Indiana has 43 new probationary troopers assigned to state police districts throughout the State. Members of the 70th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy took their oath of office on March 4th at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center.
The recruits received approximately 917 hours of structured training since September 9th, 2010. Their curriculum included administrative subjects, general police subjects, investigations/criminal subjects, criminal and traffic law subjects.
Beginning Friday, March 4th, troopers from the Indiana State Police will join more than 250 other Indiana law enforcement agencies across the Hoosier State in the Over the Limit, Under Arrest March crackdown on impaired and dangerous driving.
It was a scene reminiscent of an old time western movie. Police from throughout the County and State rounded up 76 individuals involved in “cock fighting”. The arrests were made on Saturday morning at 0480 North 100 West in Starke County.
Law enforcement officers were responding to an anonymous tip.
“The Sheriff’s Department received an anonymous tip of animal fighting contests out at a residence on 100 West,” stated Starke County Chief Deputy, Bill Dulin. “Along with the Sheriff’s Department, we responded with the Indiana Conservation Units, State Police, Knox City Police, and North Judson units. When we got there, we noticed 10 or 15 vehicles and when we approached, 50 to 60 people took off running toward a river in an open field.”
Police officers arrested two on charges of Dealing and Possession of Marijuana after a marijuana growing operation was found at a residence in Knox.
The Indiana State Police, in cooperation with multi-agencies were able to identify, locate and apprehend the suspect in the shooting that occurred on the evening of February 17, 2011 on I-80 westbound at the Lake Station exit.
The Dodge Charger that was suspected to be involved in the shooting was located on I-74 in Montgomery County. A Fountain County Sheriff’s Deputy and Crawfordsville Police Officer were able to get behind the vehicle where a pursuit began. At one point during the pursuit, a 2008 Freightliner semi-box trailer was shot at and hit twice by the suspect in the Charger. The driver of the semi was not injured. Stop sticks were deployed and the suspect’s front tire blew; the vehicle lost control and went off the road into a tree line. The driver then fled on foot into the wooded area. Trooper Jon Eads and his K-9 Nico were able to locate and apprehend the suspect who was hiding in water. A weapon was also located and recovered.
Indiana State Police Troopers responded to a fatal accident Monday night.
John P. Leveque of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin was southbound on I-65 and had slowed down for a crash that was ahead. After clearing the crash, Leveque began to accelerate his vehicle near the Demotte accident when he lost control of his vehicle on an ice patch. Continue reading
A rolled over Federal Express semi caused early morning rush hour problems Thursday morning.
At approximately 5:35 am, Indiana State Police Trooper Brian Rubesha responded to a rolled over crash on I-65 at the 247 mile marker (this is the Crown Point exit). Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2006 Volvo semi pulling two box trailers was north bound in the left lane when for unknown reasons veered left. The semi went off the roadway, down a steep ditch, hit an impact attenuator, then a concrete barrier wall, which caused the semi-tractor and first trailer to flip onto its driver side. The semi-tractor and first trailer came to rest on the inside (left) shoulder on the south bound side of I-65. The second trailer stayed upright in the ditch.
The Indiana State Police-Lowell and Bremen Districts released methamphetamine lab statistics from the counties they serve. 6 meth labs have been seized by the Department in LaPorte County and in Pulaski County, 6 in Jasper County, 7 in White County, 16 in Fulton County, 15 in Cass County, and 53 in Marshall County.
30 meth labs were seized by Indiana State Police in Starke County.
On Saturday, February 12th, troopers with the Indiana State Police Emergency Response Team (ERT) raided a Plymouth home in search of a man wanted out of Marion County, Indiana for robbery.
ERT units entered the home at 2002 Lake Ave. in Plymouth shortly before 5:00 p.m. ET and arrested Jody Olmstead, 41, on two outstanding warrants. Olmstead was wanted on a robbery charge out of Marion County, as well as a parole violation. State police investigators recently obtained information and worked off a tip to locate Olmstead.
Indiana State Police officials closed southbound Interstate 65 near the Winamac exit Tuesday afternoon in order to investigate a series of crashes that involved seven cars, semitrailers and SUVs.
George G. Kallis, 88, of Knox, caused several accidents on the interstate by driving the wrong way about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. Kallis met several vehicles on the interstate and they all swerved to miss Kallis as he traveled northbound in the southbound lanes in I-65. James Denton of Oak Lawn, Illinois was the only injured driver and he was taken to Jasper County Hospital in Rensselaer with neck and back pains. His car was totaled. He had driven his Jeep between two semis and hit one semi’s drive tandems and diesel fuel tanks. This action caused another semi to rear end his vehicle.
A Mattson, Illinois woman was seriously injured yesterday, evening January 18th, when the driver’s side of her car went partially under the rear of a semi.
Preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 9:40 p.m., Indiana State Police Trooper Josh Roa responded to a crash on I-80 west bound at the .5 mile marker (this is just east of the Illinois State Line). A 2010 International semi-box trailer owned by Swift Transportation out of Phoenix, Arizona, and driven by Kevin Buzard, 31 of Mesa Arizona, was stopped on the inner shoulder due to being involve in an earlier property damage crash.
With accumulating amounts of snow predicted to begin falling this evening, Indiana Department of Homeland Security and Indiana State Police officials are encouraging Hoosiers to prepare by having a few supplies available and consulting the State Travel Advisory Map before venturing onto roadways.
“As with any severe weather event, it’s always a good idea to gather a few essential supplies in case utilities are disrupted,” says IDHS Executive Director Joe Wainscott. “Know where your flashlight and extra batteries are in case of a power outage, and have a 3 day supply of food and water available in case you are unable to leave home for a few days.”
Police officers will be out during the New Year’s Day holiday weekend and they will be on the lookout for drunk drivers. Jeremiah Patrick, Coordinator of the Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership, reports that officers from the organization will be out in force this weekend. The Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership includes officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Knox City Police Department and the North Judson Police Department. Officers from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department will also be out in force to help detect drunk drivers.
Indiana State Police Superintendent, Paul Whitesell, recently announced the promotion of First Sergeant, James Strong, to the rank of Lieutenant to serve as the Commander of the Indiana State Police Post in Bremen. The Bremen Post covers Marshall, St. Joseph, Kosciusko, and Elkhart Counties. Strong earned this promotion through written testing and a competitive interview process.
The discussion between the Starke County Commissioners and outgoing Prosecutor Julianne Havens came to an amicable agreement Monday night. Havens had earlier submitted claims for law enforcement needs and the Commissioners questioned whether the funding was appropriate for the funding source. Havens, herself, eliminated some of the items from questionable categories.
“It gets complicated because I can use the IV-D fund for child support enforcement and for five years I’ve been using it to support child support,” explained Prosecutor Havens. “This year, I was going to try and focus on the enforcement aspect of it which, to me, means police. They agreed with my argument. However, they indicated that if an audit were to happen, the way they look at it is a proportional nexus. They are going to look at it whether or not the police are out supporting child support, making arrests, picking up people on body attachments and things of that nature. Their fear is that the proportionate nexus is not going to be enough for them to say that these funds that were spent were reasonable.”
The Indiana State Police responded to an early morning crash this morning on I-65 in Jasper County where two people died at the scene.
Preliminary investigation revealed, at approximately 5:33 a.m., Michael D Ward, 47 of Winnipeg, Manitoba, was driving a semi, going north bound, when he stated that another semi that was up ahead in the left lane changed lanes quickly to go into the right lane in front of him. That semi immediately swerved to go back to the left lane again. Ward’s semi then hit the vehicle in the right lane.
Both the driver, John Miroballi, 68 of Wood Dale, Illinois and front seat passenger, Jeannie Miroballi, 46, of Wood Dale, Illinois were pronounced dead at the scene by the Jasper County Coroner of massive blunt force trauma.
Indiana State Police, at the Lowell District, recently released statistics for the month of October.
Troopers issued 1,410 traffic citations and wrote 3,071 traffic warnings. Troopers also arrested 50 drunk drivers and made 93 criminal arrests. Lowell District includes Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Pulaski and Starke Counties.
The Indiana State Police offers these safety tips for the holiday shopping season: Stay alert and be aware of what’s going on around you. Park in a well-lighted area and be sure to lock your car. Use extra caution when walking to and from your car, preferably with a friend and avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay with a check or credit card whenever possible. If you notice suspicious activity when you are shopping, contact the store’s security department or the nearest police agency.
The Knox City Council approved the second reading of an ordinance to prohibit the sale and possession of synthetic marijuana in the city limits.
Knox Mayor, Rick Chambers, told the Council that he had some questions for City Attorney, David Matsey, about the enforceability of this ordinance. Matsey was not present at the meeting but Mayor Chambers voiced his concerns to the Council members. Mayor Chambers questioned whether specific tests are available to test the product to ensure it contains the ingredients that classify it as synthetic marijuana. If there is a test available, who is authorized to conduct the test? Do Indiana State Police labs have equipment available to test the product? Jennie Carter from Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County informed the City Council that she will get answers for those questions and have them available by the next City Council meeting. The third and final reading of this ordinance is expected to be made at the Council’s December 14th meeting.
Police responded to an anonymous drug tip on Saturday afternoon that resulted in several felony arrests. Police arrived at 5880 W. 500 S. in North Judson where the home owner refused to allow police into the residence. After police left, a vehicle left the residence and passed the police. The driver was not wearing a seat belt and Mat Anderson from the North Judson Police Department attempted to perform a traffic stop but a short pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, items were thrown out of the vehicle. The items were located and taken into custody. The driver, Stephen Adrian Braasch, 28, of Argos, was arrested.
