A Hartsville man was arrested after he allegedly ran from Columbus Police on Saturday night.
Lt. Matt Harris, CPD spokesman, says that at about 7 p.m., Officer Andrew Plank noticed Robert W. Hiatt, 23, driving a vehicle in the 800
block of Maple Street. Officer Plank reported that he knew that Hiatt had a warrant for his arrest, so he tried to pull his vehicle over. That led to a short vehicle chase, said authorities. Hiatt then allegedly stopped his vehicle, then fled on foot in to a home in the 800 block of Hutchins Avenue. Hiatt was taken into custody inside the home a short time later, say authorities. Harris adds that officers allegedly found methamphetamine inside the vehicle Hiatt had been driving.
Along with the outstanding warrant, Hiatt was arrested on preliminary charges of Driving While Suspended, Possession of Methamphetamine and Resisting Law Enforcement.
An inmate at the Johnson County Jail has died after a recent fall inside of the facility.
Sheriff Doug Cox says that the inmate, 44-year-old Johnny Conway, was on the phone with his girlfriend on Friday, July 29th when he told her
that he needed to hang up, as he was about to pass out. Moments later, he said that Conway lost consciousness and fell to the floor. The Sheriff’s Department says that Conway was taken to to Johnson Memorial Hospital, who transferred him to Methodist Hospital.
Sheriff Cox says that Conway, who was an inmate at the jail for about one week, passed away Thursday night. The Marion County Coroner’s Office says that the cause of death was blunt-force trauma to the head.
Authorities say that audio and video of the incident is available and that they have offered to share it with Conway’s family.
The committee that worked to secure the funds to purchase a sculpture is preparing for its last official act. After accomplishing its goal of raising the $40,000 needed to purchase Flamenco, the committee says that it is now time to present it to the City of Columbus.
Flamenco, was part of the 2014 Columbus Indiana Sculpture Biennial and currently resides on the corner of Fourth and Washington streets in downtown Columbus. Geri Handley, the chairperson of the group “Keep Flamenco in Columbus,” explains that the sculpture was created by Chicago artist Ruth Aizuss Migdal, describes her current body of public sculptures as “brazen and bold with frivolity.”
A committee was formed last fall to strategize and raise the funds needed to keep the sculpture in the city. Handley says that this past May, “Fire & Grace,” a Spanish-style festival, was held in The Commons with Migdal in attendance. During that event, the remainder of the needed funds was secured, said Handley. “It has been truly rewarding to be part of the effort to raise the monies to purchase Flamenco,” said Handley.
Columbus officials are appreciative of the group’s efforts. “Columbus appreciates art and design! By coming together to raise funds to keep Flamenco, our citizens have added the explanation point to that statement. Thanks to all who participated in the Flamenco fund drive and made this possible,” said Mayor Jim Lienhoop.
A formal presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, August 17 at 5:30 p.m. on the corner of Fourth and Washington Streets in downtown. At that time, Handley says that the sculpture will be presented to the city of Columbus. Mayor Lienhoop will accept the gift. You are encouraged to attend.
Two men are in custody on felony drug dealing charges after they were arrested Thursday night by detectives from the Joint Narcotics
Enforcement Team, with help from officers with the Columbus Police Department. Authorities are thanking area residents for lodging several anonymous complaints, which led to the investigation. They add that the investigation lasted several months.
As a result of the investigation, officers arrested Brian “Big Country” Jones, 40, of Columbus, during a traffic stop on Third Street. Jones was taken into custody without incident after officers allegedly found him in possession of heroin.
While preparing to serve a search warrant on a home in the 700 block of Union Street, officers say that they found Steve “Neno” Whitley, 51, of Indianapolis, seated on the porch. Whitley was taken into custody after he allegedly threw a sock containing heroin and cocaine on to the ground as officers approached him. Police add that they also confiscated nearly $2,200 in cash from Whitley.
During a search of the Union Street home, officers reported finding items used to package narcotics, along with other drug paraphernalia,
including syringes, spoons and scales.
Authorities say that Jones and Whitley were booked in the Barthlomew County Jail on a 48-hour hold on the following preliminary charges:
Brian A. Jones: Two Counts of Dealing Heroin and Possession of Heroin
Steve W. Whitley: Two Counts of Dealing Herion, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Cocaine.
The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office. The team is also thanking the Columbus Police COPS Unit, CPD K-9 Unit as well as the CPD Uniform Division for their help in this investigation.
A Thursday afternoon crash on I-65 tied up traffic in Bartholomew County.
The Bartholomew County Shriff’s Department says that, at approximately 12:37 p.m., a vehicle traveling northbound on I-65 went off the east side of the road, near the 76 mile marker, striking the guard
rail. Authorities say that the vehicle then traveled to the west side of I-65 striking a concrete bridge barrier. The vehicle, driven by Timothy Burley, 56, of Fort Walton Beach, FL, came to a stop against the cable barrier in the median.
When first responders reached Burley, he was disoriented and confused, says the Sheriff’s Department. They add that Burley did not realize that he had been in an accident. As a precaution, say authorities, Burley was flown to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
The Sheriff’s Department says that there was no indication that impaired driving contributed to the crash, which remains under investigation.
Friday’s “Artz Daze” event in downtown Columbus is beind relocated. Geri Handley, with the Columbus Area Arts Council, says the event, is being moved from outside of the Commons, to inside, due to the high temperatures.
Handley describes Artz Daze as a “hands-on arts creation program designed for individuals of all ages.” The event, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., includes local artist Marilyn Brackney leading art activities to help celebrate Indiana’s bicentennial celebration. The Arts Council says that participants can design their own barn quilt during the event.
Handley says that Friday’s event is the final Artz Daze of the season.
For more information, visit www.artsincolumbus.org.
Officers responding to a call to help a North Vernon man ultimately ended with the man’s arrest.
The North Vernon Police Department says that just before 11 p.m. Tuesday, officers were sent to Sandybrook Drive on a call about a man suffering chest pains. Authorities say that medics with Rescue 20 were trying to help the man when he allegedly became combative.
Officers ended up arresting the man, 35-year-old John Patterson, on preliminary charges of Public Intoxication and Resisting Law Enforcement.
Local pro wrestling promotion Emerge Wrestling will be holding a free event Saturday to raise awareness and funds for the Columbus Police Department DARE program.
The show will be at 5 p.m. on Fourth Street between Jackson and Washington streets. Gates open at 4 p.m.
Casey Johnson, with the wrestling promotion, says you can’t listen to the news without hearing about a drug overdose or arrest.
You can get more information at www.emergewrestling.com/
Bartholomew County Council will be taking a serious look at a new income tax to raise money for public safety.
Council members have been told that the tax would raise about $5 million for public safety efforts in the community, with revenues spread between the county, city of Columbus, the various small towns and the townships in the community.
At a work session earlier this week the council members said they were interested in establishing interlocal agreements that would have the towns and city of Columbus return the money they would receive to pay for operations at the Emergency Operations Center.
County income taxes would increase from the current 1.25 percent to 1.5 percent.
The Council will hold a special meeting on August 11th at 1:30 p.m. to hear presentations on the issue from Ed Reuter, the director of the Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center, and officials from Plainfield and Clark County who have made similar arrangements in their communities.
There’s no indication on whether a majority of the council would support the income tax hike.