Posey County – Friday night, February 15, at approximately 11:56 p.m., Sergeant Russ Werkmeister stopped the driver of a 2008 Toyota for making an unsafe lane movement and speeding on SR 62 near Davis Road. The driver was identified as Erika Thomas, 43, of Mt. Vernon. Her 15-year-old daughter was a passenger in the car. Further investigation revealed she had a blood alcohol content of .21 %. Thomas was arrested and taken to the Posey County Jail where she is currently being held on bond. 

Arrested and Charge: 
• Erika B. Thomas, 43, Mt. Vernon, IN 
1. Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated with a Passenger less than 18 years of age, 
Class D Felony 

Arresting Officers: Sergeant Russ Werkmeister and Trooper Korey Mauck, Indiana State Police 


SOURCE: Indiana State Police

Pike County – Earlier this week, Michael Woodland, 37, of Petersburg, was sentenced to 15 years in the Indiana Department of Correction for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a Class B Felony. 

The criminal charges stem from the police action shooting that occurred Monday night, July 23, 2012, in Petersburg. Moments before the shooting, a 911 call was received regarding a domestic disturbance at 1012 Trafzer Street. Within minutes, Petersburg Police Officer Chad Tharp arrived and started to approach the residence when Woodland exited from the front door carrying a semi-automatic rifle. Officer Tharp ordered Woodland to drop his weapon, which he had pointed toward the ground. Woodland failed to comply and started to raise the rifle toward the officer. Tharp fired his service weapon striking Woodland. He was later released from Deaconess Hospital and was jailed for a parole violation. Corporal Tharp was not injured during this incident. 

After reviewing the Indiana State Police investigation, Pike County Prosecutor Darrin McDonald filed a criminal charge of possessing a firearm while being a serious violent felon against Woodland. Woodland pled guilty and accepted a plea agreement. Due to time already served, he will serve 14 years and 69 days. 


SOURCE: Indiana State Police

New Castle – Pendleton District Investigators were summoned to the New Castle Correctional Facility last evening reference an inmate that had been found unconscious. Around 11:05 p.m. the inmate was found at the bottom of a stairwell inside the prison. 

The inmate, Jeremiah K. Taylor, age 37 of Ligonier Indiana, was transported by ambulance to Henry County Hospital then flown by medical helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where this morning he succumbed to his injuries. 

While it is early in the investigation, investigators believe the injuries were not the result of an accident, but were the result of Taylor having been battered shortly before being found in the stairwell. Taylor had been incarcerated at New Castle since July of 2012, and was serving eight years for a conviction on a Child Molest charge out of Noble County. 

The New Castle Correctional Facility is run by GEO, a private company contracted by Indiana Department of Corrections to run the facility. The investigation is ongoing, and this is all the information available for release at this time. 

SOURCE: Indiana State Police

This morning at approximately 10:45 four people were injured in a two vehicle at 30th and Mill Streets in Jasper. 

Preliminary investigation reveals that Scott Lance, 35, Jasper, was driving eastbound on 30th Street in a maroon 1998 Ford Taurus. Lance disregarded the stop sign at 30th Street and Mill Street, and struck a white 1998 Toyota Camry driven by 46 year old Brian Neukam of Jasper. 

Lance was transported to Memorial Hospital in Jasper with the complaint of pain to his knees and chest. Neukam and his two passengers, Karla J. Neukam, 46 and Celia R. Neukam, 11 all were transported to Memorial Hospital for treatment on non-life threatening injuries. 

Lance was cited for disregarding a stop sign. 

Lance’s 1998 Taurus sustained approximately $4,000 in damages and Neukam’s 1998 Toyota was a total loss. 
Seatbelts were in use and did reduce and prevent further injuries. 

Investigating Officers: Trooper Phillip Hensley and Trooper Michael Allen 
Assisting Agencies: The Jasper City Police Department and Memorial Hospital EMS. 


SOURCE: Indiana State Police

Daviess County: Last night members of the U.S. Marshal’s Service, Indiana State Police, the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office and Washington City Police Department went to 17 Coronado Drive in Washington to serve an arrest warrant. Officers received information that James E. Choate II, 43, Vincennes, who was wanted on warrants out of Pike County, was at the address which belongs to Choates' brother. Officers arrived at approximately 8:00 to serve the warrant. Officers located Choate and two other people Adam L. Conger, 26, Washington and Angela M. Stapleton, 36, Washington inside the residence. Also while inside the residence officers located precursors for manufacturing methamphetamine. 

All three suspects were taken into custody and the Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab team was called assist with the meth lab materials. 

Arrested and Charges: 
James E. Choate II, 43 
135 N 8th Vincennes, IN 47591 
1. Manufacturing Methamphetamine 
2. Escape from Work Release 
3. Possession of Methamphetamine 
4. Resisting Law Enforcement 
5. Possession Of Precursors with intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine 
6. Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance 
7. Obstruction of Justice 
8. Possession of Hypodermic Syringe 
9. Visiting a Common Nuisance 

Adam L. Conger, 26 
8 E Hefron Street, Washington, IN 47501 
and Angela M. Stapleton, 36 
106B NE 20th, Washington, IN 47501 
1. Possession of Hypodermic Syringe 
2. Visiting a Common Nuisance 
3. Possession Of Precursors with intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine 

SOURCE: Indiana State Police

Indiana State Police at Evansville conducted a saturation patrol last night and early this morning targeting dangerous and impaired drivers in Knox, Warrick and Gibson Counties. Between 8:00 last night and 4:00 this morning, troopers issued 48 traffic tickets, 130 warnings and arrested four impaired drivers. Troopers also arrested Timothy Short, 51, of London, KY, for Public Intoxication, a Class B Misdemeanor. He was arrested on Broadway Street in Princeton. He is currently being held on bond in the Gibson County Jail. 

