A 45-year-old Salem man was arrested on Thursday after a seven hour standoff with police at a residence on Franklin School Road.

Allen Scott Whitt, 45, Salem, 742 Franklin School Road was arrested and booked into the Washington County Detention Center on a charge of criminal confinement, armed with a deadly weapon, resulting in serious bodily injury to a person. 

The Washington County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 from Whitt’s girlfriend at 4:20a that she had locked herself in a bedroom to get away from her husband. 

Policed responded to the residence immediately and upon arrival, the woman crawled out of a window and escaped the home. 

Whitt refused to leave the home. Salem Police Department officers assisted with maintaining a perimeter around the home. 

Indiana State Police were called and responded with an Emergency Response Team. 

Whitt would not come out of the house and an armored vehicle breached the front door, allowing the ERT to enter and secure Whitt. 

The incident, which is still under investigation, ended with his arrest about 11a.

What started as a call from a concerned motorist on the Indiana Toll Road ultimately led to the arrest of a Chicago woman for operating while intoxicated and more. 

On August 10th at approximately 9:40 p.m. troopers on the Indiana Toll Road received a call from a concerned motorist about a Pontiac minivan that was driving erratically on the Indiana Toll Road in St. Joseph County.

A short time later Trooper Matthew Drudge located this van and subsequently stopped it for several traffic violations eastbound at the 75 mile marker.  This is located two miles west of the South Bend/Notre Dame exit.

While talking with the driver, Porche Sanders, age 35 of Chicago, IL, Trooper Drudge began to suspect that Sanders may be intoxicated and he also noticed three children in the back of the van without child seats or seatbelts on. 

Following an investigation for operating while intoxicated, Sanders was ultimately arrested on preliminary charges of: Operating While Intoxicated Endangerment, A-Misdemeanor, Operating While Intoxicated, C-Misdemeanor, and Possession of a Controlled Substance, A-Misdemeanor. Sanders was then transported to the St. Joseph County Jail.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Department has an opening for a deputy sheriff.                   

WORK SCHEDULE:  

(Varies / 24 Hour Public Service Operation)

QUALIFICATIONS: 

21 years of age; Ability to complete required Indiana Law Enforcement Academy training and other required training as needed; Possession of a valid Indiana Driver’s License and be in good standing with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

APPLICATION PROCESS:        

Candidates can obtain a Scott County Employment Application from the Scott County Auditor’s Office from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Completed applications should be accompanied by a resume and must be submitted to the Auditor’s Office by 4:30 pm on August 25, 2017. A digital copy of the application can be obtained by contacting the Auditor’s Office at 812-752-8408. 

Hiring Process

 Basic Written Skills Test: After a review of applications, applicants will be contacted by phone or mail for a written basic skills test. Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Graduates will not be required to take the basic written skills test.

 Physical Fitness Assessment: Applicants who receive a passing score on the basic written skills test will be invited to take a physical fitness assessment. The assessment is set to the current entrance physical fitness standards of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. Those entrance standards can be found on the ILEA website at http://www.in.gov/ilea/2338.htm

 Merit Board Interview: Applicants who receive a passing score on the physical fitness assessment will be invited to an interview with Sheriff’s Merit Board. Following the interviews, the merit board will provide a list of applicants that are eligible for hire and provide that list to the sheriff.

 Background Investigation: Those candidates on the hiring list will be given a conditional offer of employment and will be required to undergo a voice stress analysis and a background investigation. The voice stress analysis will be administered by a certified voice stress analyst.

 Physical Exam: Candidates that pass the voice stress analysis and the background investigation will be required to undergo a physical examination by a physician.

Here is an old picture of the Colonel Redfield home, on the corner of S. High and Cherry, according to Washington County Historian Jeremy Elliott.  The picture is from the early 1900’s.

Colonel James Henry Redfield and his wife, Sarah Wilson Redfield completed the construction of what was then called “the nicest house in town”, in 1882.  

Redfield was promoted to the rank of colonel from the 16th Indiana Regiment, where he was said to be very brave and zealous in battle and very kind in camp. 

His obituary states that he contracted germs during the war that eventually led to his untimely demise at 49 years of age. 

Court in Indy in 1914 and relocated there.  

