Pike County – Yesterday morning, April 26, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Trooper Brent Gramig responded to Pike Central High School after a female student was found to be under the influence of drugs. 

During the investigation, Trooper Gramig was able to determine Kirbi McCandless, 18, of Velpen, had been smoking bath salts, marijuana and she had taken some pills from a container in her purse. A search of her purse revealed a container with several pills, tin foil and other drug paraphernalia. Two of the pills were later identified as Oxycodone. McCandless was arrested and taken to the Pike County Jail. She was later released after posting bond. 

ARRESTED AND CHARGES: 
• Kirbi McCandless, 18, Velpen, IN 
1. Possession of a Controlled Substance, Class D Felony 
2. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Class A Misdemeanor 

Arresting Officer: Trooper Brent Gramig, Indiana State Police 


SOURCE: Indiana State Police

Pike County – Early this morning, April 5, Indiana State Police arrested Darius A. Hardiman, 21, of Anderson, in connection to a shooting that occurred in Anderson on March 17th. A felony warrant for attempted murder had been issued for Hardiman’s arrest. 

On April 3, Anderson Police notified area law enforcement agencies that Hardiman may be in the Evansville area. At approximately 10:30 last night, Indiana State Police and the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force received information Hardiman was in the Petersburg area. More than 20 officers from the Indiana State Police, Pike County Sheriff’s Office, Petersburg Police and Washington Police responded to the area to search for Hardiman. At approximately 6:30 this morning, Trooper Justin Bean spotted Hardiman hiding in thick brush behind the Kangaroo Express gas station located on SR 57 on the north side of Petersburg. Hardiman was arrested without incident and taken to the Pike County Jail where he is waiting to be transported back to Anderson. 

Anyone with questions regarding the shooting should contact Anderson Police.

SOURCE: Indiana State Police 

Knox County – Tuesday night, March 26, at approximately 10:32 p.m., Indiana State Police and Bicknell Police responded to 307 East 2nd Street in Bicknell for a fight in progress. When officers arrived they found Tyson Hartzburg, 22, inside the residence and he was extremely intoxicated. Further investigation revealed Hartzburg became out of control, stabbed his step-father, Lee Miller, with a pair of scissors during an argument and allegedly threatened to kill his parents. 

Miller received a minor injury to his arm and was not hospitalized. Officers also found drug paraphernalia that allegedly belonged to Hartzburg. Since Hartzburg was extremely intoxicated he had to be checked by hospital staff at Good Samaritan Hospital before being incarcerated. 

Hartzburg is currently being held on bond in the Knox County Jail. 

Arrested and Charges: 
• Tyson Hartzburg, 22, 307 East 2nd Street, Bicknell, IN 
1. Aggravated Battery, Class B Felony 
2. Intimidation, Class A Misdemeanor 
3. Possession of Paraphernalia, Class A Misdemeanor 

Arresting Officer: Trooper Doug Francis, Indiana State Police 
Assisting Agency: Bicknell Police

SOURCE: Indiana State Police 

Pike County – Wednesday night, February 27, at approximately 9:25 p.m., Trooper John Davis responded to 5073 South CR 1000 East near Velpen after Pike County Dispatch received a 911 call reporting a battery between a boyfriend and his girlfriend. When Davis arrived at the residence, Ashley Cruze, 23, answered the door. Davis immediately observed multiple bruises on her face. Cruze’s boyfriend, Lucas Clements, 25, was also present and injuries were observed on his face. Further investigation determined Cruze and Clements were involved in an argument and they battered each other while his five-year-old son and her five-month-old daughter were present inside the residence. Clements and Cruze were arrested and taken to the Pike County Jail where they are currently being held without bond. The children were released to their grandparents. 

ARRESTED AND CHARGES: 
• Lucas Clements, 25, 5073 S. CR 1000 East, Velpen, IN 
• Ashley Cruze, 23, 5073 S. CR 1000 East, Velpen, IN 
1. Domestic Battery in Presence of a Child, Class D Felony 

Arresting Officer: Trooper John Davis, Indiana State Police 
Assisting Agency: Pike County Sheriff’s Department


SOURCE/PHOTOS: 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

Pike County – After 27 years of dedicated service to the Indiana State Police, Master Trooper Frank Coleman will be retiring to become the mayor of Petersburg. 

Former Mayor Jon Craig resigned from his post in January to join Governor Mike Pence’s team. Craig is now the Deputy Director of Community and Rural Affairs under Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann. 

