A Bartholomew County man is facing federal charges after an arrest last month on Fremont Drive.

The Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team along with the U.S. DEA served a search warrant on the home in the 2200 block of Fremont Drive at about 7:20 a.m. the morning of July 27th.

Officers discovered about a pound of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, more than $22,000 in cash and several firearms, according to reports from the sheriff’s department.

39-year-old Jose L. Colis-Cerda was arrested on preliminary charges of dealing methamphetamine, possession of cocaine and marijuana along with maintaining a common nuisance.

On Aug. 1st, a federal arrest warrant was issued and he was charged with four counts of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Colis-Cerda was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals.

“Maintaining the safety of our communities in the Southern District of Indiana remains a top priority of this office,” said United States Attorney Josh Minkler. “When individuals choose to deal dangerous narcotics in our neighborhoods, they can expect the hammer of federal prosecution.”

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.

Sheriff Matt Myers said his department “remains committed to working closely with all law enforcement agencies in our effort to elevate public safety in all areas of Bartholomew County.”

Columbus Police Chief Rohde said that JNET and local agencies are aggressively working against drug dealers locally.

“This arrest demonstrates the importance of cooperation between our local and federal law enforcement agencies,” Rohde said.

Bartholomew County firefighters are calling bystanders heroes for their rescue of a victim from a flaming car wreck last night.

The incident happened at about 10:15 p.m.  in the 8000 block of North County Road 250W, when a car crashed near a home, landing on its side and knocking down power lines. Residents noticed that the driver was still inside the vehicle, calling for help, and that a small fire had started underneath the vehicle. Russ and Loren Jones, ran outside and pulled the driver to safety through the back window, moments before the car completely burst into flames, says Chief Matt Lynch of the German Township Volunteer Fire Department. They then pulled the victim further away from the flaming wreckage and downed power lines.

Lynch said that the father and son likely saved the driver’s life. The car went from a small fire to fully engulfed in about three minutes, Lynch says. The victim was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment of injuries and Bartholomew County REMC restored power.

The Columbus Police Department continued its re-accreditation process this week when assessors from CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies) arrived in Columbus for an on-site visit. Over the course of three days, the assessors toured the police department and met with officers from the patrol and investigations divisions. A call in session and public hearing was also held so that members of the community could have the opportunity to speak to the assessors.

Columbus Police Chief Jonathan Rohde stated “As an accredited law enforcement agency, our officers continue to adhere to internationally recognized best practices. This voluntary third party oversight that CALEA provides also assures the public that our department continues to operate in a professional and transparent manner.”

CPD says that the assessors will submit their completed reports to the Commission and representatives from the Columbus Police Department will speak before a panel consisting of 20-30 law enforcement agencies later this year. The department will undergo the re-accreditation process every four years, which department officials say includes continuous monitoring and a yearly assessment to ensure the department’s compliance. The Columbus Police Department has been an accredited law enforcement agency since 2014.

A Shelby County man was killed in a Friday morning crash in Bartholomew County. Jay Frederick, chief deputy coroner, says that the crash took place around 6:30 a.m. on County Road 800 North, near County Road 100 East. The sole occupant of the wrecked Jeep Wrangler was identified as 26-year-old Christopher Ryan Johnson,.

Coroner Clayton Nolting determined cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head and chest. His office says that toxicology tests are pending and results will be known in approximately two weeks.

The crash is being investigated by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office.

Seymour officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning to formally mark the completion of the second phase of the West Second Street rehabilitation and reconstruction project. The $2.3 million project, funded by the Indiana Department of Transportation, included the renovation of more than 1,300 feet of road between Springhill Road and Vehslage Drive.

City officials say that the 10 a.m. ceremony was held at the intersection of West Second Street and Springhill Road. Mayor Craig Luedeman was joined by members of the city council, city employees, staff from GAI Consultants, Inc., Milestone Contractors and INDOT. Mayor Luedeman thanked everyone involved, noting that the project came in ahead of schedule and under budget.

