and alcohol, as this is a standard protocol with all fatal crashes. 

Upon receiving the results of the certified test, it was discovered that Rosano was under the influence of a controlled substance. 

Once Rosano is cleared medically, he will be taken into custody and transported to the Putnam County Jail.  

Investigating Officer, Trooper Courtland Woodruff assisted by the Indiana State Police reconstruction team of Trooper Tim Radar and Ted Robertson. 

Assisting Agencies:  Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, Cloverdale Volunteer Fire Department, Putnam County Coroner’s Office, Indiana Department of Transportation, and Curtis Wrecker Service.

Smith’s family has been notified.  

On Friday, June 28^th, a Dillsboro, Indiana man turned himself in at the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center on charges of possession of child pornography after a warrant was issued for his arrest following an investigation by Indiana State Police Detectives with the Indiana Crimes Against Children Unit.

The investigation began in May 2019 when the Indiana State Police was contacted after a cyber tip was provided to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  During the course of the investigation, detectives determined that Karl Hoffrogge, age 20, Dillsboro, Indiana had requested and received nude pictures from a juvenile female through a social media site in January and February 2019.  When the offense occurred, Hoffrogge was an assistant wrestling coach at South Dearborn Middle School in Aurora, Indiana where the victim was a student.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the case was presented to the Dearborn County Prosecutor’s Office.  This resulted in a warrant being issued for Hoffrogge on one count of possession of child pornography, class 6 felony, and two counts of attempted possession of child pornography, class 6 felonies.

Hoffrogge was incarcerated at the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center pending his initial appearance in the Dearborn County Circuit Court.

An arrest photo of Hoffrogge may be obtained by contacting the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center.

Inquiries about Hoffrogge’s employment status with the South Dearborn School Corporation may be directed to the school corporation.

A father and son from Ohio were arrested this morning (7/1) for possessing over two pounds of raw marijuana, and another two pounds of marijuana edibles, waxes and oils, after the car they were driving was stopped for speeding. This morning around 8:30 a.m.

Indiana State Trooper Mark Hanna was on I-70 near the New Castle exit when he clocked an east bound Ford Fusion at 89 M.P.H. in the 70 M.P.H. zone.

Hanna got the vehicle stopped near the New Castle exit and made contact with the driver, Christofer Karr, age 39 of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, who was found to be unlicensed. As Hanna spoke to the driver and his passenger, 22-year-old Todd Karr, also of Reynoldsburg and also unlicensed, he could smell the odor of raw marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Troopers Snyder and Fields were nearby and came to assist Hanna with the traffic stop.

Further investigation by the officers turned up two pounds of packaged raw marijuana, and another two pounds of packaged marijuana edibles, waxes, and oils. The father-son duo had recently visited Colorado, (where marijuana and its derivatives are legal,) and purchased the items at a marijuana dispensary.

While legal to possess in Colorado, raw marijuana and associated products are not legal to possess in Indiana. Christofer and Todd Karr were arrested and lodged in the Henry County Jail for “A” Misdemeanor Dealing Marijuana.

A 2-year-old Hardinsburg boy has died in a possible swimming pool drowning.

The death is under investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.

At approximately 5:49pm on Sunday, June 30, 2019 Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies Paul Ginkins and Matt Hein responded to 9920 Cedar Lane, Hardinsburg in reference to a 911 call about a 2-year-old male who was found in a swimming pool, not breathing.

When the officers arrived on scene the boy was being placed into an ambulance and was transported to IU Health Paoli Hospital.

The hospital declared him to be deceased a short time later.

The incident is still under investigation at this time.

Other departments involved were the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, Washington County EMS, Posey Township Fire Department and the Orange County Coroner’s Office. 

Indiana Conservation Officers have recovered the body of a missing wakesurfer that went missing in Clear Lake Thursday June 27.  

Utilizing a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) sonar unit, officers were able to search the area and locate the victim.  A Conservation Officer diver was then able to recover the victim from a depth of 56 feet.

The victim has been identified as John I. Adams, age 20 of Lake Forest, IL.  Family notification has been made and an exact cause of death is pending autopsy results.

Conservation Officers were assisted by the Angola Fire Department, Fremont Fire Department, Hamilton Fire Department, Steuben County Sheriff’s Department, Fremont Police Department, and Steuben County EMS, Steuben County Underwater Rescue and Recovery Team.