Yesterday, Indiana State Police Troopers were contacted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and Paoli Police Department to assist with an ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of a Kaylea Hickman, 23, Paoli, that went missing on May 26th, 2018.

During the course of the investigation an unidentified deceased female was located in a wooded area near Northeast 3rd Street and Railroad Avenue in Paoli. 

An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow in order to determine the identity and cause of death of the deceased. 

Indiana State Police Detective Shane Staggs along with numerous Indiana State Troopers, Orange County Sheriffs Deputies and Paoli Police Officers conducted a canvass search of the area near Northeast 3rd Street and Railroad Avenue in Paoli. 

Kaylea Sue Hickman was reported missing on May 22, according to the Paoli Police Department.

She has two small children, who are not with her.  Hickman was last seen with her ex-boyfriend following an incident at a home on Northeast Third Street in Paoli, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Dept. John Deaton is working on the case and confirms she was last seen with a man known to be her ex-boyfriend after an incident at a home on Northeast 3^rd St in Paoli, IN last week. 

Police visited an apartment complex in the area where her phone last indicated she could have been, and knocked on doors to ask for help.

Deaton says the police are actively working on this case, but do not have much to go on. He said they’ve been in touch nearly daily with members of her family.

In a Facebook post by the Paoli Police Department, Hickman is described as being 5’5’’ tall and weighing 115 pounds with brown eyes.

The last post on Facebook was at 12:22p on May 22. 

Deputies said earlier they are not ruling out foul play in the case.

According to Duke Energy, over 50,000 customers are without power in Southern Indiana as strong storms moved in from Illinois this afternoon, knocking down power lines and trees.

The hardest hit areas, according to Duke Energy are in Bloomington, Bedford and Columbus. 

Duke Energy is still assessing the damage. There is no current estimate on when power will be restored. 

Severe Thunderstorm warnings began coming in to WSLM this afternoon before 1p as the severe storm cell – which ranged as far north as Terre Haute and as far south as Hopkinsville, Ky and back to St. Louis – moved through the region. 

At one point the storm had storm warnings for Washington, Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Lawrence, Orange, Crawford, Martin and Dubois Counties and quickly spread into areas of North Central Kentucky and eastern Indiana and Ohio. 

The Salem Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Department responded to multiple trees down around the county. 

A tree blew down on North Main Street in Salem, sending area homes into darkness just after 2p. 

At one point, Duke Energy reported almost 4200 customers without power, including Walmart and St. Vincent Hospital.

As of 4p, the number for Duke outtages had dropped to 3,900 customers. 

Jackson County REMC reported this afternoon that 7,618 customers were without power in its coverage area, including about 1,000 in Washington County. 

The Washington County Sheriff’s Department and Emergency Management Agency reported that the following roads had power lines and trees down:

Highway 150 near Orange County Line
State Road 56 near Livonia 
Hardinsburg Livonia Road
Intersection of Cox Ferry & Mulberry Street
North Main Street in Salem near Emma St
Becks Mill Road
135 North and Pump Station Road
RADCLIFF Road 
Garrison Hollow Road
Franklin School Road
State Road 335 & Elmer Martin Road
QUAKER Road
Cox Ferry and Elrod Lane
Blue River Road near 6218
Jackson Street in Salem 
Bee Line and Hitchcock Road
State Road 56 west near Blue River Woods. 

Please use caution when traveling and STAY AWAY from downed POWER LINES.

The Indiana State Police is currently conducting a homicide investigation after a Lawrenceburg man was found deceased in his home on Memorial Day.

On Monday, May 28th, at approximately 2:15 pm, the Indiana State Police and Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department were called to an address on Highridge Court in the Hidden Valley subdivision when Thomas Biedenharn, age 73, was found deceased inside his residence.  Evidence at the scene indicated the death appeared to be the result of foul play.

An autopsy was conducted yesterday, May 30th, in Hamilton County, Ohio.  The autopsy determined that Biedenharn death was the result of a homicide.

No arrests have been made at this time.

The Indiana State Police Criminal Investigative Division is currently investigating the homicide.  Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to call the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post at (812)689-5000.

The Indiana State Police is being assisted by the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department and the Dearborn County Prosecutor’s Office.

On May 29, shortly before 9:00 pm, the Indiana State Police began an investigation after a Jefferson County Deputy’s vehicle was intentionally rammed by a suspect’s vehicle following a domestic disturbance which resulted in the officer being injured.

The incident began when Deputy Ben Flint, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, responded to a report of a domestic battery in the 5000 Block of Inness Road near Deputy, Indiana.

The suspect, who had left scene, was identified as James E. Moffatt, age 44, Deputy, Indiana.  

Deputy Flint attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Moffatt’s vehicle on County Road 500 North near Inness Road.  

After initially stopping, Moffatt then rammed Deputy Flint’s vehicle with his vehicle as he attempted to flee the scene.  Deputy Flint, who was outside of his police vehicle, was injured in the collision.

Moffatt fled the scene until his vehicle came to a stop near the intersection of County Road 410 North and 500 North where he was then taken into custody.  The Indiana State Police arrived soon after Moffatt was taken into custody and took over the investigation since a deputy was injured in the incident.  Deputy Flint was transported to King’s Daughter Hospital in Madison, Indiana for treatment of serious injuries.  He was then treated and released. 

As a result of the investigation, Moffatt was transported to the Jefferson County Jail where he was initially remanded to the custody of the jail staff on charges of Aggravated Battery, Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon, Operating While Intoxicated Causing Serious Bodily Injury, and Driving While Suspended.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed in this case.

