A trooper and two other people were hit this morning while standing outside their vehicles. 

Preliminary investigation showed at approximately 4:40 a.m., this Wednesday, March 7, 2018, morning, Trooper Nicole Maenza, 24, a 1 ½ year veteran of the Indiana State Police, was on the south bound Cline Avenue to I-80/94 east bound ramp investigating crashes. 

The ramp was snow covered and slick from earlier weather conditions.  While Maenza was investigating one of the crashes she saw a Ford Expedition crash further down the ramp into the sound barrier wall and went to see if the occupants were okay. 

Both occupants, later identified as Jorge Carrillo-Padilla, 41 of Chicago, Illinois and his brother Ernesto Carrillo-Padilla, 37 of Chicago, Illinois got out of the Expedition. 

As Maenza was telling them to go back inside their car a 2015 Hyundai Sonata lost control and hit all three of them.

The Sonata was driven by a 27 year-old female from Griffith, who stated that a car in front of her began slowing down/braking when she had to hit her brakes and to avoid hitting the rear of that car swerved to the right, lost control and hit a light pole.  She then heard people yelling and later realized she had hit the three listed above.

Maenza, Jorge and Ernesto Carillo-Padilla were all taken to a local hospital.  Maenza and Jorge Carillo-Padilla are being admitted for their injuries which are non-life threatening. 

Assisting:  Master Trooper Lawrence McFarrin, Senior Trooper Nedal Nabhan, Troopers William Carlson and James Brasseur.

Indiana State Police would like to remind everyone the safest place to be after a crash is anywhere but on or near traffic lanes on the interstate.  Stay inside your vehicle! It offers the most protection.

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

A 23-year-old Mt. Vernon man has been arrested by the Indiana State Police after allegations of sexual abuse of a 14-year-old in 2014.

Arrested and Charged was Dylan Cooper, 23, of Mt. Vernon, IN

1. Count 1 Child Molesting, Level 3 Felony
2. Count 2 Child Molesting, Level 4 Felony
3. Count 3 Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, Level 5 Felony

ISP Detective Wes Kuykendall initiated a criminal investigation on February 26th after receiving information that a Posey County male juvenile had allegedly been sexually abused several years ago by Cooper.

During the investigation it was revealed that between 2014 and 2015, Cooper had allegedly fondled the victim on several occasions. 

At the time of the alleged incidents, the victim was under the age of 14 and Cooper was at least 18 years of age.

At approximately 2:20 this afternoon, Detective Kuykendall served an arrest warrant on Cooper after he agreed to turn himself in at the Posey County Jail. Cooper is currently being held on a $25,000 cash bond.

Investigating Officer: Detective Wes Kuykendall, Indiana State Police

Assisting Agency: Indiana Department of Child Services

This past Saturday afternoon, the Indiana State Police District #33 A.C.E.S. (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Section) conducted a criminal patrol in Owen County.

During the patrol, Trooper Chris Griggs stopped a vehicle on State Road 46 at US 231 for a traffic violation. After criminal indicators were observed, the investigation revealed approximately ½ pound of Methamphetamine being transported inside the vehicle.  

Arrested was Darrell R. Moore age 34 of Mooresville.

–          Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony

–          Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 3 Felony

–          Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 Felony

–          Possession of a hypodermic syringe, Level 6 Felony

Moore was transported to, processed and lodged at the Owen County Jail.  Trooper Griggs was assisted by members of the Bloomington A.C.E.S., Spencer Police and the Indiana State PoliceDrug Enforcement Section.

Anyone with illegal drug information is encouraged to contact the Bloomington Indiana StatePolice Post at 812-332-4411. Your tip can remain anonymous and could save lives!

Indiana broadcast stations will participate in a statewide tornado drill on Tuesday, March 20th as a part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week.

The National Weather Service test of the statewide Emergency Alert System (EAS) will be at 10:15 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (9:15 CT) and will be issued for 15 minutes.

Severe Weather Preparedness Week (March 18-24) and the tornado test drill help to ensure that the statewide Indiana EAS network is operating properly and is ready to respond in the event of a tornado warning in the state.

“All Hoosiers know how erratic weather can be in Indiana, so we want to make sure our systems are firing on all cylinders in case Mother Nature shows her worst,” said IBA Executive Director Dave Arland.  “We have been participating in this drill for more than three decades, but broadcasters remain committed to doing all we can to keep Hoosiers safe at times when they are often most vulnerable.”

In the event of severe or inclement weather, the test will be rescheduled and held on Wednesday, March 21st.

The Indiana House of Representatives supported legislation sponsored by State Rep. Steve Davisson (R-Salem) today that would require coroners to further investigate overdose deaths. 

The legislation would require a coroner to obtain information about the deceased from INSPECT, Indiana’s prescription monitoring program, if they reasonably suspect the cause of death to be an accidental or intentional overdose of a controlled substance.

“To be successful in curbing the statewide opioid epidemic, Indiana needs to understand the scope of the problem,” Davisson said. “This legislation would apply consistency to coroner toxicology tests performed across the state. Indiana needs more specific, accurate and timely data about the opioid crisis, and this moves toward that goal.”

Coroners would also have to forward test results from the deceased to the Indiana State Department of Health with their notice of death and information about the controlled substance that may have been involved.

According to Davisson, detailed and geographic-specific information like this is essential to saving future lives in the fight against the opioid epidemic.

Senate Enrolled Act 139  can now be considered by the governor. For more information, visit iga.in.gov.