He passed away in the residence on November 13th, 1883, supposedly from Bright’s Disease. 

It seems he came from a pretty wealthy family and made the bulk of his own money by inventing and manufacturing mill machinery, some of which were said to have been indispensable to the production of good flour, said Elliott.

The couple had 2 children, a boy & a girl, who both died at 1 year of age –also presumably in the home.

Mrs. Redfield died 20 years after her husband, in July of 1903, while gardening in the yard with her female companion, Miss Eva Cauble. 

Her obituary makes it sound like she had a heart attack while collecting cucumbers.  Her funeral was held at the home.

After Mrs. Redfield passed the home was purchased by Judge Milton Hottel, he and his family lived in the home until he was elected to a second term over the State Appellate 

Not long after the house was purchased by Lee and Lucille (Hottel) Persise, who were married there in March of 1911, and they owned the home for nearly 40 years.  Lucille passed away unexpectedly in 1931 due to complications from surgery, her funeral was held at the home. 

When Judge Hottel passed away in June of 1936, his body was brought from Indy to the home of his son-in-law, Mr. Persise, for funeral services.  

“Mr. Persise seems to have sold the home around 1940, but who the owners were from then till Donovan & Jean Wilson purchased the place in 1980, I have been unable to ascertain,” Elliott said.  ” Sometime in this timeframe, someone had the terrible idea of removing the cupola.”

On Wednesday morning, State Senator Erin Houchin (R-Salem) held a meeting at the Salem City Hall with Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe McGuinness to discuss safety concerns at the Salem Bypass.

Senator Houchin and Commissioner McGuinness were joined by Salem Mayor Troy Merry, Clerk-Treasurer Sally Hattabaugh, members of the Salem City Council, Washington County Commissioners, representatives from the Sheriff’s Department, and local business leader, John Jones.

“Our community is rightfully concerned about safety at the Salem Bypass. In just a short time, we have experienced numerous accidents, one fatality, and even more close calls,” Houchin said. “While some safety measures have been put in place, we wanted to invite INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness to personally survey the bypass, and discuss further options with local leaders.”

A number of possible safety options were discussed, including adding overhead caution or traffic lights, an overpass interchange, or a roundabout. 

The group also urged INDOT to implement temporary measures such as additional rumble strips and signage while a long-term solution is vetted.

“All options will be explored in the coming months,” Houchin said. “The safety of our community is a top priority, and I thank Commissioner McGuinness for hearing our concerns and working toward a solution.  I also want to thank our community leaders for their ongoing commitment to this effort as well.”

WSLM contacted INDOT to inquire into the status of the safety of the bypass and the possibility of installing traffic lights at the intersections. 

“The bypass has been a long time coming to the community,” said Becky White, WSLM General Manager. “But without effective traffic control, it seems incomplete and after the loss of one life and multiple close calls, it’s time to do something to ensure the safety of the lives of our residents.”

White received a response from the Seymour district: 

“Your inquiry was sent to the Traffic Investigations Department and their Engineer has reported back that he has conducted a crash history of the intersection as well as analyzed numerous safety improvements for the intersection of State Road 60 and the Salem Bypass.

“INDOT has installed Stop Ahead warning signs and pavement markings, flashers on the warning signs, oversized stop signs, flashing stop signs, and rumble strips to alert drivers of the upcoming intersection.

“INDOT is looking to program an intersection improvement project for a future year that will further improve the safety of the intersection for years to come.”

Indiana Conservation Officers are assisting Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department with the investigation of a stabbing that occurred this afternoon at Grouse Ridge Public Fishing Area. 
 
Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department was notified at approximately 4:30 p.m. by Ashley Horn, 29, of Columbus, who claimed her estranged husband, Taylor Horn, 32, of Columbus, attacked and stabbed her friend. She also claimed that Horn damaged and pushed her vehicle from the parking area. 
 
The victim was flown to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and is currently undergoing surgery for a stab wound to his abdomen.
 
Horn turned himself in to the Sheriff’s Department and was arrested and preliminarily charged with battery with a deadly weapon.  

Both departments will continue the investigation.
 
 All charges are merely accusations and all subjects are assumed innocent until proved guilty.

A State Trooper’s vehicl was struck yesterday afternoon when a suspect rammed into it in Vigo County.

