Dustin Houchin has filed for re-election as Washington County Prosecutor. First elected in 2006, Houchin has aggressively and successfully prosecuted repeat offenders, increased prosecution for drug crimes, worked with the Sheriff’s Office to track and prosecute sex offenders, increased services to victims, and eliminated waste from the annual budget.

“Serving as Washington County Prosecutor is an honor, and I am blessed with the opportunity to give back to my home community in this capacity,” said Houchin. “Keeping our streets safe for our families, friends and neighbors is a duty I take seriously, and I look forward to continuing our work.”

In 2017, Houchin was re-elected by his peers as Chairman of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council Board of Directors, where he works with prosecutors and legislators from around the state on the public’s behalf. He is President of the Washington County Substance Abuse Council and the Community Corrections Advisory Board, and has served on the boards of Youth First of Washington County and the local YMCA.

“Prosecuting violent and repeat offenders, and those pushing drugs on our streets is critical to our safety, and I am proud of the work the Prosecutor’s Office has done on these fronts,” said Houchin. “Our increasing drug epidemic, and other crimes, must be fought aggressively. We are doing just that, and will continue to do so.”

Prior to serving as Prosecutor, Houchin owned and operated a successful law practice in Salem, which included work as a Washington County Public Defender. He also served as a Legislative Assistant in the Indiana House of Representatives. Houchin graduated law school from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis, and holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from Indiana University.

A lifelong resident of Washington County, Prosecutor Houchin was raised in Campbellsburg. Dustin and his wife, State Senator Erin Houchin, live in Salem with their three children.

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly released the following statement after attending President Trump’s State of the Union address this evening. Donnelly’s guest at the address was Taylor Nielsen, a member of the Lebanon Police Department, whose openness about mental health challenges as a police officer helped advance Donnelly’s Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, which was signed into law earlier this month.

Donnelly said, “I’m pleased that President Trump spoke about continuing the economic growth that our country has enjoyed for the last several years, but we have more work to do to ensure every Hoosier who wants a job has one, to prevent the outsourcing of American jobs, and to realign our trade policies to benefit hardworking men and women across our country. There are a lot of pressing challenges facing our country, and I look forward to working in a bipartisan manner to: address the opioid epidemic, which is in desperate need of a more robust federal response; repair and upgrade our nation’s infrastructure; and implement a comprehensive strategy to effectively counter the dangerous threat posed by North Korea.”

Congressman Todd Rokita released the following statement after President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. Audio of statement can be found here.

“President Donald Trump put forth an American First agenda to build a safer, stronger, and prouder country,” said Congressman Todd Rokita. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the forgotten men and women of this country have a voice in the White House and I’m proud to be an ally to drain the swamp and make our nation great again.”

Senator Todd Young

Today, the Indiana State Police responded to two crashes in the Versailles District where Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) trucks were struck by other motorists.

The first crash occurred at 10:00 am on I-65 Northbound near Crothersville, Indiana.  

The initial investigation by Sgt. Stephen Wheeles determined that a red 2013 Nissan passenger car, being driven by David Cutrone, age 29, Lake Wylie, SC, was traveling northbound on I-65 near the 37 mile marker.  

Cutrone’s vehicle drove onto the shoulder of I-65 and struck the guardrail.  

The vehicle then struck the rear of a white 2016 Ford INDOT truck being driven by Cody Hobbs, age 24, Scottsburg, Indiana.  

The INDOT vehicle was parked on the shoulder while three INDOT workers removed debris off the shoulder of I-65.  Hobbs along with front seat passenger Darren Jones, age 49, Deputy, Indiana suffered minor injuries in the collision.  

A third INDOT worker, Freddie Taylor, age 26, Scottsburg, Indiana was outside the vehicle at the time of the collision and also suffered minor injuries.  

All three INDOT workers were transported by ambulance to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, Indiana for treatment.

Cutrone was initially entrapped in his vehicle after the collision.  Firefighters from the Vernon Township Fire Department and Seymour Fire Department freed Cutrone from his vehicle.  He was transported to Schneck Medical Center for treatment of serious but non-life threatening injuries.

The right lane of I-65 near the 37 mile marker was closed for nearly two hours for crash investigation and cleanup.

The investigation is ongoing.

Sgt. Wheeles was assisted by numerous troopers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Crothersville Police Department, Jackson County EMS, Vernon Township Fire Department, Seymour Fire Department, INDOT, and Howard’s Wrecker Service.

The second crash involving an INDOT vehicle occurred at approximately 12:00 pm on State Road 101 at I-74 in Ripley County.

The initial investigation by Trp. Clifton Elston determined that a white 2014 Ford INDOT truck, driven by Kevin Callahan, age 42, Sunman, Indiana was traveling northbound on State Road 101.  

A white 2012 Chevrolet Silverado, being driven by Keith Huber, age 78, St. Paul, Indiana exited I-74 and drove eastbound into the side of the INDOT vehicle.  

Both drivers were checked out at the scene by medical personnel for minor injuries.  Three passengers of the INDOT vehicle were also checked out with minor injuries.

