Early this morning, at approximately 1:00 am, a Columbus, Indiana man was struck and killed by a semi tractor-trailer while attempting to walk across the southbound lanes of I-65 near the 74 mile marker in Bartholomew County.

The initial investigation by Trp. Korry Clark indicated that a silver 2006 Toyota Avalon being driven by Justin S. Mills, age 27, Columbus, Indiana was traveling southbound near the 74.5 mile marker when the vehicle entered the median of I-65 and struck the cable barrier before coming to a stop.  Mills left the vehicle and walked to the nearby I-65 Rest Area.  Upon returning to his vehicle, Mills was struck and killed while crossing the southbound lanes of I-65 near the 74 mile marker.  The vehicle that struck Mills was a 2015 Kenworth tractor pulling a box trailer, being driven by Carlos E. Zepeda, age 48, Greenwood, Indiana.

Zepeda immediately stopped at the scene and reported striking Mills.  Zepeda was not injured in the collision.  At this time, it is unclear why Mills entered I-65 into the path of Zepeda’s vehicle. Toxicology results on Zepeda and Mills are pending at this time. 

The crash remains under investigation.  Anyone with information about either of the crashes is urged to call the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post at (812)689-5000.

The Mills family has been notified. 

The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, German Township Fire Department, Columbus Regional EMS, and the Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office.

A Bartholomew County man remains at large after he fled police investigating a report of an attempted burglary Monday morning in northwestern Jackson County.

Residents were warned of a possible active shooter situation. After WSLM called the Sheriff’s Department at 2:10p, an employee said the all-clear had been given. 

Nathan Shepherd, 31, of Columbus and another Bartholomew County man were seen breaking into a garage in the 3700 block of West State Road 58 in Freetown, police said. That incident was reported to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department at 8:13 a.m.

The second man, Travis Mitchell 32, of Columbus, was later found and arrested after hiding in the garage.

Police convinced him to surrender four and a half hours later, Jackson County Sheriff Mike Carothers said.

Indiana State Police assisted Jackson County Sheriff deputies apprehend one suspect and continue to look for another after a burglary in Freetown this morning.

The incident happened on State Road 58 near Freetown.

“The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department is the primary investigating agency and will be sending a news release out soon,” said ISP Sgt. Stephen Wheeles. “One person was taken into custody at the scene of the burglary. One person remains at large. We don’t have reason to believe the public is in any danger.”

Police are asking the public if they see anyone suspicious in the Freetown area to contact police. Anyone with information about Shepherd’s whereabouts can call the sheriff’s department at 812-358-2141. Reports can be anonymous.

Mitchell was charged with intimidation, burglary, criminal trespassing and resisting law enforcement.

He was also charged with false informing when he gave the Jackson County Jail the the wrong.

Shepherd was last seen around 8:30 a.m. Monday in a camouflage shirt and pants.

Carothers said Shepherd is about 6 feet tall and has dark hair, a thin frame and a dark-colored, thin beard.

“He’s not thought to be dangerous, and we think he’s probably already out of the area,” Carothers said.

Police briefly detained a man thought to be Shepherd just before 2 p.m. in the 11000 block of State Road 135 near the Jackson-Brown county line 4 miles away from the incident.

The man turned out not to be Shepherd and was released, Carothers said.

He said Shepherd fled from inside the garage through a wooded area after police arrived and threatened to shoot at police as he ran.

Carothers said there was no evidence to confirm whether Shepherd or Kinworthy was armed.

“No weapon was ever seen,” he said.

Carothers said officers heard loud noises coming from the garage but could not confirm whether they were gunshots.

“It might have been things falling in the garage,” he said.

Police did prepare as though the two men were armed as they called for armored vehicles from the Seymour Police Department and Indiana State Police.

Mitchell was booked into the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown at 2:05 p.m. without bond.

The Brownstown Police Department also sent officers to the area.

An investigation by Indiana State Police Detectives led to a Vallonia, Indiana man being arrested on various charges related to an alleged sexual relationship he had with an underage female.

The investigation by Master Trooper Jason Duncan and Detective Andrew Mitchell began on June 7, 2018 when the Indiana State Police was made aware of the allegations after an initial investigation by the Jackson County Department of Child Services and the Child Advocacy Center in Dillsboro, Indiana on June 6th.    

Through the course of the investigation, it was determined that Derrick G. Williams, age 38, Vallonia, Indiana, allegedly had sexual contact with the girl several times over a two year period when the girl was between 14 and 16 years of age. 

The information obtained during the investigation led to troopers arresting Williams on June 8, 2018.  He was booked into the Jackson County Jail on felony charges of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, Child Seduction, and Child Solicitation.

