Columbus Police investigated an alleged threat posted on social media towards this year’s Ethnic Expo, which is currently underway through Saturday night.

Officer Justin Black, CPD spokesman, says that detectives were able to locate a 17-year-old juvenile whom they determined to be the source of the threats. During the investigation, police say that they learned that the teen had overheard remarks from individuals about being safe at public events and in turn posted those misconstrued statements on to Facebook. Black says that as a result of the investigation, it has been determined that the threats were not credible. He adds that there is no threat for the public’s safety.

Black says that CPD began its investigation as soon as it learned of the alleged threat. He adds that local police quickly began working with organizers of the Ethic Expo and vendors the investigation. The Columbus Police Department stresses that it will “continue to be maintaining a presence for the duration of the event to ensure a safe environment for all attendees.”

Another suspected drug overdose ended with a Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy likely saving the user’s life.

Judy Jackson, Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, says that at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Deputy Andrew Dougan responded to the 16000 block of County Road 350 East, where he found a 44-year-old female unresponsive and barely breathing. Jackson says that deputies administered 12 mg of Narcan, from four separate doses, before the woman responded.

Columbus Regional Hospital EMS arrived and transported the victim to CRH. Deputy Dougan followed. Jackson says that Deputy Andrew Densford remained at the scene, where the overdose victim’s mother gave him a small piece of aluminum foil with a light colored power inside that she reported finding in her daughter’s wallet.

Authorities say the woman was alert and conscious when Deputy Dougan left the hospital.

A one-vehicle crash resulted in one Columbus resident being arrested and another flown to an Indianapolis hospital.

Judy Jackson, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, says that at 6:43 p.m. on Wednesday, Deputy Terrance Holderness was dispatched to the scene of the crash on County Road 340 East, just south of County Road 650 South. When he arrived, he reported finding the vehicle inverted and engulfed in flames with the driver, 35-year-old Juan Mendez, lying nearby.

Jackson says that other first-responders found Lazaro Hernandez-Moheno, of Mapleton Street, walking in a nearby cornfield. Authorities say that Hernandez-Moheno was a passenger in Mendez’s vehicle. He reportedly told deputies that the pair were traveling north on County Road 340 East when the vehicle left the roadway and rolled several times. Both Mendez and Hernandez-Moheno were able to escape the vehicle before it caught fire.

Jackson says that while neither man suffered from burns or smoke inhalation, Mendez was flown from the scene to Methodist Hospital due to injuries suffered in the accident. She adds that Hernandez-Moheno was not injured but was found to have an outstanding Bartholomew County warrant. He was arrested and held on $5,000 bond.

A Columbus man was arrested Thursday after allegedly stealing from a home supply store and leading officers on a car chase.

Officer Justin Black, Columbus Police Department spokesman, says that officers were called to Lowe’s at approximately 2:45 p.m. after receiving the report. Officers also say that the man had pepper-sprayed an employee as he was leaving the store.

Black says that after a short time, officers were able to find the suspect’s vehicle and tried to stop it. The driver, 37-year-old Douglas Houchens, allegedly refused to stop and led officers on a short pursuit through the central part of the city. After eluding officers for a brief period, Black says that Houchens was found in the area of 16th Street and Maple Street where he was subsequently arrested. Houchens is facing preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Syringe, Resisting Law Enforcement, Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury, Theft and Reckless Driving.

Police say the store employee allegedly pepper-sprayed by Houchens was not hurt.

Police continue to investigate a Wednesday afternoon murder-suicide involving a Seymour couple.

“The Seymour Tribune” is reporting that the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department is looking into the deaths of 42-year-old Jason K. Jackson, and 42-year-old Brandi Jo Jackson, at their home in the 5900 block of Spring Meadow Lane.

Sheriff Michael Carothers told the newspaper that the couple’s son found them dead from gunshot wounds after he returned home from work Wednesday.

Autopsies are scheduled for 8 a.m. Friday.

For more on this story, visit www.tribtown.com.

The investigation that began in late August alleging the filing of fraudulent voter application information has expanded from the nine counties to 57. That includes a number of local counties.

Capt. Dave Bersten with the Indiana State Police says that while it is the normal practice of ISP to refrain from providing detailed updates of an active investigation, this exception is being made due to the deadline for Indiana voters to register or update their voter registration information by this Tuesday.