State Road 101 was down to one lane for an hour for crash investigation and cleanup.

The investigation is ongoing.

Trp. Elston was assisted by assisted by other troopers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post, Sunman Rescue 20, and Buckley’s Towing.

On January 29, 2018 at approximately 6:40 AM, Indiana State Police Troopers Anthony Potesta and Brayan Elias-Espinoza stopped to check on a disabled motorist on I-94 eastbound near mile marker 33.8 (This is just west of US 421 Exit #34). 

The driver was identified as Armando Vargas-Angel, 36, of Aurora, IL.  Vargas-Angel stated that he had run out of gas and that he was traveling from work in Western Springs, IL to his home to Aurora, IL.  The troopers determined that he was approximately 100 miles off course. 

Vargas-Angel showed signs of impairment, and a subsequent search of his vehicle revealed several baggies of a white powdery substance, suspected to be Cocaine, as well several items of drug paraphernalia.  Vargas-Angel was transported to LaPorte County Jail where he tested .16% on a Certified Chemical Breath Test.  He has been charged with:

               Possession of Cocaine, Level 6 Felony

               Operating While Intoxicated-Endangering a Person, Class A Misdemeanor

               Operating While Intoxicated-BAC .15 or Higher, Class A Misdemeanor

               Operating While Intoxicated-Per Se, Class C Misdemeanor

               Possession of Paraphernalia, Class A Misdemeanor

He was transferred to jail staff without further incident.

Three juveniles have been arrested in connection with threats that led to the cancellation of classes last Friday at Paoli Community Schools. 

Two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old were arrested after detectives developed probable cause for their alleged roles in posting the threats. 

All three juveniles were taken into custody earlier this afternoon in Paoli, and were transported to a juvenile detention center.  Each juvenile is being charged with Intimidation, a Level 6 Felony. 

On Thursday, January 25, 2018, around 5:00 p.m., law enforcement was made aware of a post on a social media account that threatened to do harm to local schools.  The Indiana State Police, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and Paoli Police Department immediately began to investigate the origin and validity of the of the threat.

Later in the evening of January 25th a second post appearing to be from the same site was posted.  The Paoli School Corporation was informed of the findings and later decided, for the safety of all involved, to cancel school this past Friday, January 26, 2018.

After the first threat came in about 5p Thursday evening, Paoli Community School Officials decided to have a two-hour delay on Friday to figure out if the threat was imminent. 

Later in the evening, another threat showed up on social media and the schools were closed. 

Indiana State Police Sgt. Chad Dick said law enforcement was able to figure that the post seen locally was a screenshot of a post that originated outside of the area and outside of the country.

“Later in the evening, another post from that same site showed up. That’s when the corporation decided to call school off for the day. For the safety of everyone,” Dick said. 

State Police, Orange County Sheriff’s Department and Paoli Police Department officers have been working with school officials to investigate.

“We are continuing to investigate it,” said Dick. “It’s very complex. With technologies used and it can be very daunting and difficult.”

Eastern School Corporation closed its doors Thursday after threats appeared online from a foreign app called Saraha and shared through Snapchat. 

“I think this is going to be the same thing,” said Dick. “Sounds like it’s going to be the same thing. I live in Dubois County. On Veteran’s Day, the same thing came out. Once again it’s so difficult when it’s overseas.”

When posed with the question of why these threats would be coming from overseas to schools in rural Indiana, Dick had this to say: 

“Obviously the significance of anyone who’s trying to cause terror is to make people afraid,” said Dick. “What was put out last night was enough to cause the officials to close the school. It was threats to the school corporation. Bad enough for them to cancel school for the day. Terrorists want to instill fear. What better way than to pick on rural communities. Once we’re connected to the world like we are now, things that used to be passed around by paper come from anywhere in the world.”

From the time these threats were reported to law enforcement, investigators have been working diligently to determine who was responsible for these criminal acts. 

While the state police will not comment on specifics of how this crime was solved and what social media apps were used to communicate these threats, the clear message is these crimes are vigorously investigated and are not treated as pranks. 

Engaging in communication of ‘anonymous’ threats can have lifelong consequences for people arrested and prosecuted for such crimes.  And as demonstrated by this investigation, nothing on the Internet is ever truly ‘anonymous.’

Assisting Agencies: Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Paoli Police Department

Persons arrested for alleged criminal acts are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Dr. Bill McDonald, 47, Rego, died early today at a Louisville hospital as a result of severe burns he received when an outdoor furnace exploded Friday night. 

McDonald operated McDonald Veterinary Clinic in Hardinsburg. 

Emergency responders were dispatched to McDonald’s property in Rego at 4:30 p.m. Friday, after a report that McDonald was injured when an outdoor furnace exploded.

He was airlifted to a Louisville hospital for treatment.

Susan Umpleby, Dr. McDonald’s sister posted on Facebook, he passed away shortly after midnight this morning surrounded by his family and friends who were praying and singing hymns and sharing stories.

“We had a few laughs, as my brothers and I shared some childhood antics (and even some from our adult lives) with Bill’s children.