Columbus Young Professionals are inviting you to come out to the Library Plaza Saturday night and enjoy outdoor movies. CYP will be showing Hook as part of their Moonlight Movies program.

CYP is a program of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce. Chamber president Cindy Frey. She explains the movie series:

Frey explains that Moonlight Movies were funded by a grant from the Heritage Fund and Columbus Area Arts Council as part of the efforts to promote Exhibit Columbus.

Next month’s Moonlight Movie will be Jurrasic Park held in Mill Race Park on Sept. 9th

Saturday’s pre-show starts at 8 p.m. with the movie starting at dusk at the library on Fifth Street. You will be able to purchase candy and popcorn. And you should bring your own chair.

Indiana conservation officers are warning that it is illegal to harvest ginseng out of season. That’s after two men were arrested in Jennings and Jefferson counties this week and accused of the crime, along with other offenses.

Indiana State Police stopped a vehicle near Dupont Wednesday and allegedly found 3 pounds of green ginseng, methamphetamine and untaxed liquor.

State authorities including state police, excise officers and conservation officers searched the home of the driver, 67 year-old Daniel D. Craig of Dupont. He was taken to the Jennings County jail on charges including possession of ginseng out of season, theft of ginseng, transporting untaxed liquor, possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, trespassing and cultivating marijuana.

Based on information from that search, on Thursday, officials interviewed 32-year-old Jacob Smith of Dupont. A search of his home allegedly uncovered more ginseng, along with a coyote pup and a whiskey still. Police say that they also discovered stolen property, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, marijuana plants, and untaxed liquor.

He was taken to the Jefferson County Jail and is facing preliminary charges including possession of ginseng, possession of a wild animal without a permit, possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, cultivating marijuana, possession of stolen property, having unlicensed still equipment and possession of untaxed liquor.

Conservation officers say that ginseng can only be lawfully harvested in Indiana starting on September 1 of each year through December 31. Ginseng must be sold prior to the beginning of the following year.

Conservation officers encourage you  to contact 1-800-TIP-IDNR or their central dispatch at 812-873-9536 to report any ginseng violations.

A Jennings County man is facing charges after an alleged domestic violence incident on Wednesday. Lt. Mike Mowery, with the Jennings County Sheriff Department, says that deputies responded to a home on Posey Street in Vernon on a report of a fight. When they got there, the deputies reported hearing what sounded like a female screaming for help. Mowery says that the deputies entered the home and found a man and woman upstairs. The man allegedly had a cord wrapped around the woman’s neck, choking her. Deputies intervened and as they tried to detain the man, he allegedly began fighting with the deputies, resulting in one of them being bitten on the hand by the suspect. After the man was taken into custody, the alleged victim was treated at the scene by Rescue 20 for minor injuries.

Authorities took the suspect, 46-year-old Jeffrey Hoffman, of Vernon, to St. Vincent Jennings Hospital to be checked out before booking him in the Jennings County Jail. Hoffman is facing preliminary charges of:

Criminal Confinement – Level 3 Felony
Two charges of Domestic Battery – Level 5 Felony
Battery on Law Enforcement – Level 5 Felony
Strangulation – Level 6 Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement – Level 6 Felony

Authorities say that Hoffman is being held on $25,500 bond.

Vice President Mike Pence’s official governor’s portrait will be unveiled at the Indiana Statehouse in a public ceremony on Friday.

The vice-president, Gov. Eric Holcomb, their spouses and various other officials will be attending the 2 p.m. event at the Statehouse Atrium.

A Columbus man was arrested on drunk driving charges after a crash Wednesday evening in downtown Columbus.

A car collided with another vehicle at about 9:20 last night near Third and Jackson Streets. The driver, 53-year-old Ralph A. Avolio II of Columbus, had the strong odor of alcohol on his breath, but refused an initial breath test, says Lt. Matt Harris with the Columbus police department.

Police received a search warrant to test his blood instead and after that test he was arrested on a preliminary charge of driving while intoxicated.