More Volunteers and Counting as the Need Increases

As Hurricane Harvey continues to impact the southeastern portions of the state, the American Red Cross continues to mount a massive relief effort for the most deadly and devastating hurricane forecast to strike the United States in over a decade.

Hurricane Harvey has made landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast with over 100 mph winds and up to 35 inches of rain, leading to devastating and life-threatening flooding.

Tornadoes are also possible. The storm is expected to hover over parts of Texas and Louisiana for several days.

The Red Cross has already mobilized hundreds of trained Red 

Cross disaster relief workers, truckloads of kitchen supplies as well as tens of thousands of ready-to-eat meals to support this response effort.

Trailers full of shelter supplies including cots and blankets—enough to support more than 20,000 people— are in Texas.

“The Indiana region of the American Red Cross has deployed 26 volunteers and two emergency response vehicles to areas affected by Hurricane Harvey,” said Duchess Adjei, regional communication director. “We’re thankful for the dedication of volunteers that are willing to help those in need and advance the humanitarian mission.”

More than 40 Red Cross emergency response vehicles are activated with more on alert.

The Red Cross is also working in close collaboration with government officials and community partners in both Texas and Louisiana to coordinate potential response efforts.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The Red Cross depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Harvey by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.

Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.

The Red Cross honors donor intent. Donors can designate their donation to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts by choosing that option when donating on redcross.org or on 1-800-RED CROSS.

The best way to ensure your donation will go to a specific disaster is to write the specific disaster name in the memo line of a check. We also recommend completing and mailing the donation form on redcross.org with your check.

The Indiana Region serves 87 Indiana counties consisting of six Red Cross chapters: Central Indiana (Indianapolis headquarters), Northern Indiana (South Bend headquarters), Northeast Indiana (Fort Wayne headquarters), Northwest (Merrillville headquarters), Southern Indiana (Evansville headquarters) and West Central Indiana (Terre Haute headquarters). 

For more information on the Indiana Region: www.redcross.org/local/in. Follow the Indiana Region on Twitter at:@INRedCross, on Instagram at: @indianaredcross or  www.facebook.com/INRedCross.

Saturday morning at 10:00, 44-year-old Brandon L. Thomas of Los Angeles, California, operated his 2017 Kia Soul at 75 miles-per-hour in a 55mph zone, while passing an Indiana State Police trooper on the right.

After passing the trooper, Thomas continued to speed and change lanes without signaling. 

A traffic stop was initiated and during conversations with Thomas, the trooper noticed several indicators of possible criminal activity.

A search of the vehicle yielded approximately two pounds of alleged marijuana inside a backpack.

Estimated street value is $6000 (six thousand) dollars. Also found was a fake social security card. 

Thomas was taken into custody and incarcerated in the Vigo County Jail for Dealing Marijuana under 10 pounds and Possession of a Fraudulent Government Document (felonies). 

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

A Missouri Woman with a blood alcohol content level of .40 was arrested by the Indiana State Police after a crash on US 41. 

This is five times the legal limit in Indiana. 

Arrested was Amy Vogt, 41, Arnold, MO and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Class A Misdemeanor 

Yesterday afternoon at approximately 4:05, Trooper Ross Rafferty was patrolling US 41 when he observed a two vehicle crash in the southbound lanes of US 41 at Rusher Creek.

Both drivers were okay and did not required medical attention. When Rafferty approached the driver who caused the crash he immediately detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage.

Vogt was slurring her words and her balance was poor.

Further investigation revealed Vogt had a blood alcohol content of .40%.  V

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

Vogt’s vehicle had heavy front end damage and had to be towed. The vehicle Vogt struck was driveable.

Arresting Officer: Trooper Ross Rafferty, Indiana State Police

Indiana State Trooper, O’Bryan Winfield, recently helped Team Indiana win the gold medal in basketball at the 2017 World Police and Fire Games held in Los Angeles, California.  This event took place from August 8th through the 13th. 

The World Police and Fire Games is a biennial event that is open to active and retired law enforcement and fire personnel from around the world.  This event attracts close to 10,000 entrants.

Team Indiana was made up of Trooper O’Bryan Winfield of the Indiana State Police as well as officers from Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Greenfield Police Department, Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, Gary Police Department and Evansville Police Department.

Throughout the tournament, Team Indiana did not lose a single game and were the number one seed. They won the gold medal by defeating Washington, D.C. with a score of 50-42.  They have been invited back to defend their gold medal at the 2019 World Police and Fire Games to be held in Chengdu, China.

Winfield said that prior to leaving for the competition he was often asked if he thought his team could win against larger states and teams from other countries.  He said his response was based off 2 Corinthians 5:7, For we walk by faith, not by sight.

 Winfield has been a state trooper for nine and a half years.  He lives in East Chicago and patrols the Indiana Toll Road in Lake and Porter Counties.

Looking for something to do this weekend? Head over to the Indiana State PoliceMuseum, located on the east side of Indianapolis. The ISP Museum will be open from 12pm to 4pm and admission is free.

The museum houses several police cars from different decades, exhibits on crime scene investigation, radio communications, and the early 1930s, when gangsters like John Dillinger and Al Brady wreaked havoc on the nation. The Logo Store – a gift shop with Indiana State Policeshirts, mugs, key chains, and more will also be open to the public.

Questions? Feel free to call the museum staff at (317) 899 8293 or email at ISPMuseum@isp.in.gov.