Thursday, March 7, 2019, at 2:49 p.m., an Indiana State Trooper observed a silver Nissan Altima, traveling at a reduced speed in the left lane of Interstate 70 near the 44 mile marker westbound.

CHARGED WERE:

Hannah Danneberger

• Dealing Methamphetamine level 2 felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine level 3 felony

Michael Oldfield

• Dealing Methamphetamine level 2 felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine level 3 felony
• Felon in possession of firearm level 4 felony   

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Hannah Danneberger, 30, of Mattoon, Illinois. 

The Passenger in the vehicle was identified as Michael Oldfield, 51, of Mattoon, Illinois.

During the course of the traffic stop, the trooper observed criminal indicators.  

Putnam County Sheriff’s K-9 was called for assistance.  A positive K-9 alert to the odor of illegal drugs led to a search of the vehicle. 

During the search of the vehicle, the trooper discovered 12 grams of methamphetamine. The estimated street value of the methamphetamine is $6,500.  

It was discovered through a criminal history search that Oldfield was a convicted felon and during the search of the vehicle troopers discovered he was in possession of a .40 caliber firearm.

Danneberger and Oldfield were taken into custody and transported to the Putnam County Jail.

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Earlier today, just before 4:00 p.m. the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police were notified of a deceased male found along I-65 northbound near 30th Street.

Due to the incident occurring on the interstate IMPD requested the State Police to conduct the investigation.

State Police Detectives are working to determine the circumstances that led to the death of 36 year old Jason Lane of Indianapolis.

The Marion County Coroner’s Office is assisting in the investigation and will attempt to determine the cause of death by conducting an autopsy.

This investigation is ongoing and there is no further information to release at this time.

The northbound lanes of I-65 were closed for several hours while the on scene investigation was conducted. 

Two from Salem were arrested on Meth charges Thursday after a long and multiple agency investigation; including one with two charges of dealing in the drug. 

Officers with the Washington County Drug Team, Indiana State Police, Washington County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit, along with officers from the Salem Police Department executed a narcotics search warrant at the address of 4314 E. Canton Road, Salem, IN.

John J. Bortka II, age 47 of Salem was identified as the homeowner.

Gabrielle R. Curtsinger, age 23 of Salem was also present inside the residence, during the execution of the search warrant.

John J. Bortka II was arrested and booked on the following charges.

• Dealing in Methamphetamine, Level 3 Felony.
• Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 5 Felony.
• Dealing in Methamphetamine, Level 5 Felony.
• Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony.
• Maintaining a common nuisance, Level 6 Felony.
• Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor.
• Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony.
• Maintaining a common nuisance, Level 6 Felony.
• Possession of Marijuana w/ a prior conviction, Class A Misdemeanor.
• Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor.

Gabrielle R. Curtsinger was arrested and booked on the following charges.

• Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony.
• Possession of Cocaine, Level 6 Felony.
• Maintaining a common nuisance, Level 6 Felony.
• Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor.
• Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor.

If you have drug information, please call the DRUG TIP-LINE at (812)883-6566.

During the afternoon hours of March 8^th, Indiana State Police Sergeants Greg Day and Rusty Garrison conducted a traffic stop in rural Lawrence County on a Ford Edge passenger car after Sgt. Day recognized the driver as Darin S. Rollman, 44 of Bedford.

Sgt. Day knew Rollman was wanted on an active felony arrest warrant through Lawrence County and then found Juston D. Sears, 41 of Bedford to be a passenger in the vehicle.

During the course of the stop, hypodermic syringes and drug paraphernalia was discovered in plain view.

Rollman was found to have approximately 1 gram of heroin and 2 morphine pills on his person. He also possessed hypodermic syringes and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle.

Sears was found to have syringes and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle as well. He also had approximately 2 grams of heroin, 1 gram of methamphetamine, and 4 morphine pills on his person.

The heroin was packaged in a manner consistent with dealing the drug. Other evidence discovered during the stop led officers to establish probable cause that Sears was dealing the heroin.

The Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section assisted with the investigation.

Sgt. Day arrested both Rollman and Sears for multiple drug related offenses. Both were incarcerated at the Lawrence County Jail.

