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.