Preston Craig Lee, age 30, of Terre Haute, IN was arrested and taken to Vigo County Jail. 

He was charged with:

Theft (Felony); Resisting Law Enforcement (Felony); Residential Entry(misdemeanor); Criminal Trespass (misdemeanor); Criminal Mischief (misdemeanor) Operating While Intoxicated (Felony) Operating While Intoxicated Endangerment (misdemeanor); Operating While Intoxicated Schedule I or II (misdemeanor).

On Tuesday, August 8th, at 4:30 in the afternoon, Indiana State Police Master Trooper Matt Ames responded to a residence in Idle Creek subdivision on a burglary in progress call.  

Once in the area he observed a white male walking from the residence towards a gold SUV. Trooper Ames approached the SUV in an attempt to speak with the individual, however the male subject got in the gold SUV and sped off.  

Trooper Ames activated his emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the vehicle but the subject ignored the activation of the emergency lights and sirens.

Sheriff Ewing with the Vigo County Sheriff’s office was in the area and observed what was taking place and assisted Trooper Ames in the pursuit.

At one point the vehicle was stopped by a train. Trooper Ames again gave verbal commands that went ignored.

The driver of the gold SUV then put the vehicle in reverse and rammed Trooper Ames’ patrol vehicle.

The train then cleared the tracks and the driver then drove on the tracks where the vehicle became stuck.

Trooper Ames approached the vehicle and was able to gain access to the vehicle and take the driver into custody. There are no injuries to report.  

Assisting were ISP Troopers Erik Smith, Rondell Shelton, Courtland Woodruff and Sergeant Chris Wright. Also assisting were Sheriff Greg Ewing, Deputy David Ewing, and Deputy Chase St. John with the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office.  

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

Washington County Sheriff’s Department is joining about 220 law-enforcement agencies across Indiana and thousands nationwide in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.

From mid-August through the Labor Day Weekend, police will be out in full force, arresting impaired drivers by aggressively targeting those who put lives in danger. Expect to see increased sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols and saturation patrols.

“If you drive impaired, our officers are trained to spot you and take you to jail. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over means zero tolerance,” said local law enforcement leaders.

“These enforcement efforts save the lives of impaired drivers, their passengers and others out on the road.”

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

A DUI arrest means going to jail and losing your driver’s license. The average DUI cost? About $10,000, including car towing and repairs, attorney fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work and other hefty expenses.

Indiana law-enforcement agencies have participated in the annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign for more than 20 years. Overtime patrols are supported with federal highway safety funds administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. For more information, visit http://one.nhtsa.gov/drivesober.

With all of today’s options for getting home safely, there’s no excuse for getting behind the wheel impaired as it endangers you and everyone else around you. Law enforcement recommends these safe alternatives to impaired driving:

• Designate, or be, a sober driver.
• Use public transportation.
• Call a cab or a ridesharing service.
• Download the SaferRide mobile app on the Android Play Store or the Apple iTunes Store. This simple app only has three options: call a taxi, call a friend, and identify your location for pickup.
• Celebrate at home or a place where you can stay until sober.
• Throwing a party? Offer non-alcoholic beverages and plenty of food.
• Never provide alcohol to minors.
• Ask young drivers about their plans.
• Friend or family member about to drive? Take the keys and make alternate arrangements.

Motorcyclists have the reputation for being tough, but no one is tough enough to withstand the effects of impaired riding. Motorcycles make up about 3 percent of registered vehicles, but are dramatically over-represented in fatal crashes involving alcohol. The more that bikers drink, the less likely they are to
wear their helmets.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has released a new “Man in the Mirror” video with a biker judging whether he is sober enough to ride:

https://youtu.be/V– qw9N00KM.

Report impaired drivers

Impaired driving is three times more common at night than during the day. If you see an impaired driver, turn off the road away from the vehicle and call 911. Signs of impaired driving include:
 Weaving, swerving, drifting, or straddling the center line
 Driving at a very slow speed
 Braking erratically
 Making wide turns
 Stopping without cause
 Responding slowly to traffic signals
 Driving after dark with headlights off
 Almost striking an object or vehicle
 Driving on the wrong side of the road
 Turning abruptly or illegally