After Craig’s resignation, a Republican Caucus held a special election on February 2nd to choose the next mayor from six candidates. During that meeting, Coleman was selected as the next Mayor of Petersburg. Coleman will be officially sworn in on February 22nd. 

Coleman joined the Indiana State Police after graduating from the academy in November 1985. He was assigned to the Evansville District where he primarily patrolled Pike County his entire career. Coleman has investigated countless crashes and conducted numerous criminal investigations resulting in hundreds of criminal arrests. He also was a counselor at the Indiana State Police Recruit Academy for two different classes in 2005 and 2006. Coleman has been an ordained minister since 1978 and has been a guest minister on numerous occasions at several area churches over the years. Coleman will continue to patrol for a few more days before he retires and officially becomes Mayor Frank Coleman. 

“Master Trooper Coleman’s service, loyalty and dedication to the Indiana State Police and to the community in which he served will be greatly missed,” said Lieutenant Dennis Marshall, Commander of the Evansville District. 

Coleman and his wife, Beth, have been married for 32 years. Their son, Frank Edward Coleman and his wife, Leigha, reside in Evansville with their one-year-old son, Frank Isaac.

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

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 

Indiana Conservation Officers are reporting that an anonymous tip has led to an investigation and multiple charges. Eddie Elliott (69) of Petersburg Indiana has been charged with the illegal taking of five white tailed deer, over bagging on antlered deer and failure to check in a deer within 48 hours.

After an initial interview, Cpl. Trent Stinson obtained a search warrant for the Elliott property, and evidence of the violations was seized from the garage of the residence. This included evidence of two antlered deer. Licensed hunters are only allowed one antlered deer throughout the deer season (excluding urban deer zone bag limits and military refuge hunts). 

Elliott later cooperated with the investigation and admitted to taking five deer without checking them in to a DNR check station. Reimbursement for taking or possession of illegal deer can be $500 dollars for the first violation and $1000 for any subsequent violation. 

To report fish and wildlife violations you can contact the TIP hotline at 1-800-TIP-IDNR, by texting IDNR to TIP411 or online at http://in.gov/dnrtip/webroot/. Tips can lead to arrests and cash rewards.


SOURCE: Indiana Department of Natural Resources/Indiana Conservation Office New Release - December 8, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Mitch Daniels was joined today by federal, state and local officials to officially open the first three sections of the new Interstate 69 corridor in southwest Indiana. The new corridor covers a 67-mile stretch that comprises what has been the longest contiguous new interstate construction project in the United States. The interstate will open to traffic by 6 p.m. ET today, in time for the Thanksgiving travel holiday.

“Many people said this interstate expansion wouldn’t happen in their lifetime, but it’s here. In addition to opening the road ahead of schedule and under budget, we’re opening greater economic opportunity, faster and safer travel and improved connectivity,” said Gov. Daniels.

According to public filings, the new I-69 corridor is opening several years ahead of schedule and nearly $80 million under budget in construction costs alone. When total project costs are factored, the corridor is opening more than $300 million under estimates.

In addition to project cost savings, the new corridor also delivers significantly reduced travel times. According to a new study from the Joint Transportation Research Program at Purdue University, the 67-mile alignment provides a 38-minute reduction in one-way travel time between Evansville and Naval Support Activity (NSA) Crane compared to alternate routes.   

“One of the key benefits of the new corridor is that it provides greater connectivity to important areas of the state that have been historically underserved,” said INDOT Commissioner Michael B. Cline. “I-69 will significantly reduce travel times and provide residents across southwest Indiana with improved access to jobs, education and healthcare.”

“The new I-69 allows for safer and more efficient travel to and from the Crane Base for many of the more than 5,000 employees, contractors, customers and stakeholders who access the base on a daily basis,” said Commander James M. Stewart, Commanding Officer, NSA Crane. “The interstate also improves material movement to and from the base and provides an opportunity to increase commerce across the region.”

In 2006, Gov. Daniels outlined a bold proposal – known as Major Moves – that involved leasing the Indiana Toll Road. Funds generated from that innovative plan allowed – as part of a funded statewide highway plan – construction to begin on the new I-69 corridor that will ultimately stretch from Evansville to Indianapolis through Bloomington. The initial 67-mile section connects communities from just northeast of Evansville at I-64 to the US 231 interchange near the Naval Support Activity at Crane.

“The opening of the new I-69 extension is a real game changer that benefits our state’s economy by making Indiana a more viable hub for commerce through enhanced transportation capabilities,” said Kevin Brinegar, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber. “Communities along the corridor will see long-desired benefits from increased business investment.”


SOURCE: INDOT
PHOTO: Mayor Lloyd Winnecke