Earlier this week, a 2005 West Washington graduate became one of fifty-one probationary troopers from the 78th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy class who were issued their state police cars at the Indiana State Police Youth and Education and Historical Center in Indianapolis. 

Two of the officers are assigned to the Indiana State Police Sellersburg Post and start solo patrol in the district which covers Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Scott, and Washington Counties. 

Trooper Jared Ferguson is 32 years old and is originally from Campbellsburg, Indiana. 

Jared graduated from West Washington High School in 2005 before attending Vincennes University where he received an Associate’s Degree in Law Enforcement studies in 2009 and later his Bachelor’s Degree in Homeland Security and Public Safety in 2016. 

Trooper Ferguson has prior experience as a Floyd County correctional officer and has served in the Indiana Army National Guard since 2005.  Ferguson currently resides in New Albany, Indiana and enjoys being a father to his five-year-old son, working out, reading and outdoor activities.

The second trooper is from Corydon, Trooper Mackenzie Benham, 28, of Corydon, Indiana.  

She is a 2008 graduate of Corydon Central High School and a 2012 graduate of Ivy Tech Community College where she received her Associate Degree in Office Administration with a medical concentration.

She is married to her husband of five years, Casey, and enjoys participating in Crossfit, boating, and spending time with her family.  

The probationary officers recently completed a three month field training period with veteran troopers in addition to over 1,000 hours of structured training in law enforcement techniques as well as hands-on practical and scenario-based training at the Indiana State Police Recruit Academy.  

The curriculum included criminal law instruction, emergency vehicle operations, psychology, traffic law, crash investigations, self-defense, first responder and other general law enforcement related training. 

For more information on becoming an Indiana State Police Trooper go to www.in.gov/isp and click the “career opportunities” link. 

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the death of a Harrison County man that occurred at West Boggs Lake in Daviess County.   

Herbert Stickler (79) of Ramsey, Indiana was fishing with a family member when his fishing lure got snagged on a log.  While attempting to free his line, Stickler fell in the water.  An attempt to rescue him by his fishing partner was unsuccessful.  

An autopsy performed today determined the cause of death to be related to a medical condition and not a drowning. 

The depth of the water where the accident occurred was approximately three to four feet in depth.  Stickler was not wearing a life jacket when he entered the water. The incident occurred Wednesday April 3, 2019 around 1:30 pm.  

Responding agencies include the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, West Boggs Park Rangers, Daviess County Coroner’s Office, and Southwest Medical EMS.   

Indiana Conservation Officer strongly encourage wearing a life jacket while boating or near water.  For more information on water safety click the link below.

https://www.in.gov/dnr/lawenfor/5066.htm

A 42-year-old Salem man was found passed out in his vehicle Tuesday and arrested for several drug charges. 

Larry McKinney, 42, Salem, was found passed out in the driver’s seat of his vehicle that was reported along the side of Hardinsburg/Livonia Road. 

He was arrested and charged with:

• Dealing in Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony.
• Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 3 Felony.
• Possession of Paraphernalia, Class A Misdemeanor.
• Carrying a handgun without being licensed with a felony conviction, Level 5 Felony
• Possession of Marijuana w/ a prior conviction, Class A Misdemeanor Possession of syringe, Level 6 Felony

At approximately 4:25am, Deputy Lucas Gray and Deputy Allen Taylor responded to a call about the car. 

When deputies arrived on scene, they found McKinney passed out in the driver’s seat.

During their investigation deputies located a gun, methamphetamine, paraphernalia, and over $1,000 cash.

McKinney was taken to the Washington County Detention Center.

The Indiana State Police is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred on April 3, 2019, outside of the Brownstown Police Department in Jackson County.

The initial evidence indicates that a male, identified as Barry A. Rucker, age 53, Brownstown, Indiana along with a female arrived at the Brownstown Police Department together shortly after 8:00 am. 

Rucker and the female were involved in an altercation outside of the police department which prompted a 911 call from a passerby. 

Two officers from the Brownstown Police Department soon arrived on scene. 

After the officers arrived, an altercation occurred between the officers and Rucker. 

During the altercation, Rucker produced a gun, prompting both officers to fire at least one round from their handguns.  Rucker was struck by at least one of the bullets fired by the officers. 

Deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department soon arrived on scene and assisted the Brownstown officers in administering immediate first aid to Rucker. 

Jackson County EMS arrived on scene and transported Rucker to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, Indiana where he was soon pronounced deceased by the Jackson County Coroner’s Office.

None of the officers or the female acquaintance of Rucker were injured. 

Detectives from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post responded to the scene and became the lead investigating agency.

Barry Rucker’s family has been notified.

The names of the officers involved in the incident will be posted in a future release.

The Brownstown Community School Corporation briefly went on lockdown after the incident occurred until it was determined that there was no threat to any of the schools in the district. 

Streets located near the Brownstown Police Department were blocked off for nearly eight hours while the investigation was occurring.     

The investigation is ongoing.

The Orleans Town Council has set April 8-13 as “Town-Wide Clean Sweep Week,” and is encouraging all local residents to participate in the clean-up efforts.

Town crews will be picking up large items of discard free of charge that week.

Discard items should be placed curbside for easy pickup. Also, a large dumpster will also be set at the Orleans Town Garage for resident use that week. Residents are welcome to bring any unwanted or junk type items they want to dispose of and place in the dumpster.

The town’s newspaper recycling bin will also be available as well.

The Orleans Chamber of Commerce and Dogwood Festival Committee are also participating in this special community event and asking everyone’s help to make our hometown beautiful by taking the time to clean up, spruce up, fix up, and paint up all around town that week. Youth groups, service groups, business people, families and churches are welcome and urged to help sweep the town clean,

To arrange for pick up of items or more information on the “Clean Sweep” contact the Orleans Town Offices at 812-865-2539 or visit the town website online at www.town.orleans.in.us

A 12-year-old male was arrested in connections to threats made at Bedford Middle School.

According to BMS Principal David Schlegel to post was meant as a joke and there was no threat. 

He posted this audio to parents in the school system. 

According to Bedford Police Chief Terry Moore officers arrested the male Sunday at 11:56 a.m. after a threat was posted on social media.

“The teen was issued a summons to appear in court on charges of intimidation and harassment and released to his parents,” Chief Moore added.