The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, Hanover Police Department, Madison Police Department, King’s Daughter Hospital EMS, and Stanley’s Wrecker Service.

The Exchange Club of Northside Bloomington awarded its annual 2018 “Police Officer of the Year” to an officer who serves the citizens of Monroe County and exemplifies the character and dedication expected of law enforcement.

This year’s recipient is Sergeant Greg Day of the Indiana State Police at the Bloomington Post.

Bloomington District Commander Paul Bucher nominated Sgt. Day and used these words to describe him;

…”Greg consistently sets the bar high with the leadership that he delivers on a daily basis. Due to his outstanding performance and dedication, Greg has distinguished himself as one of the best squad sergeants within the Indiana State Police department. Some of Greg‘s strengths include his professionalism, well-rounded experience, exceptional job knowledge, hard work ethic and leadership.

For several years, Greg has displayed leadership qualities that make him a standout among other officers. His consistent work ethic and experience has gained him great respect and positive influence amongst his peers.

Greg‘s greatest accomplishment in 2017 was his leadership in guiding the Bloomington A.C.E.S., (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Section) which was created to address the growing drug problem throughout our local communities. This team, under Greg’s supervision is making a significant difference in the fight against drugs. In 2017, the A.C.E.S. developed 752 criminal defendants and 1,942 total criminal charges which included 878 felonies. The team also generated numerous confidential informants that have led to dozens of arrests of Meth and Heroin dealers in not just Monroe County, but throughout Southern Indiana.

Due to the success of Greg’s team, the Indiana State Police implemented this type of team policing throughout the state in 2017.

Greg routinely assists other officers and agencies with numerous criminal investigations, vehicle crashes, and was an exceptional mentor for probationary officer‘s. Greg is a certified Crash Reconstructionist and is often called upon for his expertise in crash investigations. Greg is an excellent team player and spends countless hours working on his days off to accomplish the needs of others. The quality performance that Greg displays throughout our communities on a daily basis resonates great leadership for our younger troopers.

Most importantly, Greg exemplifies the character expected of an Indiana State Trooper both on and off duty.

Sergeant Greg Day has exhibited outstanding mental attitude and excellence in his overall performance for 2017. The Monroe County community is very fortunate to have Greg’s leadership in law enforcement and his unwavering dedication to public service”…

A very special thanks to the Exchange Club of Northside Bloomington for its continuing support of law enforcement in Monroe County. It is greatly appreciated.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says that the contractor for a $4.3 million resurfacing project on State Road 46 between Columbus and Nashville plans to begin making pavement repairs today.

Flaggers will be onsite to direct motorists around moving work zones.

INDOT officials anticipate that these asphalt patching operations will continue, weather permitting, for approximately one week.

Milestone, the state’s contractor, will mill the pavement before applying a new 1.5-inch lift of asphalt surface on this 15-mile section of State Road 46. Meanwhile, full-depth pavement replacement of a 1200-foot section of State Road 46 at Tipton Lakes Boulevard near Columbus will occur after patching has been completed.

A Michigan woman died Monday at an Indianapolis hospital where she was flown after suffering injuries in a motorcycle wreck on State Road 135, north of Freetown.

According to a Jackson County Sheriff’s Department report, 60-year-old Shirley Thrush, of Sturgis was taken to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital where she died of head injuries.

The accident was reported at 11:49 a.m. Monday in the 10500 block of State Road 135.

According to police Thrush was riding on the back of a 2012 Harley-Davidson driven by 52-year-old Michael Falkenstein, also of Sturgis.

Falkenstein sustained a bruised lung and was transported by ambulance to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour and then transferred to Methodist and was eventually released.

A helicopter landed about a half mile from the crash site and transported Thrush to Indianapolis.

Police say Falkenstein was approached a downhill curved portion of State Road 135 known as Weekly Hill and came upon another motorcycle that was slowed due to a motorcycle accident that had just occurred on the same hill.

While attempting to stop, Falkenstein’s motorcycle slid out of control, and both he and Thrush were thrown from the bike.

No one was seriously injured in the first motorcycle crash.

Early yesterday morning, Indiana State Police Sergeant George Wooten responded to Interstate-64 westbound near the 95 MM, for a single vehicle minor injury accident.

Driver, Kaitlyn Wood, 19, Seymour, hydroplaned and drove off the roadway during an early morning rain storm that resulted in a minor injury accident.

Wood had her newborn in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Wood and her newborn were transported to the Harrison County Hospital via ambulance as a precautionary measure.

ISP Sergeant George Wooten went above and beyond by driving Wood’s vehicle to the Harrison County Hospital.

Wooten explained the vehicle was drivable and Wood wasn’t a local resident so transportation for her and the newborn would have been an issue.

Wooten also explained being a young parent is tough enough as it is and he wanted to save Wood a couple hundred dollars for a tow bill.

Ultimately, Wood and her newborn were treated and released yesterday from the Harrison County Hospital.

Yesterday, May 29th members of the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, Cyber Crimes Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence in rural Brown County.

The search warrant was executed following the initiation of an investigation into possession of child pornography video files.

Patrick J. Becraft, 28 of 5722 West State Road 46, was arrested on 10 counts of Child Exploitation (Level 5 Felony) and 10 counts of Possession of Child Pornography (Level 6 felony).

Becraft was transported to the Brown County Jail where he was processed and lodged.