A Star City man faces attempted murder and aggravated battery charges in connection with a weekend incident in southern Pulaski County. Continue reading
Attempted Murder Charge Filed In Pulaski Circuit Court
Welcome Home Escort Planned for Local Soldier
A local soldier is returning home from Afghanistan this evening. Cody Foust will be welcomed home with a police and fire escort and a salute at the Knox VFW. Continue reading
Pedestrian Struck by Tractor-Trailer in Francesville
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department investigated an accident on Thursday involving a semi-tractor trailer and a 14-year-old pedestrian on U.S. 421 just south of Gordon Street in Francesville.
The truck driver, 57-year-old Jerry E. Dehaven of Rossville, Indiana, was southbound on U.S. 421 when he observed a pedestrian walking along the road, according to a news release. Dehaven stated that the pedestrian turned and walked into the southbound lane and he attempted to miss the pedestrian. He reportedly told police that he was unable to miss the pedestrian and she was struck by the center of the tractor-trailer knocking her to the ground.
Pulaski County Sheriff Hires Part-Time Officers
With the amount of retirements, officers seeking other employment and movement of personnel within the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, several part-time patrol officers have been hired to help provide safety to residents of the county.
Ten people have left the department in the past several months including a few deputies, a chief deputy, two detectives and three dispatchers.
Accident Claims Life of Francesville Man
A Francesville man died as results of injuries sustained in a Wednesday afternoon accident in Pulaski County.
A Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department deputy responded to the intersection of County Road 1600 West and 600 South, about two miles southwest of Francesville. A delivery truck driven by Keegan McMindes, 25, was westbound on County Road 600 South and failed to stop at the intersection, according to a sheriff’s department press release. The delivery truck struck a pickup truck driven by Bruce Wheeler, 76, of Francesville. Wheeler was trapped in his vehicle and was extricated from the wreckage with the assistance of members of the Francesville Fire Department.
Both drivers were airlifted from the scene to Memorial Hospital of South Bend. Wheeler later died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Pulaski County Commissioners Approve Employment of Part-Time Officers
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is experiencing a shortage of deputies to cover 14 shifts and outside county officers are coming in to help cover those shifts.
Only five full-time deputies are covering those shifts and part-time officers are needed to help with coverage for the county.
Matron Carrie Aaron and Detective/Sergeant Jason Woodruff presented paperwork to the Pulaski County Commissioners to approve a request to employ part-time deputies from other counties to help keep up with patrols for public safety. A one-time adjustment to the handbook policy was also requested to compensate the officers for payment for holidays and PTO time that cannot be taken due to this circumstance.
Starke County Sheriff’s Department Gets New K9
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department has sold one of its K9s to Starke County.
Sheriff Michael Gayer told WKVI News that the K9 officer resigned abruptly and no other officer in the department wanted to resume the responsibility of K9 “Terror”. He reached out to other departments to see if a K9 could help them. One department that expressed interest was the Starke County Sheriff’s Department. The K9 and a kennel were sold to Starke County for $8,500 about two weeks ago.
The Pulaski County commissioners discussed the K9 situation Monday night during their meeting where Commissioner Terry Young was not pleased with the amount of money for which the K9 was sold. Commission President Larry Brady gave the sheriff the option of including the vehicle with the K9 and the kennel at a price of $17,000 or leave the vehicle for use by a department head. The vehicle stayed with the county.
Judge Suppresses Evidence Gathered by Deputy Without Legal Authority
Evidence was suppressed in a case heard in Pulaski Superior Court after it was found that the arresting officer did not have arrest powers at the time of the incident.
Court documents obtained by WKVI indicate Pulaski County Sheriff Mike Gayer appointed longtime reserve deputy John Haley as a part-time/special deputy on Sept. 7, 2011. He had until September of 2012 to complete the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Academy but did not do so. The only record of training in his personnel file is the pre-basic 40-hour course required by reserve deputies. Haley first joined the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Reserves in approximately 2007/2008.
Pulaski County Council Discusses Salary Ordinance Amendment at Sheriff’s Department
The Pulaski County Council discussed a salary ordinance change request with the sheriff’s matron, Carrie Avery, Monday night.
The situation is unique in that a dispatcher and his wife work at the department and officials want to move one into the chief dispatcher role. That would create a nepotism law violation. To get around that, Avery went before the county council to request that they approve the creation of co-assistant chief deputy positions and put the pair into those roles.
Medaryville Man Faces Strangulation Charge
A Medaryville man whose sister says he over-stayed his welcome faces strangulation and battery charges in connection with the brawl that ensued. Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to a home in the 100 block of East Pearl Street Sunday evening after a fight broke out between several men. Continue reading
Pulaski County Health Department Not Soliciting Donations
Officials at the Pulaski County Health Department are warning residents that they are not soliciting donations for cancer research awareness.
Administrator Terri Hansen told WKVI News that some residents have gotten calls from scammers who are announcing that they are from the health department and looking for donations when the department is not making these calls. Hansen said they would not call anyone for such a cause.
Three Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Employees Retire
Three long-time employees at the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department will be honored today in recognition of their retirement.
Detective David Walters and dispatchers Susie Hemphill and Connie Haschel are retiring after serving the Pulaski County community for many years.
The staff will be holding an appreciation gathering today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET at the sheriff’s department in the training room. A baked potato bar will be featured and cake will be served.
Pulaski County Prosecutor Files Murder Charge Against Denham Man
A Denham man remains jailed without bond in Pulaski County, where he’s accused of killing his live-in girlfriend. Continue reading
No Charges Filed Yet in Denham Woman’s Death
The live-in boyfriend of a Denham woman found dead at her home Monday morning is still jailed in Pulaski County. Prosecutor Stacey Mrak tells WKVI News charges have not been filed yet in connection with the death of Amber Renee Taylor, 34. Continue reading
Autopsy Scheduled Today for Possible Homicide Victim
An autopsy is scheduled later today for a Pulaski County woman found dead in her Denham-area home. Continue reading
Sheriff’s Deputies Nab Medaryville Woman on Federal Warrant
Local charges are pending against a Medaryville woman accused of leading Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputies on a high-speed chase when they tried to arrest her on a federal warrant. A deputy spotted a pickup truck driven Bernice Godina, 62, leaving a rural Medaryville residence late Tuesday morning, according to a news release from Sheriff Mike Gayer. Continue reading
Winamac Man Arrested on Drug Possession Charges
A Winamac man was arrested early Sunday morning after he was reportedly found in possession of methamphetamine.
A Winamac police officer saw a red vehicle in the parking lot by the Pulaski County Public Library with the driver present. The officer knew that vandalism was occurring to a structure by the library so he approached the car.
Pulaski County Deputies Investigate Fatal Accident
Pulaski County Sheriff’s deputies and emergency crews responded to a fatality accident yesterday morning.
According to a news release from the sheriff’s department, Dollie Frinkel, 71, of Winamac was traveling westbound on County Road 600 West and failed to stop at the intersection with 100 South. A Pulaski County dump truck driven by David Bailey, 48, entered the intersection and could not avoid a collision with Frinkel’s passenger car.
Pulaski County Officials Investigate Accident
Winamac Woman Arrested For Assaulting Sheriff’s Deputy
A Winamac woman faces a charge of battery on a law enforcement officer. Donna Fay Campbell, 36, is accused of hitting, kicking and throwing a can of Pepsi at Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputy Michelle Jackson when she responded to a home in the 4400 block of County Road 600 West Wednesday afternoon. Continue reading