Williams is being held in the Jackson County Jail, pending his initial court appearance.

Senior Trooper Stinson, a Crawford County native, and 11 year veteran, graduated from the 68th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy on December 21st, 2007. Upon graduating from the recruit academy S/Trp. Stinson was assigned to the Sellersburg Post where he has served for the last 11 years.

During his career Stinson has received numerous awards and is highly decorated for his commitment to the citizens of Indiana.

Awards

2009- Trooper of the District, Sellersburg Post

          DUI Life Award # 1 in the state, 255 Impaired Drivers Apprehended

          Meritorious Service Award- OWI Enforcement Efforts

2010- DUI Life Award # 1 in state, 255 Impaired Drivers Apprehended

          Meritorious Service Award- OWI Enforcement Efforts

2011- DUI Life Award # 1 in state, 212 Impaired Drivers Apprehended

          Meritorious Service Award-OWI Enforcement Efforts

2011- ***Silver Star Award***- In the early morning hours of November 28th, 2011, Stinson was travelling north on State Street in New Albany when a pedestrian alerted him to a nearby crash where a Dodge Neon had struck a tree and then erupted into flames. Stinson immediately responded as he called for additional assistance. Upon arriving, Stinson used his fire extinguisher to break out the back window of the burning car with the intent of extinguishing the fire. Moments later, McCooe arrived on the scene and together both troopers repeatedly attempted to remove the driver and extinguish the flames until both of their fire extinguishers were empty.

During their attempts to extinguish the flames and remove the driver from the burning vehicle, Stinson and McCooe had to exit the burning vehicle several times to get breaths of fresh air. With the troopers keeping the fire at bay the New Albany Fire Department was able to arrive and extinguish the flames, extricate the driver, ultimately saving his life.  

2012- DUI Life Award # 2 in state, 183 Impaired Drivers Apprehended

2013- DUI Life Award # 2 in state, 191 Impaired Drivers Apprehended

2014- DUI Life Award # 5 in state, 54 Impaired Drivers Apprehended (Stinson also served as an ISP Academy Recruit Counselor for the 73rd Recruit Academy).

2015- Top DUI Award, Sellersburg Post

2016- DUI Life Award # 3 in state, 117 Impaired Drivers Apprehended

 Stinson currently has over 1,500 Operating While Intoxicated arrests in his career.

Specialty Assignments

Tactical Intervention Platoon (Riot Team)

Honor Guard

Field Training Officer

Firearms Instructor

Patrol Rifle Instructor

Department Armorer with the Sig Sauer 227 and M4 Rifle.

S/Trp. Stinson enjoys competitive shooting and spending time with his family. Stinson says with his transfer home he would like to start fishing again and reconnect with the locals. Stinson wants to focus on community policing and combating the methamphetamine/heroin problems that face our communities.

 Stinson will be assigned to patrol primarily Spencer County on midnight shift.

This morning at approximately 6:45 am, the Indiana State Police responded to a two vehicle crash on I-65 northbound near the 51 mile marker that resulted in a lengthy closure of I-65 after a tractor trailer overturned and caught fire.

The initial investigation by Trp. Seth Davidson indicated that a 2017 Freightliner hauling a box trailer, being driven by Gary L. Garza, age 61, Girard, Ohio was traveling northbound in the right lane of I-65 near the 51 mile marker.  Garza’s vehicle changed lanes into a northbound 2012 Ford Escape being driven by Juan Soto, age 57, Griffin, GA.  Soto’s vehicle was pushed into the guardrail in the median of I-65 before coming to a stop.  Garza’s vehicle struck a guardrail and concrete bridge barrier before it overturned in the middle of the northbound lanes of I-65 and caught fire.

Both Garza and a 60 year old male passenger were able to escape the commercial motor vehicle before it was fully engulfed with flames.  The passenger was transported by ambulance to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, Indiana for treatment of smoke inhalation. Soto and a 14 year old female passenger in his vehicle were transported to Schneck Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The commercial motor vehicle and trailer were destroyed by the fire.  The trailer contained general merchandise for QVC.

As a result of the collision, the northbound lanes of I-65 were closed for approximately 7.5 hours for crash investigation and road repair.  During the closure, traffic was diverted at the Uniontown exit to US 31.

The crash remains under investigation but drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the crash.

The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Seymour Police Department, Seymour Fire Department, Redding Township Fire Department, Hamilton Township Fire Department, Jackson-Washington Township Fire Department, Indiana Department of Transportation, E & B Paving, and 31 Wrecker Service.