Authorities are encouraging you to check the accuracy of your voter information, especially if you live in one of the affected counties. You can do so by visiting https://indianavoters.in.gov. Updates to voter registration information can also be made from the same site, up to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday. In addition, ISP says that the Secretary of State’s Office is available to help voters on regular business days, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., by calling (866) 461-8683.

Indiana State Police say that the following counties are affected:

1. Adams
2. Allen
3. Bartholomew
4. Benton
5. Blackford
6. Boone
7. Brown
8. Carroll
9. Cass
10. Clark
11. Clay
12. Clinton
13. Daviess
14. Dearborn
15. Decatur
16. DeKalb
17. Delaware
18. Dubois
19. Elkhart
20. Fayette
21. Floyd
22. Franklin
23. Fulton
24. Gibson
25. Grant
26. Greene
27. Hamilton
28. Hancock
29. Harrison
30. Hendricks
31. Henry
32. Howard
33. Huntington
34. Jackson
35. Jasper
36. Jay
37. Jefferson
38. Jennings
39. Johnson
40. Knox
41. Kosciusko
42. LaGrange
43. Lake
44. LaPorte
45. Lawrence
46. Madison
47. Marion
48. Marshall
49. Martin
50. Miami
51. Monroe
52. Montgomery
53. Morgan
54. Newton
55. Noble
56. Owen

Indiana State Police haven’t revealed the overall scope of their investigation, nor whom this scam was meant to benefit. Authorities say that this investigation is an important one to insure that the right for all citizens to be able to cast a valid ballot is not infringed.

A Seymour man was arrested on meth charges. “The Seymour Tribune” is reporting that 36-year-old Donald Gerth was apprehended Wednesday as part of an effort by Seymour Police to target drug dealers. The story says that police believe Gerth traveled to Louisville multiple times a week to buy methamphetamine to sell locally.

When we was arrested, police say they found about a quarter ounce of meth, controlled substances, and numerous devices used for smoking meth.

Police told the newspaper that the arrest was the result of a six-month investigation.

For more on this story, visit www.tribtown.com.

Work to improve Bartholomew County Road 450 South is set to begin Monday.

The Columbus City Engineer’s Office says that Dave O’Mara Contractor will begin work on a project to improve the road between County Road Road 50 West and I-65. Drivers in that area are advised to slow down in the construction area and follow the construction signage.

The improvements consist of passing blisters at the new Faurecia plant and and technical center, as well as pavement widening and traffic signal improvements at the intersection of Old Lane and 450 South, say city officials.

The project is expected to be finished by the end of October.

The Columbus Fire Department has announced the winner of its Fire Prevention Week Poster Contest.

8-year-old Natasha Armstrong was the winner of the contest, chosen by representatives of the fire department and White River Broadcasting. Natasha won four tickets to Holiday World and Splashing Safari, courtesy of White River Broadcasting Company.

The theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week October 9th through the 15 and this year’s theme is “Don’t Wait- Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.” The poster contest was open to area children age 12 and under.

A gun believed to have been stolen in the robbery and murder of North Vernon gun dealer has turned up in a Bloomington arrest.

Indiana University Police say they recovered 34 grams of marijuana and the handgun during a search of a vehicle in a parking lot near Forest Quad on Tuesday night. Officers on foot patrol reportedly noticed the odor of marijuana coming from inside a parked vehicle at 11 p.m. After a search, IU police say the loaded handgun was found in the center console of the vehicle. They believe that the suspect was dealing marijuana.

IU police say that the handgun, a 9mm Smith & Wesson, had been reported stolen in 2014, and is believed to be one of several firearms stolen during the robbery of a gun store in which the owner of the store was shot and killed. Those responsible for the robbery and murder were identified and arrested. Police say that there is no evidence that the suspect in this case was involved with the robbery of the gun store. Police say that the suspect, IU student Jason Nguyen, told them that he bought the gun in Indianapolis.

Nguyen was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of a Stolen Firearm (level 6 felony), Carrying a Handgun without a License (A misdemeanor), Dealing in Marijuana (A misdemeanor), Possession of Marijuana (B misdemeanor) and Illegal Possession of an Alcoholic Beverage (C misdemeanor).