EVANSVILLE, Ind. (May 21) – Indiana State Excise Police officers serving a search warrant at an Evansville 
store seized 1,175 bootleg DVD’s this afternoon. 

Officers searched Riverside One Stop, 401 E. Riverside Drive, for evidence of fraud, including unauthorized 
copies of DVD’s displayed for sale at the store. These DVD’s included movies currently in theatres only and 
not yet available for retail sale. 

Excise officers also cited Riverside One Stop on six unrelated administrative charges, including: possession 
of smoking paraphernalia, failure to display tobacco certificate, smoking in a prohibited location and three 
charges related to failure to post various smoking-related signs.

Possible charges related to the bootleg DVD’s are pending. 

Anyone with information concerning unlawful sales of DVD’s may contact the District 5 office at 812-882-
1292. 

As the enforcement division of the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, the primary mission of the 
Indiana State Excise Police is to promote public safety by enforcing Indiana’s Alcoholic Beverage Code. 
While excise officers have the authority to enforce any state law, they focus primarily on alcohol, tobacco 
and related laws


SOURCE/PHOTO: Indiana Excise Police News Release

One of the great things about living in America is the American Spirit and the willingness of people to come to the aid of others during tragic events. The recent tornadoes in Oklahoma have already brought volunteers to the area and others will certainly follow. Still others unable to travel to Oklahoma will be very generous by donating money, clothing, and other needs to assist with the relief efforts. While such tragedies oftentimes will bring out the best in most people, still there are those few who will take advantage of the misfortune of others for personal gain. Hoosiers should be aware of people taking the opportunity in light of the recent catastrophic events in Oklahoma to play on the generosity of those willing to help out monetarily. Citizens are cautioned to be skeptical of those going from door-to-door or making individual phone calls to residents claiming to be collecting for tornado relief. If you are contacted by someone asking for donations, ask questions to determine whether or not your contribution will actually go to the tornado relief efforts. Ask the person collecting for credentials, what organization they represent, if there is an address donations can be sent, etc. Ask the person if they have a business card with a website or other information that can be verified through other reliable sources such as the Better Business Bureau or the Attorney General’s Office. If you are approached and feel someone is trying to scam you try to get as much information as possible such as a name, description of the person, description of the vehicle including color, make, and license number if possible then contact local police, sheriff, or your nearest Indiana State Police Post. 

The best way to contribute to the relief efforts is to donate money and other needed articles through known legitimate organizations such as the American Red Cross or through local churches collecting for tornado relief. Be aware, be vigilant, and don’t get scammed.


SOURCE: Indiana State Police - Nixle

Spencer County: Early this morning the Indiana State Police responded to a one vehicle crash in Santa Claus that injured four people. 

Preliminary investigation reveals that at approximately 1:55 CDT this morning Trooper Jason Dunsworth and members of the Spencer County Sheriff’s Office responded to Melchoir Drive in Santa Claus for the report of a crash with injuries. During the investigation, it was determined that James L. Warren, 19, Santa Claus was driving a 2008 Ford Focus north on Melchoir Dr. at a high rate of speed. The Focus topped a hill just before a curve, and Warren was unable to control his vehicle through the curve. Warren over-corrected and lost control sliding off the road to the east striking a tree. 

Futher investigation revealed that Warren was legally intoxicated with a preliminary BAC of .10%. Due to his injuries he was not jailed however he was charged with Operating While Intoxicated causing serious bodily injury and minor consuming. 

All four occupants were injured in the crash with non life-threatening injuries. 

The 2008 Ford sustained significant damage. 

