Francesville Woman Arrested on Possession, OVWI Charges

A Francesville woman was arrested Thursday after she reportedly was operating a vehicle under the influence of controlled substances.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department had received a call about an intoxicated driver and police found Samantha Davis’ vehicle at 1726 W. 560 S. The vehicle was off the road stuck in a large snow bank. Police found the driver, Davis, in the passenger side of the vehicle. The officer tried talking to her but he stated in the police report that she was having a hard time focusing and talking. She was asked to step back to the police car and she reportedly stumbled to the car. The officer asked for her ID and she had a difficult time retrieving her wallet from the car. The officer also reportedly found marijuana in her vehicle.

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Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Statistics for 2011

Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer released the Department’s statistics for 2011.

The Department investigated 384 accidents which is a decrease from 2010, deputies investigated 220 car vs. deer accidents, 35 burglaries, 114 thefts, 45 drug cases, 6 child molesting cases, 8 residential entry calls and 23 battery incidents. There were 7,275 total dispatch calls in 2011.

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Winamac Woman Arrested on Possession Charges

Michelle Hanson

A Winamac woman was arrested on Wednesday after police found her in possession of a controlled substance.

A Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputy found a vehicle parked at the intersection of Adams and Monticello Street but didn’t initially see anyone in the car. The officer approached the vehicle and saw a woman, Michelle Hanson, sitting in a reclined seat in the vehicle. The officer knocked on the window several times until she opened the door. The officer asked what she was doing there and she replied that she had a few drinks with her friend and they went shopping. She said her friend stopped at that location and dropped her off. When the officer spoke to Hanson, he could tell that she had been drinking.

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Winamac Man Charged with Felon in Possession of Firearm

Ryan Clouse

A Winamac man was arrested after police found a gun and narcotics in his room at a residence of 475 W. in Winamac, on Monday, December 19th.

Pulaski County Sheriff’s deputies learned that Ryan Clouse, 39, is good friends with Matthew Nolte, who was recently arrested on methamphetamine related charges, and the pair may be manufacturing methamphetamine at the residence where Clouse was staying. Police arrived on scene and requested permission to search Clouse’s room. Police reportedly found narcotics in his possession and a loaded rifle. The officers asked Clouse if he was convicted of any felonies and he replied that he had. He was then told that a felon can not possess a firearm. He had a prior conviction of robbery in 1994 and he was arrested on a charge of Burglary by the Rochester Police Department in 2004. Police also asked if he had a prescription for the narcotics found in his room and he said no.

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Winamac Man Arrested after Domestic Dispute

Charles Cole of Winamac was arrested on Christmas Day after police were called to his home after a domestic dispute.

His wife, Suzanne, told Pulaski County police that Charles allegedly set fire to their bedding and mattress that morning during the argument which burnt down the camper in which they reside. As officers were trying to get the details of the event, Cole, who was intoxicated, continued to be disorderly. He was asked by the officer to step out of the camper and Cole was told he was under arrest. Cole then took off running from police. The officer ordered him to stop or he’d be tased. He stopped and police attempted to take him into custody but he resisted.

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Star City Man Arrested for Manufacturing Meth

Matthew Nolte

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Star City man, Thursday, on manufacturing methamphetamine charges.

Police had received a call of possible drug activity at a Star City residence on State Road 119. When police arrived, they asked Matthew Nolte if they could search the residence. He reportedly agreed and police found a large trash bag on the property with two-liter bottles with an off-white substance. Officers determined that with the consistency of the substance and the odor emitting from the container, it was meth. Police also reportedly found several precursors that are used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

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Indianapolis Man Arrested in Pulaski County on OVWI, Drug Charges

Christopher Standefer

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department officers arrested an Indianapolis man on Sunday on drug charges.

Police conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 35 south of County Road 200 North and found 35-year-old Christopher Standefer to be impaired. He failed a Field Sobriety Test and in the search of his vehicle, officers found marijuana and paraphernalia in a duffel bag.

Standfer was arrested on preliminary charges of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated with a BAC between .08 and .14, Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangerment, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia and Maintaining a Common Nuisance.

Medaryville Man Arrested after Pursuit

Billy Anthony, Jr.

A Medaryville man was arrested after leading police on a pursuit in the Medaryville area on Thursday.

Billy Anthony, Jr., 26, was traveling on Maple Avenue and police saw him cross the center line a few times while traveling. The officer from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department followed him and then stopped at a stop sign and observed the vehicle. The vehicle turned onto an intersected roadway and allegedly evaded police. The Medaryville police officer on duty and the deputy chased Anthony along 175 North.