Driving While Intoxicated Arrests 
Knox County: 
• Derrick Fiscus, 25, Vincennes, IN (Blood Alcohol Content .08%) Currently being held on Bond 
• Gareth Martin, 22, Vincennes, IN (Blood Alcohol Content .14%) Bonded Out 
• Sarah Jones, 27, Vincennes, IN (Blood Alcohol Content .15%) Bonded Out 

Warrick County: 
• Johnny Wise Jr, 57, Newburgh, IN (Refused) Currently being held on Bond 

Arresting Officers: Sergeant Jason Allen, Trooper John Davis, Trooper William Campbell, 
Trooper Matt Lockridge and Trooper Aaron Kaucher  

The Indiana State Police are committed to traffic safety and will continue to conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints to apprehend impaired drivers and to deter others from drinking and driving.

SOURCE/PHOTOS: Indiana State Police 

Daviess County: Last night at approximately 8:20 p.m. the Indiana State Police and the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department responded to a one vehicle crash on I-69 at the 79 mile marker that left an Odon man injured. 

Preliminary information reveals that Stephen L. Lagenour, 66, Odon was traveling northbound on I-69 in his 2003 Ford F-150 when the left rear tire tread separated from the wheel. The truck began to swerve and Lagenour lost control. The F-150 left the roadway and hit an embankment, spun and hit the embankment again. 

Lagenour was transported to St. Mary’s for treatment of serious injuries. 

Lagenour was wearing his seatbelt and according to Trooper Kurtis Blunk the seatbelt did prevent more serious injuries from occurring. 

The truck was a total loss.

SOURCE: Indiana State Police

Pike County – Tuesday morning, January 29, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Indiana State Police and Pike County Sheriff’s Department responded to a three-vehicle crash at S.R. 64 and S.R. 257 that killed a 54-year-old Velpen man. 

Preliminary investigation revealed Joan Pritt, 77, of Velpen, was driving her 2006 Toyota Matrix northbound on S.R. 257 when she disregarded the stop sign at S.R. 64. Her vehicle entered the intersection and collided into a 2006 Freightliner tractor-trailer that was traveling eastbound on SR 64. Upon impact, the trailer was pushed left of center and into the path of a westbound 2003 Ford Mustang. The driver of the Mustang, Jerry Alvey, 54, of Velpen, was pronounced dead at the scene. Pritt was air-lifted to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville where she is currently being treated for serious injuries. The truck driver, Leonard Gogel, 48, of Birdseye, was not injured. S.R. 64 will remain closed for approximately two more hours. The investigation is continuing. 

Deceased: 
• Jerry Alvey, Velpen, IN (Family has been notified) 

Investigating Officer: Master Trooper Frank Coleman, Master Trooper Paul Bastin, 
Master Trooper Randy Huddleston and Trooper Aaron Kaucher 
Assisting Agency: Pike County Sheriff’s Department 

SOURCE / PICTURES: Indiana State Police

Gibson County – Saturday morning, January 26, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Indiana State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on CR 1300 South near Barton Road that injured a 22-year-old Cynthiana man. 

Preliminary investigation revealed Aaron Ripple, 22, of Cynthiana, was driving his 2006 GMC pickup truck westbound on CR 1300 South approximately ½ mile east of Barton Road. Ripple failed to negotiate a curve and drove off the roadway into a field on the north side. The vehicle rolled at least twice and came to a final rest on the driver’s side. Ripple was taken to Deaconess Hospital where he is currently being treated for a non-life threatening head injury. “Alcohol and speed were factors in this crash,” said Trooper Chris Dyer. The investigation is continuing. The vehicle was totaled. 

Investigating Officer: Trooper Chris Dyer, Indiana State Police 
Assisting Agency: Gibson County Sheriff’s Department 

Pike County – Friday morning, January 25, at approximately 11:38 a.m., Indiana State Police responded to I-69 at the 42 ½ mile-marker after a bus flipped over onto its side and injured four Murray State University students. 

Preliminary investigation revealed Jennifer Severns, 33, of Murray, KY, was driving a passenger bus northbound I-69 near the 42 ½ mile-marker when she lost control due to icy conditions. The bus left the roadway on the east side and flipped over onto its driver’s side. The driver was not injured. Four Murray State University students were transported to Jasper Memorial Hospital in Jasper where they are currently being treated for minor injuries. The bus was traveling to Indiana University in Bloomington for an indoor track meet. The driver of the bus was also the team’s coach. 

Injured: 
• Katie Forsehy, 21, Murray State University, Murray, KY 
• Tonia Pratt, 19, Murray State University, Murray, KY 
• Abbie Oliver, 20, Murray State University, Murray, KY 
• T.J. Wirth, 23, Murray State University, Murray, KY