On May 28th the Indiana State Police were called to assist the Loogootee Police Department with the report of a rape.  

Indiana State Police Trooper Detective Shane Staggs responded and gathered information from the Loogootee Officer and then began his investigation. 

During the course of his investigation, it was discovered that Dakota Lee Browning, 26 of Jasper, IN had met the juvenile victim at a graduation party and had gone to a residence in Loogootee with the victim following the graduation party.

In the early morning hours of May 26^th, it is alleged that Browning went into the bedroom the victim was sleeping in and had sexual intercourse with the victim against her will. 

Detective Staggs was able to gather enough probable cause for the Martin Circuit Court to issue arrest warrants for Browning for Rape a Level 3 Felony and for Child Molestation a Level 1 Felony.  

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

On Wednesday, May 29, the Indiana State Police began an investigation at the request of the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office after a female inmate at the jail attempted to ingest methamphetamine which caused her to suffer a medical emergency.

The initial investigation by Indiana State Police Detectives indicated the incident began at approximately 9:00 pm on the evening of May 29, when Angela Kay Bennett, age 43, Butlerville, Indiana was arrested by a deputy with the sheriff’s office on a Bartholomew County, Indiana warrant. 

She was transported to the jail where she was being processed by the jail staff. 

During the book-in process, Bennett allegedly removed a baggy containing suspected methamphetamine from her person and attempted to swallow it. 

As a result of her attempting to swallow the baggy, Bennett began suffering a medical emergency. 

Bennett was immediately given medical attention. 

She was transported to St. Vincent-Jennings Hospital before being transported to an Indianapolis hospital for further treatment.

The investigation is ongoing by detectives with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a possible drowning that occurred Saturday afternoon at Hardy Lake in Scott County.

Just after 4 p.m. responders were dispatched to the beach area of Hardy Lake regarding a possible drowning. 

Tim Nickelson, 53, of Marengo, was recovered in approximately 4 feet of water by other swimmers. 

Once out of the water, CPR was started before Nickelson was transported to Scott Memorial Hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead. 

Initial Investigation has revealed that Nickelson was swimming with friends and family when they noticed he was missing. 

Swimmers at the beach began searching the water, eventually locating Nickelson under the surface. 

The exact cause of death is pending an autopsy, which is scheduled for Monday.

Scott County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police responded to the scene.

According to Washington County Sheriff Brent Miller a male inmate was found dead in the Washington County Detention Center Friday morning. 

He said the Indiana State Police are investigating the death, which, he said would likely not involve foul play. 

“We’re following protocol,” said Miller. “We are being 100% transparent.”

Miller said the Washington County Prosecutor was notified immediately.

An autopsy was being performed this morning by the Washington County Coroner.

The Indiana State Police said they rarely issue a press release if there was no foul play involved. 

A name has not been released at this time  

Indiana Conservation Officers report the body of Stephen Pitts (58) of Indianapolis has been recovered south of the Norway Dam on the Tippecanoe River in White County. 

Last night at approximately 8:50 p.m. the Monticello Fire Department advised they had located and recovered a body believed to be Pitts, who had been missing in the water since Monday morning.  

Indiana Conservation Officers and the White County Coroner’s Office were contacted for further investigation. The official cause of death is pending, but is believed to be accidental drowning.  Family notification has been made.

Pitts was last seen kayaking near the Norway Dam on May 27^th, when witnesses reported observing him being pulled by a recirculating current toward the face of the dam. The kayak Pitts was maneuvering capsized throwing him into the water.  Pitts did not resurface.

Indiana Conservation Officers began investigating the disappearance of a man in the Tippecanoe River Monday, May 27 at 8:11 a.m. the White County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a man was in the Tippecanoe River, just below the Norway Dam.

Investigators learned that three men were in the area to fish. At one point, two men (each in a kayak) were paddling in an area just below the dam. Witnesses report both men were pulled by a recirculating current toward the face of the dam. Because of the recent rain, a substantial amount of water is being released from the dam. The water coming from the dam has created a 20-30 foot tall wall of water near the face of the dam. The force of the water caused one kayak to capsize.

The victim, Stephen Pitts (58) from Indianapolis, was thrown from the kayak. Pitts did have a life jacket in the kayak, but was not wearing it. The second kayaker was able to make it to safety.

Several agencies responded to the scene to assist. Responders were able to contact Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) representatives who were then able to temporarily close the dam to allow rescuers access to the water.

Indiana Conservation Officers and Monticello Firefighters searched the area with boats, sonar, and divers. The Indiana State Police searched the area by helicopter.

At this point Pitts has not been located. The flow of water through the dam has been restored to the levels prior to the incident. Indiana Conservation Officers are continuing to search the river downstream from the Norway Dam by boat. Pitts was last seen wearing tan shorts and a yellow shirt.  Any potential sightings should be reported to 911.

While working the search on the Tippecanoe River, Indiana Conservation Officers also responded to the Tippecanoe River near Bluewater Park in Monticello for a capsized boat with two people in the water.

Both were rescued and were uninjured. Additionally, officers responded to Clinton County on the Wildcat Creek for a person trapped in fast moving water.

He was also rescued.

On Tuesday, May 28, two Jackson County residents were arrested on drug-related charges following a traffic stop and search warrant in Seymour, Indiana.

The investigation began shortly after 2:30 pm when Trooper Tia Deaton stopped a 2000 Honda passenger car for a traffic violation on Sprenger Road in Seymour.  During the course of the traffic stop, Trp. Deaton became suspicious of criminal activity taking place.  Trp. Randel Miller and K-9 Jinx responded to assist.  Jinx alerted to the odor of illegal drugs coming from the vehicle.  During a search of the vehicle, troopers located approximately 50 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine.  The driver of the vehicle, Derrick N. Broshears, age 34, Brownstown, Indiana was arrested on charges of Dealing Methamphetamine and Possession of Methamphetamine.

Troopers then responded to a room at the Motel 6 in Seymour, Indiana that was rented by Broshears.  Upon arriving at the room, troopers located April R. Williams, age 38, Crothersville, IN in the room.  Troopers obtained a search warrant for the room.  During a search, troopers located syringes, drug paraphernalia, a legend drug, and additional evidence of Dealing Methamphetamine.  Williams was arrested on charges of Dealing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Syringe, Possession of a Legend Drug, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 

Both Broshears and Williams were incarcerated in the Jackson County Jail pending their initial appearances in the Jackson County Circuit Court.

An arrest photo of Broshears was not available.  An arrest photo of April Williams may be obtained from the Jackson County Jail.