Indiana State Police will be increasing patrols starting tomorrow and will be concentrating their enforcement efforts on impaired drivers, distracted drivers and for those drivers and passengers not buckled up.

Last year during the three day holiday period, 1,623 crashes occurred throughout Indiana resulting in 396 injuries and six fatalities.

Troopers would like to remind all motorists that they must do their part to help ensure our roadways are safe.

Troopers encourage everyone to follow these safety tips:

• Ensure everyone is buckled up.
• Don’t drive impaired.
• If you plan to consume alcohol, make sure you have a plan to get home safely.
• Don’t drive distracted.
• If you’re traveling a long distance, make sure you are well rested. A fatigued driver is a dangerous driver.

If you’re traveling and notice a suspected impaired driver, please call 911 and report the vehicle’s description, route of travel and registration information if possible. Never pass a suspected impaired driver. Follow the vehicle at a safe distance.

Indiana State Police initiated a criminal investigation in December 2018, after receiving information that a 16-year-old female had been sexually abused.

Arrested and Charged was:

Michael A. Hughes

• Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, Level 5 Felony
• Child Seduction (2 counts) Level 5 Felony
• Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, Level 4 Felony

The investigation revealed that Michael A. Hughes, age 50, of Hymera, Indiana, allegedly had been engaging in sexual misconduct with a minor.  

After reviewing the investigation, the Sullivan County Prosecutor’s Office issued an arrest warrant yesterday for Hughes.  He was arrested this morning without incident and is currently being held in the Sullivan County Jail on a $65,000 bond.

Investigating Officer:  Indiana State Police Detective Angie Hahn.

Assisting Agency:  Sullivan County Department of Child Services Melissa Corrigan. 

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

The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested a 43-year-old man from Terre Haute this morning. 

Arrested and Charged was:

Stephen W. Covert, 43, Terre Haute, Indiana 

• Possession of child pornography (10 counts) Level 6 Felony 

The investigation began this past March when a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) was received by the ICAC Task Force. 

As a result of the investigation, a search warrant was obtained by Vigo County Division 6 Court and served this morning at 2200 Garfield Avenue.  Based on preliminary findings as a result of the search warrant, Stephen W. Covert, 43, of Terre Haute was interviewed and subsequently taken into custody and transported to the Vigo County Jail with no bond allowed.

Anyone having any information related to crimes against children is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency or visit the NCMEC website at http://www.missingkids.com/hom  and find the link to make a CYBER TIPLINE report.

All suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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With the Fourth of July Holiday traffic in full swing, troopers are out on the highways looking for aggressive and impaired drivers. L

ast night just before 6:30 p.m. Trooper Ray Otter was out patrolling on I-70 eastbound in Henry County when he noticed a Dodge Challenger in the right lane that was following the vehicle in front of it too closely.

Trooper Otter stopped the Challenger in the area of the 132-mile marker and made contact with the driver, Janice Taylor, age 32 of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.

Taylor, who said she was traveling from California to Maryland, seemed unusually nervous, so Otter called for assistance. 

Cambridge City Police Officer Matt Smarrelli responded to the 132-mile marker with his K9 partner “Barry.”

Officer Smarrelli led his K9 around the outside of the Challenger, and the dog alerted to the presence of contraband in the vehicle. Trooper Justin Beamon was nearby and also came to assist. 

Further investigation by the officers turned up 34 individual packages of suspected marijuana each weighing approximately one pound.

The approximate street value of the drug would be an estimated $70,000.

Taylor was arrested and lodged in the Henry County Jail charged with Level 5 Felony Dealing Marijuana.

To help ensure the safety of all motorists during this 4^th of July Holiday Period, the Indiana StatePolice will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E., Combined Accident Reduction Effort, and DUIEP, or Driving Under the Influence Enforcement Project.

Both of these are federally funded programs that will allow extra troopers to patrol Hoosier highways during the holiday period.

The Pendleton District covers the eight counties of Delaware, Madison, and Randolph; Henry, Wayne, Union, Rush and Fayette counties. 

Motorists are encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers by calling 9-1-1. Give a vehicle description, location, and direction of travel.

Never follow an impaired driver.

Enjoy a night of soothing jazz music from Craig Brenner at the Spring Mill Inn at Spring Mill State Park Mitchell, IN.

Craig will bring percussion instruments and invite those present to play along. During each performance, he will present information about the history of the park and about Hoosier composers and musicians.

Call 812-849-4508 if you have any questions. 

To book your stay, call 1-877-LODGES1 or visit IndianaInns.com

One man has been rescued from the Ohio River by the Clarksville Fire Department after the boat he was on crashed into the upper gates of the McAlpine Dam yesterday evening July 1. 

Indiana Conservation Officers along with multiple other agencies are resuming their search this morning for the boat and its operator, who failed to resurface after the boat capsized. 

Shortly after 6:30 p.m. yesterday, emergency crews responded to the McAlpine Dam area after witnesses observed the boat capsize. 

The operator, Donald Watson (26) of Louisville, and his passenger, Levell Washington (28) of Jeffersonville, were both thrown overboard after an apparent malfunction with the boat’s motor near the dam. 

Washington managed to jump from the boat and was swept through the gates of the dam before being rescued by Clarksville Fire Department. 

Watson was seen struggling to stay afloat before disappearing beneath the surface.

Preliminary investigation indicates that Washington had purchased the 18’ fiberglass boat earlier this week, and this was his first time operating the boat on the Ohio River. 

Neither of the men was initially wearing lifejackets, but according to interviews both did manage to put them on just prior to the collision.

Indiana Conservation Officers are continuing to investigate with assistance from local agencies.  Multiple agencies responded to the scene including Indiana Conservation Officers, Clarksville Fire Department, Clarksville Police Department, New Albany Fire Department, New Albany Police Department, Indiana State Police, Louisville Fire Department, Jeffersonville Fire Department, and Yellow EMS. 

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.