Rollman was arrested for the following:

1. Warrant – Petition to Revoke Suspended Sentence
2. Possession of Narcotic Drug (Heroin) with a Prior Conviction, Level 5 Felony
3. Possession of Narcotic Drug (Morphine), Level 6 Felony
4. Possession of Hypodermic Syringe, Level 6 Felony
5. Habitual Criminal Offender Enhancement

Sears was arrested for the following:

1. Dealing Narcotic Drug between 1-5 Grams, Level 4 Felony
2. Possession Narcotic Drug (Heroin), Level 6 Felony
3. Possession of Narcotic Drug (Morphine), Level 6 Felony
4. Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony
5. Possession of Hypodermic Syringe, Level 6 Felony

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

By State Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem)

Our state, along with the rest of the country, is fighting a deadly opioid epidemic. One of the many negative side effects of this issue is the skyrocketing number of children in need of services in Indiana. The Department of Child Services (DCS) is simply unable to keep up with the number of children whose parents are not able to care for them.

To help ensure DCS and Indiana’s foster parents are able to adequately support these children, I authored Senate Bill 1, which would improve services for vulnerable children.

This bill would require courts considering out-of-home placement for a child to balance the child’s best interests with keeping him or her in the most family-like setting possible. This would begin with requiring DCS to attempt to identify all adult relatives of a child at the time out-of-home placement is recommended and in subsequent months. 

In addition, it would create a 24-hour hotline for family case managers to obtain information and assistance when attempting to find out-of-home placement with the child’s relatives or foster care. This hotline would help reduce the workload of family case managers and the amount of time it takes to place children in stable, safe homes. These provisions would help ensure DCS is exercising due diligence to search for a suitable family placement from the moment a child enters the system.

SB 1 would also provide for greater input from foster parents who invest their time, energy and care for children in out-of-home placement by ensuring they are able to intervene in a termination of parental rights proceeding for their foster child. 

Current Indiana law requires DCS to file a termination of parental rights petition if a child has been in DCS custody for at least 15 of the previous 22 months. However, this is not always completed in a timely manner. SB 1 would allow a foster parent who wishes to adopt a child already in their care to petition the court to hold a termination of parental rights hearing within 30 days if DCS has not filed a petition.

Furthermore, SB 1 would create a standard form that would be offered to all foster parents, allowing them the opportunity to provide valuable input to courts during child in need of services cases. Their input would be provided to both the court and all DCS progress reports for their foster child.

Finally, this bill would create a “right of first choice” that would require a court to attempt to place a child with the same custodian if the child has repeated out-of-home placements. The difficulties faced by children who go through repeated out-of-home placements are often traumatizing, and placing them in the care of adults they already have a relationship with would help provide them with some stability and comfort.

As a former DCS caseworker, I understand the importance of providing efficient services to vulnerable children across our state. While removing children from their homes and families is something nobody ever wants to do, in cases where their safety and well-being are at stake, it is critical to handle matters quickly and with their best interests in mind. I will continue to advocate for our state’s foster children and parents as we continue through this legislative session and beyond.

SB 1 passed the Senate unanimously and has been assigned to the House Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding this issue or others, contact me by email at Senator.Houchin@iga.in.gov or by phone at 800-382-9467.

A 44-year-old Evansville man was arrested Thursday night on State Road 135 South with 64 grams of Meth. 

The Washington County Drug Team, Indiana State Police,
and the Washington County Sheriffs Department and the Washington County Sheriffs Department K-9 Unit were all involved in the arrest.  

On Thursday, March 7th, Officers with the Washington County Drug Team, Indiana State Police, and Washington County Sheriffs Department were jointly working drug interdiction traffic stops.

At approximately 9:15 PM, a traffic stop was initiated on
State Road 135 south of Salem, which resulted in the arrest of one individual and the seizure of 64 grams of methamphetamine.

Michael R. Jackson, age 44 of Evansvillewas taken into custody and transported to the Washington County Detention Center, where he was booked-in on drug related charges.

Jackson was charged with

• Dealing in methamphetamine, possession with intent to deliver. The amount of drug involved is at least 10 grams, a Level 2 Felony.
• Criminal organization, a Level 6 Felony.
• Possession of methamphetamine, the amount of drug involved is least twenty-eight (28) grams, a Level 3 Felony.

Sheriff Brent Miller asks if you have drug information. please call the DRUG TIP-LINE at (812)883-6566.

