Applicants for a firearms license in Indiana will need to complete the necessary paperwork online after Oct. 1. The paper application will be replaced with an electronic firearms application process. The Indiana State Police process all applications. A spokesman says the new application will streamline the process for both the applicant and law enforcement officials and is designed to be user friendly. Continue reading
High-Speed Pursuit Still Under Investigation
The investigation into Wednesday’s high-speed pursuit through Grovertown and into Marshall County is continuing. A Starke County Sheriff’s Deputy initially tried to stop a car driven by Paul Coffin on U.S. 30 at 1200 East. Coffin drove for another mile before pulling over, according to information released by the Starke County Sheriff’s Department. As the deputy was getting out of his car, Coffin reportedly backed into it, causing the patrol car to strike the deputy. Continue reading
Sheriff’s Department Releases More Information About High-Speed Pursuit
The Starke County Sheriff’s Department has released more information about a high-speed pursuit that started near Grovertown and ended in Marshall County. A sheriff’s deputy tried to stop a vehicle on U.S. 30 west of 1200 East, but the driver kept going. He finally stopped at 1100 East but put his car into reverse when the officer got out of his patrol vehicle. The suspect backed into the police car, causing the vehicle to strike the deputy. Continue reading
Fulton County Drug Raids Lead to Six Arrests
A two-week long Indiana State Police investigation into drug activity in Fulton County ended with six arrests last night after officers served search warrants at three Rochester homes. A state police news release indicates the officers found methamphetamine, a meth lab, drug precursors and paraphernalia. They searched homes at 1124 Bancroft Street, 317 West 11th Street and 4729 Camp Shahola Drive in Rochester. Continue reading
Marshall County Reports Meth Lab Reduction
Indiana State Police numbers show that Marshall County has dropped in the amount of methamphetamine labs seized.
Marshall County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Nelson Chipman said there have been only eight labs seized in the county this year as of June. In years past, the county ranked in the top 10 in regards to seized meth labs.
Indiana State Police Troopers Seeking Recruits
Applications are now being accepted by the Indiana State Police for the 75th Recruit Academy.
Applications must be received via email by 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 30. Anyone interested in a career as an Indiana State Trooper can visit here for detailed information on the application process and career information.
Plymouth Residents Arrested on Meth Charges
A seven-month-long investigation into reports of drug activity ended with yesterday’s arrests of a Plymouth couple. State police got a tip back in February from the Marshall County Probation Department that methamphetamine was possibly being manufactured and used at 901 W. Harrison St. in Plymouth. Continue reading
School Starts Tomorrow, Watch out for Students and Buses
Be on the lookout for kids walking or biking to school as school gets underway for another year for many area school corporations tomorrow.
School bus safety is important. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, buses are built to be safer than the average passenger car. School bus drivers are required to receive special security and medical training, and undergo regular drug and alcohol testing to provide a safe ride for your child.
Watch for School Bus Traffic as the School Season Starts
Students will be headed back to classrooms next week and Indiana State Police officers urge you to watch for school bus traffic.
When approaching a school bus from any direction and it is stopped with its flashing red lights activated and stop arm extended, motorists are required to stop, even on multiple lane highways. Motorists who are on a highway that is divided by a barrier or unimproved median are required to stop only if they are traveling in the same direction as the school bus. If there is no unimproved median or barrier, then all lanes in all directions must stop.
State Agencies Partner to Produce Active Shooter School Bus Training Videos
The Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Education, School Transportation Association of Indiana and the Mooresville Consolidated School Corporation recently teamed up to produce two safety videos for school bus drivers. They depict multiple responses to an active shooter situation on a bus full of children. Continue reading
LaPorte Man Arrested on Child Pornography, Child Exploitation Charges
A LaPorte man was arrested Monday afternoon after several police agencies served a state search warrant at his home.
Detectives with the Indiana State Police (ISP), ISP Crimes Against Children Detectives, North Mobile Forensic Vehicle, and the ISP K9 assisted the LaPorte City Police Department in serving the search warrant at 205 Woodward Street in LaPorte. It was there where officers found possible evidence that 34-year-old Ronald E. Wheaton was allegedly in the possession of child pornography.
Play it Safe When Using Fireworks
The Fourth of July is an exciting holiday filled with picnics and other celebrations that may include fireworks. Indiana State Police officers urge you to play it safe when using fireworks.
Only adults can purchase fireworks. A person 18 and older has to be present when anyone younger than 18 is using or possessing consumer fireworks. Children must be supervised at all times when fireworks are in use.
State Police Unveil Meth Lab Address Website
A searchable list of properties previously identified by law enforcement as clandestine meth lab sites is now available on the Internet. The new link on the Indiana State Police website provides the date of seizure, county, street address, type of lab and location of the lab on the property listed. Continue reading
Think Moped Safety this Summer
With winter behind us, maybe you’ve decided to bring the moped or scooter out of the garage and take advantage of the lovely weather. The Indiana State Police reminds Hoosiers of moped policies to assure safety this summer.
Charges Expected Today Against Carjacking Suspect
Starke County Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff hopes to file formal charges today against the Knox man accused of stealing two cars and leading police on a high speed chase Friday afternoon. Police say Gary Chavez, 57, of Knox, commandeered the first car in the Mark Bailey’s Discount Center parking lot at 3:41 p.m. He switched vehicles in English Lake, according to authorities, and left the owner of the first stolen car behind when he took a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Continue reading
Accused Carjacker Still Critical, Formal Charges Pending
The Knox man police say stole three vehicles and led officers from multiple departments on a high-speed chase through four counties Friday afternoon is still in critical condition at Christ Advocate Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill. The pursuit started in Starke County when Gary Chavez, 57, of Knox, allegedly stole a car at gunpoint from the parking lot at Mark Bailey’s Discount Center. Continue reading
Watch for Children at Play
Don’t let summer turn tragic in your own front yard. More than 2,400 driveway accidents involving young children happen each year in the United States. Remember, young children are short, and they like to play. If they are very close to your vehicle, you won’t be able to see them. The Indiana State Police offer the following tips to help keep summer as safe as possible:
Set rules with your children. No matter what their age, designate unwavering rules without options. Teach your children to watch for the white rear lights that illuminate when a car is in reverse. Tell your children when they see a car approaching the driveway or when a car is moving in the driveway, they all have to meet up in the yard or on the porch.
Starke County Coroner Tentatively Identifies Apparent Homicide Victim
The apparent homicide victim found late Friday afternoon at a rural Knox home after a high speed chase that started with a carjacking at Mark Bailey’s Discount Center and ended with a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Interstate 65 in Lake County has been tentatively identified. Continue reading
Carjacker Critical at Chicagoland Hospital, Homicide Under Investigation
The Starke County man police say carjacked three vehicles and led police from multiple agencies on a four-county high-speed chase this afternoon is in critical condition at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill. after shooting himself while trying to flee. Information released by the Indiana State Police, Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Starke County Prosecutor’s Office indicates the 57-year-old man was involved in a homicide at a home in Knox. Afterward, he drove his personal vehicle to Mark Bailey’s Discount Center and carjacked a motorist at gunpoint at 3:41 p.m. He then drove to English Lake, dumped his passenger and stole a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Carjackings End With Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound
A Starke County man police say carjacked a motorist at gunpoint at Mark Bailey’s Discount Center Friday afternoon led officers from multiple agencies on a high-speed chase through four counties before turning his gun on himself. Officials from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department will only say the man is 57-years-old. He took the car from the store at 3:41 p.m., according to authorities, and drove it to English Lake, where he left the owner of the first vehicle, stole a second car and fled. Continue reading
