A 17 year old student of Woodlan High School was arrested on Saturday afternoon following an investigation by Indiana State Police Detective Clint Hetrick into allegations that threats were made towards the high school on social media.

The investigation, which began on Friday, October 26^th was initiated after Hetrick was contacted by the East Allen County Schools Security Director, Doug Goeglein who reported that a student had received a “story request” via the social media site Snapchat on Thursday night, October 25^th which was taken to be threatening in nature.

Three additional messages, two of which were sent to a different student, were sent from the same username on Snapchat during the school day on October 26^th.  These messages became increasingly threatening towards the high school.

Additional investigation by Hetrick led to him to the student’s residence in Harlan, where an interview was conducted with both the student and parents.  The student was ultimately taken into custody and placed in the Allen County Juvenile Center on a preliminary charge of Intimidation, a Level 6 Felony.

On Saturday October, 27th, 2018 the Indiana State Police participated in the 16th nationwide “Prescription Drug Take Back” initiative sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA.) The “Take Back” initiative seeks to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft. 

Collection sites were set up nationwide for expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs to be turned in for destruction.  This program is intended for liquid and pill medications.

The Indiana State Police set up collections sites at every post, except the Toll Road, and at the Indiana Government Center North building in Indianapolis on Friday October, 26^th.  The Indianapolis post collected 300 pounds of medications between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday.

Statewide the Indiana State Police collected a total of 2,073.5 pounds of unused or expired medication. Below is a list of each locations results for Friday and Saturday.

District           Drugs in Pounds     District    Drugs/Pounds              

D-13           6.5                     D-33                   156                             D-51                       71

D-14           60                      D-34                    224                             D-52                      300

D-16           125                    D-35                    222              

D-22            300                   D-42                    354                             D-99                     150         

D-24            20                     D-45                    80                                D-53                        5                               

Total pounds- 2,073.5  

This morning an autopsy was performed on the body of Jacob Ray Dodson, 22, from the Campbellsburg area of Washington County.

The autopsy revealed there were no signs of trauma to the body.

The cause of death is unknown at this time. However, Toxicology test results are pending and usually take up to six to eight weeks to return.

With the findings of the autopsy, this case is still a death investigation.

Jerry Lee Carson Jr., 47, from the Vallonia area in Washington County, an associate of Jacob Ray Dodson remains incarcerated at the Washington County Jail on the charges of Obstruction of Justice and False Informing to Police.

He was the last known person to see Jacob Ray Dodson alive.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an ATV crash that took the life of a Salem man, 57-year-old Gregory A. Naugle, 5300 North Mars Road.

Friends of the victim became concerned after not hearing from him since Wednesday. They went to the property, located the victim and called 911.  

At 5:00 p.m., emergency responders were dispatched to the location and upon arriving on scene, responders found a male victim pinned under his Honda ATV off of a remote road on the property which he resided.    

Naugle was pronounced dead at the scene.

Naugle was not wearing a helmet. Other safety gear and equipment were not in use at the time of the accident.  Naugle suffered multiple blunt force injuries.  The exact cause of the crash has yet to be determined and is still under investigation.   

Assisting agencies at the scene included the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and Gibson Township Volunteer Fire Department.

Indiana Conservation Officers strongly encourage riders and passengers to always wear a helmet and necessary safety equipment when operating an ATV or utility vehicle to prevent or reduce possible injury.    

A 22-Year-old Campbellsburg man was found dead Friday morning and a Vallonia man is in custody in connection with the death.

The body was stuffed inside a duffle bag and hid under an abandoned mobile home. 

Friday morning, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department requested assistance from detectives from the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg in searching for a missing person from Washington County.

Jacob Ray Dodson,22, a 2014 graduate of Salem High School, had been reported missing Friday by his family. They said they had not seen him since Oct. 20. 

During the police search for Dodson, who was living in the Campbellsburg, officers located and questioned Jerry Lee Carson Jr., 47, from the Vallonia area.

Police say Carson Jr. was an associate of Dodson.  

After speaking to Carson Jr., ISP Detectives placed him under arrest.

He was charged with Obstruction of Justice and False Informing to Police.

He was incarcerated at the Washington County Jail.

Officers were also able to gain enough information to obtain a search warrant to search a property located at 4031 Wheeler Hollow Road, Vallonia.

While searching the property, officers located a body in a duffel style bag located under an abandoned mobile home.

The body was positively identified as Jacob Ray Dodson by the Washington County Coroner’s Office.

An autopsy is planned for Sunday morning in Washington County to determine a possible cause of death.

Dodson was reported as a missing person Friday, Oct. 26 by a family member and was allegedly last seen on Saturday, October 20^th, in Washington County.

This investigation is a death investigation.

After the autopsy and a possible confirmation of the cause of death is made, this status could obviously change, according to ISP Sgt. Jerry Goodin. 

The Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Coroner’s Office and Prosecutor’s Office are assisting in the investigation.

No further information will be available until the autopsy is completed Sunday morning.

Indiana Conservation Officers are asking for the public’s assistance in slowing a string of environmental thefts in southern Indiana. Charles Cole Jr., 44, of New Salisbury, is wanted on an active felony arrest warrant, stemming from an investigation earlier this month.

On October 10, Indiana Conservation Officers received a report of trespass in northern Harrison County, after a landowner’s trail camera captured a late-night photo of a man suspected of stealing ginseng plants from the property. The landowner also discovered that a separate trail camera had been stolen from a tree.

Upon viewing the trail camera photo, Indiana Conservation Officers immediately identified the man as Charles Cole Jr., from recent dealings with him involving a separate trespass/ginseng theft case. After speaking with Cole, they discovered stolen ginseng and a stolen memory card from another trail camera at his residence.

During the course of their investigation, Indiana Conservation Officers recovered stolen ginseng in addition to 9 stolen trail cameras and memory cards. As a result, they sought an arrest warrant through the Harrison County Prosecutor’s Office on Friday, Oct. 19. 

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Oct. 21, Indiana Conservation Officers fielded additional complaints after Cole was again caught on a property owner’s trail camera trespassing and digging ginseng in Washington County.

To date, Cole has sold at least 40 pounds of ginseng, much of which is believed to have been stolen from unsuspecting landowners. Current market value for dry ginseng in Harrison County is approximately $500-$650 per pound.

Ginseng is regulated to ensure a healthy population for the future. For more information on Indiana’s ginseng program, follow this link: https://www.in.gov/dnr/naturepreserve/8235.htm.

If anyone has information concerning this case, they are encouraged to contact Indiana Conservation Officers Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536, or their local law enforcement agency.

All charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.