At approximately 1:20 this morning, Trooper Fox and Evansville Police were in the area of Covert Avenue and Green River Road looking for a suspect involved in an alleged carjacking and shooting that occurred late Monday night.

Arrested and Charged was Steven Martin Freels, 25, Evansville, IN

1. Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon
2. Carrying a Handgun without a License
3. Driving While Intoxicated 

Trooper Fox observed a 2002 Lincoln stop in the middle southbound lane at the traffic light on Green River Road at Covert Avenue. 

After the traffic light turned green the vehicle suddenly made an improper turn by turning west onto Covert from the incorrect lane.

The vehicle then turned into the parking lot at Chuckles. Trooper Fox stopped the vehicle in the parking lot, approached the vehicle and identified the driver as Steven Martin Freels, 25, of Evansville.

Fox detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage while talking to Freels. During the traffic stop a male driving a street sweeping truck approached Fox and informed him that a handgun was laying in the roadway on Covert just west of Green River Road.

Evansville Police immediately responded and secured the weapon. Trooper Fox had just 

driven through that area before stopping Freels and did not see the weapon.

Fox believes the handgun was thrown out of the vehicle after Freels turned onto Covert Avenue and before turning into Chuckle’s parking lot.

The .380 caliber handgun was loaded. Further investigation revealed Freels had a blood alcohol content of .13%. 

He was arrested and taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.

Freels has not been arrested or charged with a crime connecting him to the carjacking/shooting that occurred last night in the area of Covert Avenue and Green River Road.

Arresting Officer: Trooper Taylor Fox, Indiana State Police 

Assisting Agency: Evansville Police 

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

On December 17, 2017, around 1:00 a.m., Indiana State Trooper Kyle Glaze, made a traffic stop on a Nissan Altima for a moving violation on SR933 near Pendel, ultimately arresting two area men.   

While Glaze was talking to the driver of the Nissan, Lucas Garrett, age 36 of North Liberty, three officers with the St. Joseph County Police Department arrived to assist. 

Glaze had become suspicious of possible drug activity and conducted a free-air sniff using his K9 partner, Nala. After a positive alert, a search was conducted on the Nissan.   

Located during the search were several items of paraphernalia, suspected methadone and suspected marijuana. 

During a search of the passenger, Thomas Campion age 42 of Walkerton, paraphernalia and suspected methamphetamine was located. 

Garrett and Campion were both transported to the St. Joseph County Jail by Officer Harbert of the St. Joseph County Police Department.

Once at the jail additional contraband was located by Officer Harbert. 

Located was more suspected marijuana, oxycodone, and suspected methamphetamine. 

Garret was preliminarily charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. 

Campion was preliminarily charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Paraphernalia.

The City of Salem garbage schedule for the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s will be as follows. 

Each route will be delayed a day.  

Monday will be picked up Tuesday, Tuesday will be picked up Wednesday, Wednesday will be picked up Thursday and Thursday will be picked up Friday. 

The City of Salem recycling schedule for New Year’s will be as follows. Monday, Jan. 1^st will be picked up on Tuesday, Jan. 2^nd.  All other days will be on regular schedule.

On Sunday, December 16, Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter promoted First Sergeant Jason Allen to the rank of Lieutenant to serve as the District Commander for the Jasper Post. 

Allen is a native of Knox County and a 1992 graduate of Lincoln High School in Vincennes.  After high school, Allen served his country for four years in the United States Air Force, while serving eight month in support of Operation Southern Watch in Saudi Arabia.  In 1998 Allen earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the Community College of the Air Force.

Allen graduated from the Indiana State Police Recruit Academy in 2000.  He was assigned to the Evansville District, patrolling primarily Knox County.  As a member of the Indiana State Police, Allen has served as a Squad Sergeant, a member of the Tactical Intervention Platoon, SWAT, Honor Guard and Critical Incident Stress Management Team, as well as a Field Training Officer, and a member of the High Performance Vehicle Squad.  Allen was promoted as the Assistant District Commander of the Evansville Post in 2013.

Lieutenant Allen will reside in the Jasper District with his two children:  Josie and Ellie.