Bedford Police determined a possible threat to North Lawrence Middle School was involving another school in another state.

A text alert was sent out early this morning to families of middle school students in the North Lawrence Community Schools system regarding a social media posting Wednesday night.

The alert this morning said: 

“Law enforcement personnel indicated that someone may have copied a post from another state, and once the post was activated, information may have become misconstrued. … We, along with our friends associated with the Lawrence County Police Department, the Bedford Police Department and the Indiana State Police, want to reassure you that we are working together to ensure the safety our young people.”

NLCS Superintendent Gary Conner said the Bedford Police Department notified him of the social media activity at about 10:40 p.m. Wednesday.

Bedford Police determined the post pertained to a situation in another state, but generated confusion locally.

A similar situation happened last night to Salem High School. The threat came from a school in Oregon. 

Your Indiana State Police is joining law-enforcement agencies across Indiana this March to increase dangerous and impaired driving patrols for the NCAA Tournament and St. Patrick’s Day.

Last year, the weekend beginning St. Patrick’s Day had the highest number crashes involving impaired drivers. With March 17, 2018 falling on a Saturday, police are conducting random patrols, saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints intended to make our roads safer.

“This is when we celebrate a time honored Hoosier tradition, March Madness and basketball,” said Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter. “However if you drink, your plans should include a designated driver, ride sharing program, or taxi to get you home safely from your celebration. Troopers will be out looking for those drivers who fail to heed this advice and will provide another form of transportation to those drivers; but it won’t be to their home.”

The top causes of all Indiana traffic crashes are drivers following too closely and failing to yield the right of way. Aggressive, distracted and impaired driving reduce reaction times to unexpected slowed traffic, bicycles and pedestrians.

New impaired-driving equipment

In every state, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. In Indiana, drivers under 21 with a BAC of .02 are subject to fines and a license suspension for up to 1 year.

Last year the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) purchased 1,759 new portable breath tests for Indiana law-enforcement agencies. An additional 836 devices will be purchased this year.

But unlike alcohol, there is no quick field test for the legal and illegal drugs that can impair drivers. ICJI and NHTSA are issuing Android tablets and apps to assist 185 highly-trained police officers in the recognition and enforcement of drug-impaired driving.

If you’re taking a new drug or higher dose, talk with your doctor or don’t drive until you know how it affects you. Even over-the-counter medication such as cold medicine or sleep aids may cause impairment, especially when combined with alcohol or a second drug.

Experience different perspectives on an impaired-driving crash scene in 360 degrees at https://on.in.gov/nobigdeal.

Note for media: Indiana State Police has authorized news media to use clips and quotes from an ISP Road Show episode scheduled to air beginning March 4. The unlisted YouTube video features Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Richard Kivett, coordinator for the Marion County Traffic Safety Partnership, and ICJI Communications Director Will Wingfield.

An Ohio man was arrested yesterday morning after he refused to stop for a trooper.

The driver, Edward Maxfield, age 58 of Lebanon, Ohio was arrested and charged with Resisting Law Enforcement with a Motor Vehicle, Level 6 Felony, and Misdemeanor Reckless Driving (due to his excessively slow speed causing a traffic hazard.) Maxfield, who was lodged in the Delaware County Jail, gave no reason for his excessively slow speed or his refusal to stop for troopers.

Yesterday morning just after 11 a.m. Trooper Jeremy Mason was south bound on I-69 around the 248 mile marker when a semi in front of him skidded nearly hitting a slow moving vehicle in the rear in the right lane. Mason drove up on a Kia Sportage traveling in the right lane well below the 70 M.P.H. speed limit.

After clocking the car at 35 M.P.H. in the 70 M.P.H. zone, Mason turned on his lights and attempted to stop the vehicle before it caused a collision, thinking maybe there was something wrong with the driver or the vehicle.  The driver of the Ohio plated vehicle refused to yield over for Mason, and continued driving south at 35 M.P.H. Mason drove up beside the vehicle multiple times to get the male driver’s attention, but the driver continued on south at 35 M.P.H.

As the vehicle was approaching an area where troopers were out on the right lane berm with several disabled vehicles, Stop Stick tire deflation devices were deployed at the 238 mile marker, then again at the 235 mile marker.  When the Kia became disabled it stopped in the right lane with the driver being taken into custody without incident.