Starke County Officials Discuss Housing Prisoners in Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis

Starke County government officials this week discussed finances as they apply to county jail inmates being housed at the Pulaski County Jail.

With the Starke County Jail being rated for only 62 prisoners and the population approaching 80 at times, Commissioner Kathy Norem and Sheriff Oscar Cowen have been looking at ways to solve the problem – but that takes extra funds to pay Pulaski County and transport the prisoners back and forth.

Council President David Pearman explained that this is the most cost-effective solution they have found so far.

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Starke County Commissioners Discuss Jail Population

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Commissioners this week held a lengthy discussion on the jail population. Pulaski County has been housing some Starke County prisoners to keep the population at 62.

Pulaski County has a 130-bed jail, and has been housing the overflow in the Starke County Jail under an informal agreement. The commissioners would like to enter into a long-term agreement with Pulaski County until a new or rehabilitated jail is available to house Starke County’s burgeoning prisoner population.

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Starke County Jail Population Nears Boiling Point

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Jail

Fifteen Starke County prisoners are being housed in the Pulaski County Jail after it was decided by county officials and Sheriff Oscar Cowen that the extreme overcrowding was just too dangerous to allow it to continue.

Commissioner Kathy Norem said yesterday that she feared the overcrowding might trigger an outbreak of violence against other prisoners or jail staff. The overcrowding puts extreme pressure on the staff, which may have contributed partially to the recent escape.

Recently, the population ran over 80 prisoners, and it’s hoped that the measure will keep the prison population at 62 or below.

The housing of prisoners in Pulaski County is being accomplished under a temporary agreement.

Zachary Dix Arrested after Alleged Fight in Francesville

Posted on Author WKVI

A Francesville man was arrested after striking a 15-year-old in the face, causing a half-inch laceration to the upper lip of the juvenile which required six stitches to close. 19-year-old Zachary D. Dix was arrested and faces charges of Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury as a Class C felony.

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to the 300 block of North Bill Street in Francesville in response to a physical altercation. When they arrived on the scene, deputies were told that Zachary Dix, had allegedly struck the victim in the face while the two were in the front yard of the residence. The juvenile reportedly said that attack knocked him unconscious and left him in a great deal of pain.

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Winamac Man Arrested After Striking Pole

Posted on Author WKVI

A Winamac man was arrested after his Jeep struck a telephone pole and disrupting power in the area of 125 E. near 250 N. in Pulaski County. According to the incident report, an officer from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to the area and found a silver Jeep SUV in a field with heavy front-end damage, and a telephone pole leaning over the roadway.

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Medaryville Man Arrested on OVWI Charge

Posted on Author WKVI
Todd Fischer

Forty-four-year-old Todd Fischer of Medaryville was arrested on Saturday, Jan. 28 on preliminary charges of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated when police found him passed out in the driver’s seat of a still-running vehicle.

Police received a call concerning a possible drunk driver on County Road 700 South, and when police went to check it out, they were unable to locate the suspect vehicle—that is, until they received more information and soon found the vehicle traveling on State Road 39. The vehicle pulled into a driveway in the 2700 block of South State Road 39, and the police were able to identify the vehicle as the silver Ford Taurus they had been looking for.

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Robert Reed Initial Hearing Held in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Robert Reed

Robert Reed, of LaPorte, was in Starke Circuit Court last week where he pleaded not guilty to charges of Robbery, Receiving Stolen Property, and Resisting Law Enforcement as a Class D Felony and a Class A Misdemeanor charge.

The charges stem from an incident on May 22nd, 2011, when Robert Reed and Murriah Dailey allegedly stole items from Marvin Miller’s home. Police were alerted to the incident and they were found riding a motorcycle on State Road 10. An officer from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department attempted a traffic stop on County Road 750 West, they stopped and then took off and a pursuit began. The pursuit ended just past County Road 400 South. The motorcycle ran into soft dirt in a corn field and the pair fled from the motorcycle. A K9 unit was deployed and stopped Murriah Dailey, and Reed was detained by the K9 but later fled on foot. Dailey was in custody in the back of a North Judson Police car and she attempted to drive away in the car. The car was shot at and disabled and she was tased to gain compliance. She was taken to the Starke County Jail after she was medically cleared from IU Health Starke Hospital.

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Two Arrested in Pulaski County on Drug Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Brent Hughes
Dustin Hughes

Two Pulaski County residents were arrested on drug charges after a traffic stop on Monday, December 5th.

