On Tuesday March 21, at approximately 3:15pm Trooper Mark LaMaster stopped a commercial semi-tractor and trailer traveling I-65 northbound near the 13 mile marker for a traffic violation and conducted a commercial motor vehicle inspection. 

While speaking with the driver and passenger Trooper LaMaster observed indicators and behaviors which lead him to call for Sellersburg’s K9 Hander, Trooper Nathan Abbot, and K9 “Teague” to assist in the traffic stop.   

Trooper Abbott deployed his Narcotics certified K9 which alerted on the vehicle.
 
Following a search of both occupants and the truck, the passenger, Antoinette Willman, 51, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, was found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine, marijuana and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia.

The driver, Louis Thacker, 60, Greensburg, Kentucky, did not possess a valid commercial driver’s license or medical certificate allowing operation of a commercial motor vehicle.
 
Antoinette Willman was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 felony; Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Class B Misdemeanor; and Visiting a Common Nuisance, Class B Misdemeanor.  Antoinette Willman was transported to the Clark County Jail and is being held on a $10,000 cash bond. 
 
Louis Thacker was cited for No Valid Commercial Driver’s License.  The truck was loaded with over 30,000 pounds of freight at the time of the stop.  Both the truck and trailer were impounded until a qualified driver could be obtained.

 

The Depot railroad museum at Salem’s John Hay Center will return to regular Hours effective Saturday, April 1.

 

During January, February and March, The Depot operates on “Winter Hours” and is only open Saturday afternoons. The remainder of the year The Depot is open Tuesday through Saturday from 1  to 5 p.m.  

 

New admission prices approved by the Washington County Historical Society are $3 for adults and $2 for children ages 6-12.

 

The Depot is located at 206 South College Ave., Salem

The Kentucky Derby Festival is teaming up with former NBA and Kentucky Wildcat star, Derek Anderson, for a basketball camp that will help youth both on and off the court.

The Derby Festival Derek Anderson Acts of Kindness (AOK) Camp will be held in conjunction with this year’s Basketball Classic Presented by Papa John’s on Saturday, April 15^th. 

Anderson will lead the camp and be assisted by this year’s Basketball Classic All-Stars.  The camp is for youth 6^th grade and up, but is limited to 50 participants. 

Those interested in participating first need to submit a photo or video showing their AOK toward someone or a group in the community and send to AOKBasketballCamp@gmail.com.

The submission needs to include name, age, grade, school, phone number, email and a description of the AOK. The deadline for submission is March 31^st.  

Anderson, a NBA champion with the Miami Heat and NCAA champion with the Kentucky Wildcats says “The best way to help change in our community is by changing our character.  It’s time to SHOW our future leaders how to LEAD!”

Each participant will receive a t-shirt, goodie bag provided by Dick’s Sporting Goods, and two tickets to the Derby Festival Basketball Classic presented by Papa John’s. 

To learn more about AOK go to staminafd.com. 

A three week long death investigation closed out Monday evening after investigators arrested a Tell City man on murder charges.

Arrested and Charged with one county of murder was Randal L. Coalter, 45, of Tell City, IN.

Police do not have detailed information as to the relationship between the suspect and the victim, other than they did know each other previously and were acquaintances.
 
On March 4, 2017, the Perry County Sheriff’s Department requested the assistance of the Indiana State Police with the investigation into the death of 62-year-old David Weedman of Saint Croix. Initial reports to police indicated that Weedman died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his home; however, law enforcement fully investigated the death as suspicious.
 
An autopsy conducted on March 7 in Tell City revealed that the fatal wound sustained by Weedman was not consistent with a self-inflicted wound. 

State Police investigators continued to pursue the investigation as a murder investigation.
 
Over the course of the next two weeks, the investigation led detectives to investigate Coalter. 

Investigators learned that Weedman and Coalter had become involved in a physical altercation on March 1^st in Weedman’s home.  March 1^st was the last time Weedman was seen alive.

“The information given to detectives leading them to arrest Coalter was direct and indirect information from a witness, which at this point I am not allowed, per department policy, to release,” said ISP Sergeant Philip Hensley.
 
Detectives presented enough evidence within a probable cause affidavit to obtain an arrest warrant for Coalter. 

Coalter was arrested without incident March 21^st and was lodged in the Perry County Security Center.
 
Indiana State Police detectives were assisted throughout the case by the Perry County Sheriff’s Department and the Tell City Police Department.

A Monday afternoon warrant service in Huntingburg led officers to additional arrests and to seize marijuana and methamphetamine.

Arrested and Charged were Chad J. Ramsey, 35 and Gregory L. Reisz, 30, both of Huntingburg, IN. 

Each was charged with: 
– Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony
– Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 Felony
– Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor
– Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor
– Possession of a Chinese Throwing Star, Class C Misdemeanor
 
At 1:53 P.M. Monday, Trooper Brock Werne and officers with the Huntingburg Police Department attempted to serve an arrest warrant at 213 North Van Buren Street in Huntingburg.  Officers were looking for 35 year old Chad Ramsey of Huntingburg, who was wanted through Dubois County for failing to appear for a court appearance. 
 
As officers arrived at the front door, Werne went to the back of the residence, and heard voices inside a shed in the back yard.  Werne knocked on the door, asking for Ramsey; Ramsey exited a second door and was placed into custody. 
 
As officers were arresting Ramsey, they could smell a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from the inside of the shed.  Officers obtained consent to search the shed from the second man present, 30 year old Gregory Reisz of Huntingburg.  Officers found marijuana, smoking devices, digital scales, and a container containing a white powder that field tested positive for methamphetamine.  Additionally, officers found a Chinese throwing star hanging on the wall, which is illegal to possess in Indiana.
 
Ramsey and Reisz were transported to and lodged in the Dubois County Security Center without incident.
 

A New Washington man is in custody this morning after holding her at knifepoint yesterday. 

Marcus Andrew Buba, 27, New Washington, was arrested and taken into custody. He was charged with Criminal Confinement, a level 3 felony, and Felony Intimidation, a level 5 felony. 

On March 20, 2017, at approximately 11:44am, the Indiana State Police in Sellersburg received a 911 call reporting that a female was being held against her will and threatened at knife point at her boyfriend’s New Washington residence.   

The 911 call was made by the female victim’s coworker who said the victim contacted him advising she could not make it to work and that her boyfriend had threatened to stab her if she attempted to leave.  

The suspect also allegedly stated he would stab the victim if the police were contacted.

The coworker immediately called 911 and advised the Indiana State Police of the situation and a general area of the suspect’s residence, however, the caller was unable to provide a specific address or the name of the suspect. 
 
At approximately 1:30pm Officers from the Indiana State Police and the Clark County Sheriff’s Department located a blue PT Cruiser believed to be driven by the female victim at 6322 New Washington – Bethlehem Road. 

After a short period of surveillance, Officers surrounded the house and approached the front door. 

After knocking on the door the female victim ran from the residence to awaiting officers. 

Buba then exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident.

The Indiana State Police were assisted by the Clark County Sheriff’s Department.  Marcus Buba was incarcerated at the Clark County Jail.