Year-Long Drug Investigation Nets 37 Suspects, Several Suspects Still At-Large

A year-long drug investigation by Indiana State Police and Washington Police resulted in 37 suspects being arrested early this morning during a multi-agency drug roundup. The drug investigation was launched in September 2016 to target individuals dealing in illegal narcotics in the Daviess and Knox County area.

At approximately 7 a.m. this morning, officers with the Indiana State Police, ATF, DEA, US Marshals service, Martin County Sheriff’s Department, Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Odon Police and Vincennes Police responded to various locations throughout Knox and Daviess County to execute felony arrest warrants.  As of 3:00 this afternoon, six suspects are still at large.

Suspects Arrested in Daviess County:

• Jeffrey Scheid, 55, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Schedule II Controlled Substance, Level 4 Felony 

• Gage Overton, 25, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• James Fricke, 53, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Michael Hambrick, 35, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Derrick Parker, 38, Washington, IN

1. Conspiracy to Commit Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony
2. Dealing Cocaine, Level 5 Felony 

• Justin Williams, 28, Washington, IN

1. 3 Counts of Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Austin Collins, 23, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Schedule II Drug, Level 4 Felony 

• Joshua Hambrick, 37, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Jonathan Spaulding, 30, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Schedule III Controlled Substance, Level 4 Felony  

• Kenneth Morning, 46, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Schedule II Controlled Substance, Level 4 Felony 

• Tyler Nading, 25, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Robert Hambrick,  36, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Joshua Arnold, 31, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• John Ward, 33, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Jordan Page, 23, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Drake Latham, 27, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• James Booher, 30, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Richard Shelton, 64, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Betty Edmondson, 40, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Justin Elenbaas, 19, Washington, IN

1. Conspiracy to Commit Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Steven Booher, 22, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Stacey Long, 48, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Mervin Graber, 31, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Schedule II Controlled Substance, Level 4 Felony 

• Benjamin Leighty, 39, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Ashley Bechtel, 34, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Miranda Merriman, 23, Bloomington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony

• Benjamin Phillips, 19, Bloomington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Conspiracy to Commit Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony

 Suspects Arrested from Knox County:

• Charles Thomas, 29, Wheatland, IN

1. Dealing a Schedule I, Level 6 Felony 

• David Yoder, 52, Bruceville, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Jaimee Robinson, 41, Vincennes, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Heather Shofner, 32, Bruceville, IN

1. Dealing Meth 

• George Weiss Jr, 34, Vincennes, IN

1. Dealing Meth 

• Megan Potter, 25, Vincennes, IN

1. Dealing Schedule IV, Level 6 Felony 

• Tiffany Emmons, 25, Vincennes, IN

1. Dealing Meth 

• James Howard, 56, Vincennes, IN

1. Dealing Schedule IV, Level 6 Felony 

• Charles Thomas, 29, Wheatland, IN

1. Dealing Schedule IV, Level 6 Felony

• Ashley Schutte, 24, Shoals, IN

1. Dealing Schedule II Controlled Substance, Level 4 Felony

 This was a joint investigation conducted by Washington Police and Indiana State Police

Governor Eric J. Holcomb and INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness today announced 396 Indiana cities, towns and counties received a combined $150 million in state-matching funds for local road projects through the Next Level Roads: Community Crossings Initiative. 

A large chunk of that money will be spend in the Seymour district, which includes Salem, Campbellsburg, Scottsburg, and many other cities and towns in the WSLM Listening Area. 

Lawrence County will receive $596,062 and Orange County will receive $477,961. In addition, various communities within these and Clark, Harrison, Jackson and Washington counties were awarded grants including $786,000 for the City of Salem and $310,195 for the Town of Campbellsburg. 

Salem Mayor Troy Merry said the money would be used for road projects and repaving. 

“I’m so grateful to INDOT for getting this grant,” said Merry. “We’ll use the money on things that need to be kept up in the city. 100 percent of that will go to keep the City streets in good working condition.”

Merry said money this year went to paving High Street from north to south as well as other streets in Salem. He said if funds are available next year he would like to pave Main Street from the stop light and around the square.  

The full list of communities receiving matching funds was released this afternoon following the first in a series of presentations being held around the state with local, state and business officials to highlight award-winning grant applications. 

“Superior local roads are a key factor in maintaining Indiana’s reputation as the Crossroads of America,” Gov. Holcomb said. “I am encouraged that a record number of communities applied for and received funds this year, and I’m grateful to lawmakers for increasing the funding to sustain the community crossings initiative.” 

In just its second year, the Community Crossings Initiative has awarded nearly $300 million in state matching funds to local governments for road construction projects. This year, 467 communities applied for funds – a 48 percent increase from 2016 – making this year truly competitive. 

State Rep. Steve Davisson (R-Salem) supported this funding initiative back in 2016. 

“Funding provided through this program will help local governments make the necessary repairs and updates to roads and bridges,” Davisson said. “These improvements will keep our transportation infrastructure efficient and safe.”

“Across Indiana, local communities are recognizing the need to invest in fixing and improving their infrastructure,” said INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness. “The projects funded today will help build smoother roads and stronger bridges in every corner of the state.” 

Community Crossings was created by the Indiana General Assembly in 2016. Funds for the program are awarded from the state’s local road and bridge matching grant fund. To qualify for funding, local governments must provide local matching funds, 50 percent for larger communities or 25 percent for smaller communities, from a funding source approved for road and bridge construction. They must also submit an INDOT-approved asset management plan for maintaining existing roads and bridges. 

State law requires annually that 50 percent of the available matching funds be awarded to communities with a population of 50,000 or fewer. State lawmakers identified long-term funding for Community Crossings as part of House Enrolled Act 1002, passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Holcomb in April.

INDOT estimates $190 million in matching funds will be available for local communities in calendar year 2018.

A traffic stop for reckless speeds on Interstate 64 Wednesday afternoon led to two men being jailed on drug and weapons charges.

Arrested and Charged were:

Christopher Mackey, 21, Aurora, Colorado

– Dealing Marijuana, Level 6 Felony

– Possession of Marijuana, Level 6 Felony

– Reckless Driving, Class C Misdemeanor

– Operating without a Valid License, Class C Misdemeanor

Justin Beckner, 25, North Tazewell, Virginia

– Dealing Marijuana, Level 6 Felony

– Possession of Marijuana, Level 6 Felony

– Possession of a Firearm without a License, Class A Misdemeanor

At 12:38 PM Wednesday, Master Trooper Randy Neighbors was patrolling Interstate 64 when he observed a silver 2016 Chevrolet Cruze driving eastbound at 101 miles per hour.  As Neighbors was attempting to pull the Chevrolet over, Master Trooper Brian LaRoche clocked the Chevy traveling at 113 miles per hour.  The Chevy stopped for Troopers at the 60 mile marker.

While troopers were speaking with the driver, 21-year-old Christopher Mackey of Aurora, Colorado, LaRoche could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.  As LaRoche and Neighbors searched the vehicle, they located a loaded 9mm handgun with a 30 round magazine at the feet of the passenger, 25-year-old Justin Beckner of North Tazewell, Virginia.  Beckner did not have a handgun license.  Troopers also found approximately one pound of marijuana in the trunk of the car.

Mackey and Beckner were arrested without incident and transported to the Spencer County Jail.