Social Media Investigation Seminar Planned in Virginia

 
 
Indiana State Police Lieutenant Chuck Cohen will be teaching hundreds of law enforcement and military officials from more than 100 agencies in four states and the District of Columbia on how social media can enhance criminal investigations.

Information will be provided that criminal investigators, criminal intelligence analysts, special agents and prosecutors need to know to more effectively protect their communities as technology becomes more prevalent.

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Oregon-Davis Graduate Hospitalized After Single-Vehicle Crash

An Oregon-Davis High School graduate who is widely known for her musical talent is hospitalized in Fort Wayne following a single-vehicle crash last night in Miami County. Lorrin Awald, 20, is in critical condition at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne after the truck she was driving reportedly hit a patch of black ice on State Road 16 near Denver and rolled over. The crash occurred about 10 minutes after 10 last night, according to the Indiana State Police. Three other passengers were taken to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Plymouth. There’s no word on their conditions. Awald is a 2011 graduate of Oregon-Davis High School. She wrote a song in memory of her cousin, Knox High School drum major Drew Shearin, who was killed in a single-vehicle accident in October of 2011 east of Knox on State Road 8 when his car struck a telephone pole.

Marshall County meth suspects jailed without bond

Mary Perren

A Marshall County man and woman are jailed without bond after police found multiple meth labs in their Argos home. Officers with the Undercover Narcotics Investigation Team, Indiana State Police and Marshall County Sheriff’s Office arrested 43-year-old David Howe and 35-year-old Kristi Messick-Eswick, also known as Kristi Miller following a Monday search of their residence on Hickory Road. Their initial hearing in Marshall Superior Court is set for March 12. Anyone with information about illegal drug activity in Marshall County is urged to call the anonymous tip line at1-800-899-0842.

Plymouth Schools Now in Session

Plymouth Schools are now in session after being placed on a two-hour delay for an alleged bomb threat that was reported at Plymouth High School.

The alleged threat was found on the wall of the boy’s bathroom yesterday afternoon stating that a bomb would go off in the high school library today at 12:30.

The Superintendent’s office has confirmed that the Plymouth Police Department did not find any evidence of a bomb and a thorough search conducted by the Indiana State Police and their bomb sniffing dogs this morning found nothing.

Additional police officers are present to provide extra security at the school corporation.

Plymouth Woman Arrested on Drug Charges Following Investigation

The Plymouth Police Department arrested a Plymouth woman after police executed a search warrant at 822 W. Monroe St.

On Sunday morning, officers from the Plymouth Police Department, Indiana State Police and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department went to the residence after complaints were received over the Drug Task Force tip line along with another investigation.

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Five LaPorte Men Arrested on Federal Drug Charges

Richard Ruiz, Oscar Arzate, Leobardo Campos, Juan Gallardo, Zacharias Cisneros

Five LaPorte men were taken into custody Tuesday night on federal drug charges.

Richard “Ricky” Ruiz and Zacharias Cisneros were arrested on charges of Distribution of Cocaine and Conspiracy to Manufacture, Distribute and Possess Cocaine; Oscar Arzate and Juan Gallardo were arrested on charges of Distribution of Cocaine, and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Conspiracy to Manufacture, Distribute and Possess Cocaine; and Leobardo Campos was arrested on charges of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Conspiracy to Manufacture, Distribute and Possess Cocaine.

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State Police To Conduct Enforcement Patrols Through Dec. 2

State Police troopers will be conducting high-visibility enforcement patrols beginning Friday through Dec. 2.

These patrols, including sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols, will target impaired drivers and unrestrained motorists during the Thanksgiving holiday. Alcohol-impaired driving in Indiana was linked to 140 deaths last year.

About 250 police agencies around the state will be taking part in this enforcement effort.

Indiana State Police Ramping Up Safety Patrols

The Indiana State Police Post troopers are working hard to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities on the roadways.

Troopers have been utilizing both marked and unmarked vehicles, as well as aircraft and vehicles that look like INDOT work trucks to patrol for speeders, drivers who are following too closely, lane restrictions and unsafe lane movement.

Twenty-six crash blitzes have been conducted this year to bring awareness to the issue of unsafe driving. Those blitzes have resulted in a total of 3,018 tickets and warnings being issued. Nineteen arrests were made in some of those cases.

Traffic safety is a continuing partnership between motorists and law enforcement.