Today, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum and the Milan 54 Hoosiers Museum unveiled on WSLM’s Coffee Club a limited edition series of bobbleheads commemorating Milan High School’s 1954 Boys Basketball State Championship. Milan High School’s unbelievable story was featured in the 1986 movie Hoosiers, which is widely considered to be one of the best sports movies ever made. The release comes just weeks before the 65^th Anniversary of Milan’s historic victory, which was on March 20, 1954, and as Hoosier Hysteria kicks into high gear.

All 12 players from the 1954 Milan High School basketball team are included in the bobblehead series, which is available for purchase online in the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store or at the Milan 54 Museum. The bobbleheads are $25 each or $250 for the set of 11, and shipping is a flat rate of $8.

The bobbleheads feature all 12 members of the 1954 State Championship team: Ray Craft, Bill Jordan, Gene White, Bobby Plump, Bob Wichman, Ron Truitt, Glen Butte, Bob Engel, Rollin Cutter, Roger Schroder, Kenny Wendelman and Kenny Delap. Each bobblehead features the player in their Milan jersey holding a replica of the State Championship trophy and commemorative championship basketball.

Milan High School, with an enrollment of only 161, defeated powerhouse Muncie Central High School, which had an enrollment of 1,662, by a score of 32-30 in the state championship game at Butler University’s Butler Fieldhouse (now Hinkle Fieldhouse). With the game tied at 30, the team’s leader, Bobby Plump, hit a 14-footer from the right side as time expired to win the championship and deny the Bearcats a fifth state title. Forty thousand people descended on Milan, which had a popular of only 1,150, the following day as the team returned home from Indianapolis, lining State Road 101 for 13 miles to congratulate the Indians. Milan is the smallest school to win a single-class state basketball title in Indiana and finished the season with a 19-2 regular season record and 28–2 overall record.

Milan High School’s famous “Milan Miracle of 1954” was the inspiration for the 1986 film Hoosiers, starring Gene Hackman. Some details were changed in the movie, including the team’s name, which was “Hickory” on the big screen adaptation. The team’s star player, Bobby Plump, was named Jimmy Chitwood in the movie.

“These bobbleheads are the perfect way for fans to commemorate Milan High School’s state championship, one of the greatest sports stories in Indiana and sports history,” said Phil Sklar, Co-Founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. “The bobbleheads are a symbol of a great underdog story and championship team and they’re a must-have for fans.”

About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum opened to the public on February 1^st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for organizations, individuals and teams across the country. Visit us at www.BobbleheadHall.com, www.facebook.com/BobbleheadHall or www.twitter.com/BobbleheadHall.

About the Milan 54 Hoosiers Museum:

The Milan ’54 Hoosiers Museum is located on West Carr Street in the quiet rural town of Milan, IN. It houses memorabilia from the 1954 championship game between Milan and Muncie Central…a David and Goliath story. It also has a large collection of artifacts from the movie HOOSIERS on display. The museum strives to keep our local history alive and to capture a bit of Hoosier Hysteria. Please come visit and find out more at www.milan54.org or email milan54@frontier.com. The Milan 54 Hoosier Museum can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Yesterday afternoon at 12:56 P.M. (central time) Spencer County 911 Dispatch Center received an emergency call from 6280 North Highland Road, Grandview reporting shots fired during an ongoing domestic dispute. 

A short time later, Indiana State Police Troopers, Spencer County Sheriff’s Deputies and Rockport City Police Officers responded to the residence where they discovered Alan Lee Bennett, 52, Grandview, who required immediate medical attention.

Bennett was flown via helicopter to an undisclosed hospital for serious injuries.

Officers also discovered Linda F Bowman, 64, Grandview at the residence. Bowman was confirmed deceased at the residence by the Spencer County Coroner Rachel Gentry.  

Investigators were able to determine that Bennett and Bowman were living in the residence together during the time of the incident.

Indiana State Police Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators remained on scene for nearly nine hours processing evidence and piecing together the circumstances of this tragedy.

Death notifications have been made.

An autopsy has been scheduled for later today. Results will be make available as soon as practical.

Indiana State Police Troopers were assisted by the Spencer County Sheriffs Department, Spencer County Coroner Rachel Gentry, Spencer County EMS, Chrisney Volunteer Fire Department, Grandview Volunteer Fire Department, Rockport Police Department and the Spencer County Prosecutors Office.