According to Indiana State Police Public Information Officer Carey Huls, the Salem Police Department had received a call from a citizen about a ‘suspicious person’ at the Washington County Fairgrounds. 

An unnamed male suspect was shot and killed today by a Salem Police Officer while investigating this “suspicious” person. 

Not many details have been released, but WSLM has learned that two SPD officers responded.

Hulls did not name them or which one shot the suspect.

He said this afternoon that when the officers arrived, the person was not immediately located. 

“When officers arrived they didn’t initially locate him. They did locate him along the creek. At some point, the officer did feel the need to fear for his life,” said Huls.

“[He] had to use his weapon and to fire an indeterminate amount of shots. The subject was struck and killed. So at this time, we know we have a male subject pronounced dead at the scene by the Washington County Coroner’s officer,” Huls said. 

The area taped off by police is the rear “pit” area of the Fairgrounds race track, known as Thunder Valley Raceway. 

Huls noted that police were still on the scene at 3p. The Coroner, Prosecutor Dustin Houchin and Sheriff Brent Miller were on scene along with other officers. 

Huls said he did not know how many shots were fired or if more than one officer fired shots. 

Huls said there was no information on where the suspect was from or who reported him to the police. 

There was not a vehicle nearby belonging to the suspect. 

“The only information I know is [the caller] observed the individual. For whatever reason the individual was suspicious and they needed to call the police. [They] believed the police needed to be called based on the subject’s actions that he saw at that time,” said Huls.

The caller has not been identified.

The Salem Police Department referred questions to ISP regarding the time of the original call and the time the police were dispatched out to investigate. 

ISP did not have information on those questions. 

The Washington County EMS was toned out at 1:59p to respond to the shooting at the fairgrounds. 

“It’s not uncommon to see kids walking along the streets,” Huls noted. “There is a creek back there…..it is rural but at the same time it’s not unusual to see someone walking back there.”

According to Steve Leonard, manager of Thunder Valley Raceway, it doesn’t appear anything at this point has been stolen. 

He did say there was a theft last year at the track. 

Huls said he also did not know if Salem Police Department used body cams. 

According to Washington County Clerk Stephanie Rockey, the Democratic party has filled three ballot vacancies for the 2019 Municipal General election.  

Last week filings were:

• Richard Longworth, City Council- Dist. 1
• Kevin Stewart- City Clerk-Treasurer

Longworth ran in the spring election for Mayor against William “Bill” Ackerman. Ackerman defeated Longworth 124 to 49 to win the Democrat nomination to run for Mayor in the fall against Justin Greene. 

Both have been processed and certified.

Stewart will face Republican Incumbent Sally Hattabaugh in November. 

Longworth will be challenging Republican Incumbent Dan Libka. 

In late May, Anthony Scifres was appointed to fill Wally Terkhorn’s office vacancy after Terkorn’s death.

At that point, Rockey said, Scifres was was appointed to fill the ballot vacancy for City Council, Dist. 4- Dem. for the General Election. 

The Indiana State Police is on the scene at the Washington County Fairgrounds investigating a shooting this afternoon where a City of Salem Police Officer has shot and killed a male suspect near the Washington County Fairgrounds.

The incident occurred around 2p this afternoon.

According to ISP Sgt. Carey Huls, the name of the victim hasn’t been released.

Huls also did not release the name of the officer but did say the officer was safe and unharmed.

Huls hasn’t released additional details as to what type of investigation was going on when the shooting occurred.

Huls said the shooting occurred near the creek at the back of the fairgrounds.

Stay tuned to WSLM for additional details. 

The American Automobile Association, or “AAA”, is predicting this to be the most traveled Fourth of July Holiday period on record with over 49 million Americans expected to travel more than 50 miles from home. It’s estimated that 41 million of those traveling will be on the highways. Some of the reasons given for the record travel are a robust economy and gas prices that are lower than last summer.

To help ensure the safety of all motorists during this Fourth of July Holiday period, the Indiana State Police 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 federally funded programs allow extra troopers to patrol Hoosier highways during the upcoming holiday period.

Indiana State Police encourage all motorists to observe the following safety tips:

• Leave early. Allow extra time to get to your destination.
• Don’t use cruise control in heavy traffic.
• Always signal lane changes.
• Use headlights even during daylight hours.
• Reduce your speed in rain and NEVER DRIVE INTO WATER FLOWING OVER THE ROADWAY.
• Decrease your speed in construction zones-Obey posted speed limits.
• REMEMBER TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES, TOW TRUCKS, SERVICE TRUCKS, AND HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE VEHICLES!!
• Make sure you are well rested. A fatigued driver is as dangerous as an impaired driver.
• Increase the distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you, especially in construction zones.
• Don’t forget to watch for slow moving farm equipment on county and state roads.
• Watch for motorcycles. Check blinds spots before changing lanes and look twice at intersections before you turn or pull out into traffic.
• Allow at least three seconds of following distance between your vehicle and a motorcycle.
• Be cautious and observant when turning left. A primary cause of crashes between vehicles and motorcycles is when a vehicle turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle.
• Remember, motorcycles are entitled to operate in a full lane.
• Obey all traffic laws and never drive impaired.

Know before you go

With all the road construction going on around the state, you may check on traffic and road conditions, crashes and construction on state highways by visiting http://indot.carsprogram.org, calling 1-800-261-ROAD (7623), or dialing 511 from a mobile phone

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.

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.

-30-