Injured: 
James L. Warren, 19 
831 W Donder Lane, Santa Claus 
(Taken to St. Mary’s in Evansville) 

Stephen J. Dellamorta, 21 
533 W. Melchoir Dr. N, Santa Claus 
(Taken to St. Mary’s in Evansville) 

Tiffany M. Wiscaver, 22 
226 E. Brown Street, Santa Claus 
(Taken to Jasper Memorial) 

Zachariah D. Lahee, 22 
226 E. Brown Street, Santa Claus 
(Taken to Jasper Memorial) 


SOURCE: Indiana State Police - Nixle

This weekend, Memorial Day weekend marks the official start of the summer travel season. Many folks are gearing up for that summer vacation. Your Indiana State Police offer a few tips one should keep in mind when traveling. First, carrying large amounts of cash is not a good idea. Carry only enough cash to pay for cabs, shuttle services, and other minor incidentals. 

Credit or debit cards are convenient but one must constantly guard against theft, not just of the card itself, but one must make sure they protect their credit card number. Don’t leave your card lying on the table in a restaurant or display it freely where someone could see your number. Be aware of someone who may be nearby who may attempt photograph the card with a camera phone. Keep your credit card company’s number in a separate, easily accessible place so if you do lose your card or if its stolen, you can report it immediately to have the missing cards canceled. It’s also best to carry no more than one or two credit cards while traveling. 

When leaving home for that summer trip, let someone know where you are going, your route or means of travel, how to contact you in case of emergency, and when you expect to return. Stop your mail and newspaper delivery service. Nothing says, “No one is home” better than having several days worth of newspapers lying on the front porch. Turn off your water and water heater and make sure curling irons, hair dryers, and other small appliances are unplugged before leaving your house. Make sure all doors and windows are locked and have a timer set up to turn some lights on in your house during the evening hours and shut off at the time you would normally go to bed. Ask a neighbor or relative check your house daily while you’re away to make sure everything is okay. 

Special precautions should also be taken when traveling outside the United States. Certain areas of Mexico and the Middle East can be very dangerous for U.S. citizens. Check the U.S. Department of State website at www.state.gov and click on the “travel” tab to get up-to-date information and tips for traveling abroad. 

When loading up the family for the shorter trips to places like the Great Smokey Mountains, make sure your car is ready for the trip. Get the oil changed, check your tires (including your spare) for proper air pressure and for any possible defects. Check fluid levels, belts, and other critical mechanical parts to make sure your vehicle is roadworthy and throw a few tools such as a wrench set, breaker bar, flashlight, and other such items in a tool box in your trunk along with a gallon of antifreeze and a quart or two of oil. It’s also a good idea to obtain a AAA membership or other roadside assistance package “just in case.” 

Prior to leaving, make sure you’re well rested. Have your route of travel mapped out and check ahead for any possible road construction on your route. Make sure everyone is buckled up and if you have small children, make sure they are properly restrained in a child restraint system. With small children it’s also a good idea to take books for them to read or other items to occupy their time to avoid the constant, annoying question, “Are we there yet?” Make frequent rest stops during your trip to stay well rested and keep your cell phone charged or have a car charger for your cell so if necessary, you can make an emergency call. 

Another good idea when traveling with children is to write the child’s name, your name and cell number, as well as a close friend or relative’s name and number on a card. Include other information on the card such as allergies or any other health conditions your child may have. Give each child the card to carry with them in their pocket or back pack in case you get separated. Also, tell your children should they get separated, to stay in the area and not to wander off looking for you. Remind them not to speak with strangers or go anywhere with a stranger. Tell them to speak only to a police officer or other individual in uniform such as park rangers, uniformed amusement park employees, etc. Tell them to give the card with your contact information to the official so immediate contact can be made with you. 

If you take prescription medication, make sure to take an adequate supply including extra in case you are unexpectedly detained for a few extra days. Make sure to take the prescription bottle with you as well. If you use one of the daily pill distribution containers and you don’t have your prescription with you, you are committing a felony violation by possessing a prescription drug without the prescription in your possession. You should also make sure your health insurance cards are current and have them with you in case it becomes necessary to seek medical attention while away from home. 

Nothing is more enjoyable than a summer trip with the family or close friends. By following the above tips, you should be able to avoid some of those things that can otherwise ruin that family vacation.

Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and key City department heads began two days of Lean training this morning at Innovation Pointe, 318 Main St. Lean training is another step being implemented by Mayor Winnecke to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of City government.

In his 2013 State of the City speech, Mayor Winnecke announced a new initiative that will look for ways to streamline city government processes and make it easier for the public to do business with the City of Evansville.

Lean training is being offered through a unique partnership between the City and the University of Southern Indiana Center for Applied Research and Economic Development (CARED). CARED Director Daniela Vidal will train City department heads to evaluate the services their office provides, identify hidden wastes and streamline the process to make it more effective in servicing customers. Department heads will then share what they have learned with other members of their departments.

At the end of the two-day training session, department heads will identify areas for improvement that will become the first City projects to apply the Lean thinking process. The City will continue to look for additional projects to apply Lean thinking, with the overall goal of enhancing customer service and implementing a culture of continuous improvement.


SOURCE: www.evansville.in.gov

Mayor Lloyd Winnecke’s “Fitness in the Park” program will join Pushups for Charity Saturday, May 18, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Evansville State Hospital Park to raise money for services to aid wounded military veterans. 

Registration opens at 8:30 a.m., and the official welcome will be at 9 a.m. Pushups for Charity begins at 9:15 a.m., followed by an exercise boot camp, a family fun walk/run, Box-Fit, Yoga and Zumba.

Pushups for Charity 2013 is organized locally by Custom Fit Personnel Training and Bob’s Gym. It is part of a national effort to raise $300,000 for the Boot Campaign, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance and support to troops.

“Fitness in the Park” is a health and fitness initiative launched by Mayor Winnecke as part of his Energize Evansville initiative to promote healthier lifestyles. Fitness in the Park is held the third Saturday of each month at a different city park featuring local fitness trainer leading group exercises.

SOURCE: www.evansville.in.gov

The Evansville Police Department and AAA of Missouri recognized Evansville’s Safety Patrol Crossing Guards at an Appreciation Breakfast this morning at Golden Corral. The Crossing Guards work tirelessly throughout the school year in all weather conditions to makes sure our children get to and from school safely. The Crossing Guard program is over 80 years old. This program began in Evansville is now nationwide. Since the inception of this program and as a result of the work of the guards and the department there has never been an accident or injury in a school crossing in Evansville. 

Special recognition was given today to Vogel Safety Patrol Crossing Guard Rosemary Toelle. She has been at Vogel for 20 years. The area she works has seen its share of construction lately and is considered one of the busiest in the city. The entire Evansville Police Department wants to thank Rosemary for her service and also thank all the Safety Patrol Crossing Guards for all their hard work and dedication to the children of this community. Pictured with Rosemary is Chief of Police Billy Bolin, School Safety Officers Kent Walker and Kurt Chapman and Steve Baine of AAA of Missouri. AAA of Missouri helps sponsor this program.

SOURCE: Evansville Police Department

Starting this Sunday, May 12, Indiana State Police will be participating in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Ticket Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT) campaign to reduce the number of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles and passenger cars. Troopers will participate in this campaign through Saturday, June 8th. 
The TACT program uses education and high visibility traffic enforcement to reduce commercial motor vehicle related crashes. By participating in TACT, Indiana State Police hope to deter unsafe driving behavior by passenger vehicle and commercial motor vehicle drivers when they interact on the roadway. Troopers will be specifically looking for motorists who drive dangerously around semi trucks and other commercial motor vehicles. Some of the violations troopers will be concentrating on include: unsafe lane changes, failure to yield the right of way, following too closely and aggressive driving. In many crashes involving commercial motor vehicles, the crash is caused by non-commercial drivers operating in an unsafe manner. 

“The Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division would like to remind everyone that traffic safety is a continuing partnership between the general motoring public, the commercial transportation industry and law enforcement. Together, through safer driving practices, we can reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries,” said Captain Mike Eslinger, Commander of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. 