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Winamac Man Flees from Police on Moped

James Larvick

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Winamac man, Friday, after he eluded police on a moped.

An officer saw that James Larvick was swerving back and forth in his lane and after he did not come to a complete stop at a stop sign, the officer began following him. Larvick was followed on Riverside Drive and the officer turned on his lights and siren to alert Larvick to pull over to the side of the road. Larvick motioned at the officer and kept driving. As they passed the Management Building of the Indian Head Motel, the driver pulled into the driveway.

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Three People Injured in Pulaski County Accident

Three people were injured in a rollover accident on County Road 550 North from U.S. Highway 421 in Pulaski County on Saturday.

An officer from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department found that Glenn Sewell, of Medaryville, was on 550 North when he left the roadway, overturned and came to rest on the passenger side. Sewell was trapped inside the vehicle and was extricated by the fire department. Two children in the vehicle and Sewell were injured and were taken to Pulaski Memorial Hospital.

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Accident Claims Life of Winamac Woman

A 39-year-old Winamac woman died as a result of injuries sustained in a single vehicle accident in Winamac early Friday morning.

A witness told police that she was inside her home at 478 N. 100 W. in Winamac when she heard the sound of a vehicle skidding on the roadway followed by a loud crash. The witness stated in the report that the driver was still inside the vehicle and she stayed with the vehicle until help arrived.

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Two Arrested in Pulaski County on Drug Charges

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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Two Injured in Accident Involving Two Semis in Winamac

Two drivers were injured in an accident that involved two semi trucks in Winamac on Wednesday.

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department officers at the scene learned that Richard Vanes of Logansport was traveling in his semi on 550 South and came upon the intersection with 300 East in the Winamac area. Vanes said he was not sure if the semi that James Kline of Rochester was driving was going to stop at the intersection. Kline did not stop at the stop sign and traveled through the intersection. Vanes attempted to move to the other side of the roadway but was not able to avoid a collision. The trailer attached to Vanes’ semi slid off the roadway and struck a utility pole. The trailer then rolled over, spilling its contents into a field.

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46 Children in Pulaski and White Counties Participate in Shop with a Cop Event

Officers from the Pulaski County and White County Sheriff’s Departments took 46 children from both counties shopping in the 3rd Annual Shop with a Cop event on Saturday.

The children enjoyed pizza and visiting with Santa before going shopping at the Monticello Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart had awarded $1,000 to be used to purchase items for the children. A total of $2,640 was donated to the Shop with a Cop program by many generous donors in Pulaski County for the 20 children from Pulaski County who were chosen to participate.

The 20 children were randomly chosen by Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer from a list of children provided to him by Health and Human Services, Eastern Pulaski Schools and West Central Schools. Sheriff Gayer said that the look on the kids’ faces is worth the money and time put into this event.

Arson Suspected in Apartment Fire in Winamac

The Winamac Fire Department was called to two fires Monday.

Winamac Fire Chief Bill Weaver said that firefighters were called to an apartment fire at 303 N. Market Street at about 1:30 p.m. ET. They were able to get to the scene quickly and extinguish that fire. Weaver said that an investigator from the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office arrived on scene and determined that the fire started in the closet in a bedroom and that it was deliberately set. No arrests have been made yet in this arson case and the fire remains under investigation. If you have any information about this fire, call the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department at (574) 946-6655.

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Daniel Whited Sentenced in U.S. District Court

Daniel Whited

Daniel Whited of Winamac was sentenced last week in U.S. District Court. Judge Jon DeGuilio sentenced him to 78 months imprisonment and four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana.

Daniel Whited was arrested last year after being sought by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department and all federal law enforcement entities for operating a marijuana growing operation in Pulaski County at 6573 W. 500 S. Officers located marijuana plants inside and outside the residence with an estimated street value of $610,000. Officers also found processed marijuana ready for packing, sale and distribution with an estimated street value of over $3 million.

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Winamac Man Arrested after Public Intoxication Incident, Officer Threatened

Paul Rausch

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department arrested Paul Rausch, of Winamac, after he allegedly threatened a police officer, on Sunday.

Officers were called to 1550 S. 50 E. in reference to an intoxicated person. The man, Paul Rausch, was reportedly laying in the parking lot at Poblano’s Restaurant. After talking to witnesses, Rausch had fallen face first onto the pavement prior to the officers’ arrival.

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Lafayette Woman Arrested after Accident in Pulaski County

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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