Officers in Medaryville pulled over a vehicle driven by Francesville resident, Brent Hughes. The reporting officer stated in the report that when he approached the vehicle, the driver appeared to be shaking and was very nervous. The officer learned that Hughes had a suspended driver’s license. Hughes and his passenger, Dustin Hughes, of Medaryville, were asked to step out of the vehicle and were restrained in handcuffs by other officers who arrived on scene for backup. One of the deputies reportedly found controlled substances in the car as well as a bag with marijuana in it. They were taken to the Pulaski County Jail.

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Lafayette Woman Arrested after Accident in Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI
Patricia Zeigler

A Lafayette woman was arrested on two misdemeanor charges after a two car accident in Medaryville, on Wednesday, November 16th.

Pulaski County police and EMS were called to a two vehicle accident at U.S. 421 and State Road 143. A woman was injured and was put into a Superior EMS vehicle and she was transported to Michigan City. When police looked for two male suspects thought to be intoxicated at the time of the accident, police found that they had boarded the ambulance that was headed to Michigan City. The ambulance left the scene and the EMTs did not notify police of the transport. Police then notified the Director of Superior EMS and told them of the incident and Michigan City Police were called to the hospital. The two suspects attempted to leave the hospital upon arrival but they were detained for questioning. The EMTs transported them to Michigan City per their request.

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Winamac Man Arrested after Stolen Items Found in Residence

Posted on Author WKVI
Jason Creque

Jason Creque, of Winamac, was arrested Tuesday in Pulaski County on Theft charges after a search warrant was executed by Pulaski County police.

An ATV, hunting clothing, household items, toys, and tools were reported stolen by a homeowner on 475 W., south of 900 S. in Pulaski County. When Pulaski County officers investigated the shooting incident between Creque and Josh Isom on October 5th, detectives observed the stolen items at Creque’s residence at 7948 S. 475 W. in Winamac. Detectives obtained a search warrant and some of the stolen items were recovered at the residence. The ATV was recovered in Carroll County and some of the hunting items were recovered in Monticello.

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Winamac Brothers Arrested after Incident

Posted on Author WKVI
Brandon Gamblin
Nathan Gamblin

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department officers arrested two brothers after an incident Monday.

Police learned of the whereabouts of Brandon Gamblin, of Winamac, and attempted to locate him as he had a warrant out for his arrest. Police arrived at the residence on U.S. 35 but he was not there. Later, officers observed a vehicle approaching the residence that matched the description of the vehicle that Gamblin’s brother, Nathan, drives. Police asked Nathan Gamblin where his brother was and he stated that he didn’t know. He was later found inside the residence and taken into custody.

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Pulaski County Officers Arrest Two in Separate Incidents; Formal Drug Charges Pending

Posted on Author WKVI

Ronald Lee Magers of Medaryville was arrested Thursday after an attempted residential entry. The victim identified the suspect as Magers and he was located a short time after the incident and taken into custody.

During a search of Magers’ clothing, a number of illegal items were located, including drug paraphernalia, digital scales, pills and several small bags that were suspected to contain marijuana. Magers was arrested and transported to the Pulaski County Jail. Formal charges are pending.

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Pulaski County Jail Impresses State Inspectors

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County Jail underwent an inspection last week by an inspector from the Indiana Department of Corrections.

In his report, Lee Hoard said that Sheriff Michael Gayer, Commander Phillip Cherry and the staff are to be commended on the maintenance of the jail. The jail is clean and the staff are professional and receptive to suggestions and recommendations. The offenders were interviewed and stated that the felt safe in the facility, the food was good and the staff treated them well. The only recommendation made was to provide two dates on leftover food: date in and date out.

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Winamac Pair Arrested on Possession Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Jeffery Jacobs
Michael Mills

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department arrested two Winamac residents at a campground on methamphetamine related charges yesterday afternoon.

Police were called to a Pulaski County campground for a report of suspicious activity. A person who is familiar with the residents and campers at the campground noticed a vehicle that appeared out of place. Officers arrived and found 24-year-old Jeffrey L. Jacobs and 35-year-old Michael Mills in Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Paraphernalia. They were transported to the Pulaski County Jail on those preliminary charges.

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Pulaski County Inmates Soon Back to Work

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Sheriff's Department

Inmates of the Pulaski County Jail might not have so much free time in the near future, according to Sheriff Mike Gayer who approached the Commissioners with a plan to put the inmates to work. The inmates have been used quite a bit in previous years, but because of a recent concern with injuries that practice has almost come to a halt.

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