Over the past couple of years Master Trooper Jim Zeser has successfully lobbied to have signs alerting drivers to stop for school buses installed along US 33 in Dunlap, Hively Avenue between Benham Avenue and Main Street in Elkhart, and just last year along US 20, between CR 17 and SR 15.  

Zeser did this, with the help of Dirk Schmidt from INDOT, after seeing that these areas had consistent issues with drivers not stopping for school buses. 

This year Zeser has noticed the amount of traffic increase on US 20 between CR 17 and SR 15 so he came up with the idea to be proactive and have temporary dynamic message boards installed in this area.  Zeser went to Dirk Schmidt with his idea and INDOT had the signs put up along US 20, one for eastbound traffic and one for westbound traffic. The message reads the same as the permanent signs that were installed last year, “all lanes must stop when school bus stops.”  The hope is that these signs grab the attention of the daily drivers in this area and remind them that all lanes must stop when a school bus stops.  

Zeser said, “School safety is very important.  Hopefully these signs stick out and prepare motorists that school buses will be on the road so be prepared to stop.” 

As a reminder Indiana law states that all lanes in both directions most stop for a school bus arm except when the highway is divided by a physical barrier such as a curb or undeveloped median. 

At 5:50 PM on the afternoon of August 6th, 2018, a routine traffic stop by an Indiana State Trooper of a semi-tractor on the Toll Road led to the arrest of an Illinois man on charges of possession of marijuana. 

Master Trooper Tim McCormick observed a commercial motor vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed near the 56 mile marker of Interstate 90, near Rolling Prairie, Indiana.

The semi-truck was being driven by Ahmad Alkhazaleh, 30, of Harwood Heights, Illinois. 

Also present in the vehicle was a co-driver, Jordan Khazaleh, 33, of Harwood Heighs, Illinois.  Master Trooper McCormick detected a strong odor associated with marijuana coming from within the vehicle. 

Together with Trooper Trent Jones, a search of the vehicle was conducted, yielding the seizure of the alleged marijuana.  The driver, Mr Alkhazaleh claimed sole possession of the alleged marijuana and was incarcerated at LaPorte County Jail for possession of marijuana. 

The Indiana State Police will be conducting a region wide initiative called Operation  Pull Over in the coming days. 

The operation is scheduled to begin on August 15th and will run until September 1st.  Enforcement activities will be focused on but not limited to, targeting impaired driving by motorists. 

The Indiana State Police would like to remind people to be on the lookout for impaired driving and wants to encourage motorists to report such drivers.  Seemingly small tips given by the public can lead to arrests and help us keep the roadways safe for everyone. 

Friday morning at 9:00, Indiana State Police Trooper John Myers from the Putnamville Post responded to a report of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was originally reported stolen out of Indianapolis. The vehicle was reported to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

The vehicle reported stolen was a 2005 black Pontiac Bonneville. The reporting party and also the owner of the vehicle stated that her 11-year-old son had taken the vehicle.  

The vehicle eventually was located on US 40 near County Road 300 East with the help of OnStar, in Putnam County. The juvenile in possession of the vehicle told Trooper Myers that he was just going to go around the block, but decided to just keep going.  He ended up traveling on I-70 and took exit 37 north towards US 40.  The juvenile then stated he decided to head back home but ran out of gas.  After consulting with the family and prosecutors office no charges are going to be filed at this time.