Indiana State Police encourage all drivers to follow these safety tips when driving around commercial motor vehicles: 
• Allow plenty of space between you and the commercial motor vehicle. Drivers should allow one car length between their vehicle and the commercial motor vehicle for every 10 mph of travel or follow at least three to four seconds behind the semi. 
• Stay out of the truck driver’s blind spot. If you can’t see the mirrors on the truck, the driver can’t see you. 
• Always make safe lane changes around commercial motor vehicles. Use signals and leave plenty of space between you and the truck. It can take over 500 feet for a fully loaded truck going 65 mph to come to a complete stop. 
• Always yield the right of way to commercial motor vehicles.

Eastland Mall will host special Traveling City Hall meetings on Saturday, May 18, and Saturday, September 28. Both meetings will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon near Dillards in the Center Court area between Fred Meyer Jewelers and Helzberg Diamonds.

Eastland Mall and Mayor Lloyd Winnecke will donate $200 worth of gift cards that will be awarded through random drawings during the May 18 meeting. Individuals must visit at least three department heads to qualify for the drawings and be present during the drawings to receive a prize. Prizes are limited to one per person.

Mayor Winnecke will introduce city department heads and elected city and county leaders present at the meeting. Following a brief presentation by Evansville Water & Sewer Utility Dir. Allen Mounts on the new Smart City 2.0 economic development issue, the public will have an opportunity to talk to city leaders one-on-one about specific issues or about our community in general. The meeting is free and open to everyone.

“Conducting Traveling City Hall meetings at Eastland Mall provides a wonderful opportunity to take city government directly to the people,” said Mayor Winnecke. “People who have questions about issues in their neighborhoods or in our community may not have time to visit the Civic Center. Traveling City Hall makes it more convenient for them to share their concerns.”

SOURCE: www.evansville.in.gov

Indiana State Police at Evansville are currently investigating two separate incidents where individuals have handed over money to an unknown male claiming to be a landlord who is about to evict his tenants. Indiana State Police Detectives believe this male will continue to scam others if given the opportunity. 

On April 15th, an Evansville Pastor received a phone call from a person alleging to be indigent and explained that he would be evicted from his residence on Telephone Road in Warrick County unless he could pay his landlord $95.00 to partially cover the rent he owed. He further explained that his wife was currently being treated for health issues at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh. The pastor agreed to meet the landlord at the hospital. Sometime between 3:00 – 3:40 p.m., the pastor drove to the hospital and met the alleged landlord and insisted on speaking to the tenants before he would turn over the check. The man led the pastor into the hospital and into an empty patient room. The pastor was told that the couple must be in the lab for tests. They both walked to the lab, but failed to find the tenants. The pastor eventually handed over the check for $95. After the landlord left, the pastor checked with the front information desk and discovered that the woman was not even a patient at the hospital. He was able to stop payment on the check. 

In February, an unknown male contacted a representative of St. Vincent DePaul Society in Evansville. The male caller claimed a couple was being evicted from their home because they couldn’t pay their rent. The caller further claimed that the landlord had agreed to drop eviction proceedings if they could come up with $120 for the rent they owed. The representative from St. Vincent DePaul Society later met the alleged landlord at Schnucks’ parking lot on the west side of Evansville and handed him a check for $120. The representative became suspicious later when all the phone numbers he had been given for the tenants and landlord were either disconnected or not correct. He also discovered the address given to him as the residence where the tenants were being evicted from was a vacant lot. 

Suspect Information: It is not known at this time if the male portraying himself as the landlord is acting alone or if he has others that are assisting. Detectives say the suspect is a white male and approximately 40-years-old. No other description is available at this time. 

Indiana State Police Detectives would like to warn everyone that scams occur almost every day and it’s important to do some research before turning over cash to a stranger. Detectives also believe there are possibly additional victims that have not contacted police. Anyone with information concerning these incidents is encouraged to contact Indiana State Police at 812-867-2079 or 1-800-852-3970.