Pursuit Suspect Arrested in Lake County; Starke County Charges Pending

Michael Ostrowski

A pursuit incident that began in Starke County ended with the suspect being placed behind bars in Porter County.

An Indiana State Police trooper pulled over a car on U.S. 30 driven by Michael J. Ostrowski of Loves Park, Illinois as the trooper found Ostrowski was driving 90 mph in a 60 mph speed zone. Ostrowski reportedly told the trooper that he had no driver’s license or identification on him. He was able to produce registration but stated that he was not the owner of the car, although the person listed on the registration was Ostrowski.

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Woman Arrested on Warrant for Murder in LaPorte

A Crown Point woman was arrested yesterday morning for a murder that happened more than ten years ago. The warrant was issued out of Prescott, Ariz., for first-degree murder.

Indiana State Police Detective Chris Campione worked with the Prescott Police Department to track down Joan Leslie Carpenter, 61 of Crown Point, and located her in LaPorte County. The warrant stems from an investigation into the murder of Carpenter’s husband in June 2002 while the pair resided in Prescott. Shortly after her husband’s murder, Carpenter returned to Indiana, but additional information that had been received by Prescott Police this past year led to the warrant being issued for her arrest.

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Local State Troopers Honored by State Police For Service

Master Trooper Michael Gruett

The Indiana State Police Department recently held an awards and recognition ceremony for several troopers in honor of their dedication to service, bravery and devotion to the department and to the citizens.

Corporal Dan Becker, 42, from the Lowell Post was presented the Life Saving Award. Becker, a member of the Patriot Guard, was in a procession escorting the body of Spc. Robert Tauteris Jr., when an accident occurred along U.S. 30 on Jan. 14.

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DEA, State Police To Partner In Prescription Drug Take Back

The DEA and the Indiana State Police are partnering in an effort to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft in a program entitled “Prescription Drug Take Back.”

This event allows everyone to drop off any expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs at an Indiana State Police Post on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. This is a free and anonymous service with no questions asked. This program is intended for liquid and pill medications only; no new or used needles will be accepted.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department is taking unwanted prescriptions this week through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prescription medication will also be taken Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the sheriff’s department. Sheriff Oscar Cowen asks that you be diligent in taking part in this program to help eradicate the abuse of prescription drugs.

Four Arrested after Rolling Meth Lab Found in Vehicle in Marshall County

Four people were arrested Monday in Marshall County after Indiana State Police officers found them to be in a stolen vehicle with a rolling meth lab.

Officers received information of an erratic driver headed eastbound on U.S. 30 near Oak Road in Plymouth. The vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation and during routine questioning of the driver, 49-year-old Bradley Shopoff of Fort Wayne, police learned the vehicle had been stolen out of Fort Wayne and a meth lab was in the car.

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State Police Weekend Enforcement Campaign Totals 360 Arrests

The Indiana State Police conducted a statewide enforcement campaign over the weekend targeting impaired and dangerous drivers. Troopers throughout the state arrested 346 impaired drivers, issued 4105 tickets, 6646 written warnings and made 360 arrests for various criminal offenses.

Officers from the Lowell Post issued 437 of those tickets and made 38 impaired driving arrests and 22 criminal arrests. Bremen Post officers issued 236 tickets and had 21 impaired driving arrests and 6 criminal arrests.

Indiana State Police Partners With DEA in Fifth Drug Take Back Day

The Drug Enforcement Administration is sponsoring the fifth nationwide Prescription Drug Take Back initiative in an effort to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft. On Saturday, Sept. 29, collection sites will be set up nationwide for expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs to be properly disposed of and destroyed. This will be a free and anonymous service with no questions asked and just one restriction: the sites will not accept new or used needles. The program is intended for liquid and pill medications.

Captain David Bursten, commander of the state police public information section, strongly encourages anyone with unwanted prescription medication to participate in the program.

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State Police To Increase Patrol Efforts This Weekend

The Indiana State Police will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. this weekend.

The Combined Accident Reduction Effort will be patrolling and looking for motorists who are drinking and driving, speeding, following too closely and driving aggressively. Troopers will also be enforcing all seat belt and child restraint laws.

This patrol is in addition to the Operation Pull Over Blitz which continues until Monday, Sept. 3.

The Indiana Department of Transportation will be ceasing roadwork until the morning hours of Tuesday, Sept. 4 to allow you to travel safely and efficiently this weekend. Some closures and restrictions will remain on larger projects that cannot safely reopen to traffic.