An Edinburgh man is facing charges after an alleged domestic violence incident Sunday in Franklin. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Department says that at about 2:30 a.m., deputies were called to the 5800 block of South County Road 700 East. When they arrived, they learned that the suspect, 22-year-old Kody Weber, had fled the scene. Authorities say that a K9 unit found Weber moments later in a doghouse behind the home.

Investigators say that Weber had returned to the home that he shares with his girlfriend when the pair got into an argument. The girlfriend reportedly told deputies that Weber got violent and began breaking things and hitting her. She then texted her sister. The sister told authorities that when she arrived, Weber met her vehicle, forced his way inside and punched her in the head.

Deputies say that Weber strongly smelled of alcohol. He later tested .186 percent BAC on a portable breath test, according to the report.

Weber is facing preliminary charges of Criminal Recklessness, Aggravated Battery with Injury and Battery.

Two people were arrested on drug charges after a traffic stop Saturday evening.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department reports that a deputy noticed a suspicious looking car pull out of a parking lot as he entered at just before 7 p.m.  A records search revealed that the registered owner was wanted on a warrant from out of the county.

After pulling the car over in the 10000 block or North U.S. 31, the deputy noticed the smell of marijuana inside, according to police reports.

The sheriff’s department police dog Bolt alerted to the smell of drugs inside the vehicle and a search revealed methamphetamine, opioids, marijuana, unprescribed prescription medicines, syringes, and drug paraphernalia.

A passenger, 34-year-old Rebecca L. Fast of Plainfield is facing charges of possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

The car’s owner 33 year old Richard Benedict of Danville is facing a preliminary charge of possession of a legend drug.

Columbus police say that a shoplifiting call turned into a drug arrest Sunday at a local store.

Police say there were called to the Walmart store on Whitfield Drive at about 4:30 Sunday after a man was accused of stealing headphones. Police found 26-year-old Layne M. Schwartz hiding in the parking lot. A search allegedly revealed the headphones asw well as heroin and methamphetamine in his pockets and wallet.

Schwartz is facing preliminary charges of theft, along with possession of heroin and methamphetamine.

The Columbus SWAT team was called out last night to the 100 block of North Ross Street on a report of a man pointing a gun at a neighbor.

Police report that they arrested 62 year old Lawrence T. Pushor after a two-hour standoff, which started at about 6:30 p.m.

A neighbor said he was doing construction work at home, when Pushor confronted the man and his fiance with a gun. Pushor than went back into his home.

When police arrived, they could not get Pushor to leave his residence, and called in the SWAT team and crisis negotiators. Pushor eventually surrendered without incident.

He is facing charges of intimidation with a deadly weapon, and possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia and marijuana.

A North Vernon man is facing charges over his relationship with a 14 year old girl.

20-year-old Raymond Clarke is facing prelminary charges of sexual contact with a minor and contributihng to the delinquency of a minor. That’s after an investigation last week.

North Vernon police say that they were called by the 14-year-old girls parents Thursday who were concerned about the relationship. Police served a search warrant at the suspect’s house in the 200 block of High Street Friday. They found items related to the investigation as well as a 14-year-old who had been reported as a runaway earlier in the day.

A Columbus man was killed in what appears to be an accident while hunting near Holton on Saturday.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is reporting that rescue workers found 29-year-old Anthony Thompson found unresponsive  at the scene Saturday at about 8:35 a.m. in the morning. He had a gunshot wound but no foul play is suspected.

The Ripley County Coroner’s Office officially declared Thompson dead at about 11:35 a.m.

Conservation officers say that Thompson was hunting from a ground blind in Ripley County Saturday with his brother and a juvenile when he was accidentally shot.

An autopsy was scheduled for yesterday and the results are not yet available.

A large group of animal lovers are expected to turn out tonight to protest against a proposed puppy farm in rural Bartholomew County.

The Bartholomew County Board of Zoning Appeals has moved its meeting to the Columbus Municipal Airport building in anticipation of the large turnout to hear a request to allow the operation on a farm property on County Road 950N and Road 500E in Flatrock Township.

According to a staff report from the city-county planning department, the  applicants would like to build a 42 foot by 80 foot kennel. The plan to breed small dogs  and will not be open to the public. The kennel will have about 80 cages, several outdoor dog runs and exercise areas.

The city county planning department is recommending that the board pass the application from Aaron and Lena Oberholtzer to allow the construction of the family-owned kennel and the use of the farm property to raise dogs.

Although the property is zoned for agricultural use, under county zoning codes a dog kennel is a conditional use which requires approval by the board of zoning appeals. Under the codes, the purpose of a Agricultural (Preferred) zoning is “To provide an area suitable for agriculture and agriculture-related uses. It is further intended to preserve agricultural operations while limiting non-agricultural development in areas with minimal and incompatible infrastructure.”

Assistant planning director Melissa Begley says Board of Zoning Appeals decisions are binding under state law and are not subject to appeal to the county commissioners. The only appeal process is through the court system.

Planning department staff says that a large number of people have been asking about the approval process for the kennel. A campaign is being organized through social media, opposing the application.

The county BZA meets tonight at 7 p.m. at the Columbus Municipal Airport lower level meeting room on Ray Boll Boulevard.

Link to download planning department report

Columbus City Council is scheduled to give final approval next month to a plan creating a landlord registry for rental properties in the city.

Mayor Jim Lienhoop explains the measure is being taken in the name of public safety and being able to ensure that issues are resolved in a timely manner.

The mayor says that in some instances, time is critical.

Lienhoop adds that having contact information can prove invaluable. He adds that the information will be kept away from prying eyes.

The first reading of the ordinance was passed last week over the objections of several area landlords. They expressed concerns about landlord privacy and safety, as well as additional costs that will be passed along to tenants.

City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. The next scheduled meeting is 6 p.m. on February 6th at Columbus City Hall.

A single engine plane made an emergency landing this morning in Johnson County. Sheriff Doug Cox says that at 10:06 a.m., staff at Columbus Municipal Airport notified Johnson County authorities that a plane was having problems and may be down somewhere near County Roads 400 South and 700 East in the Amity area.

Sheriff Cox says that deputies arrived to find the plane just north of County Road 400 South on 800 East after it landed in a snow covered farm field. The pilot reportedly told authorities that he was having a mechanical problem causing him to put the plane down successfully with no damage.

Sheriff Cox says that police and fire were on scene and after conferring with the pilot and others, he was allowed to put the plane back into the air.

Bartholomew County Jail officers have been finding a hidden payload in some mail heading to inmates — thin strips of suboxone attached to cards and letters.

Although meant as a treatment for drug addiction, the drug can be abused to get high.

Sheriff Matt Myers explains..

Myers said the jail has been changing its procedure for checking mail, to make sure the drug does not slip through. In recent cases though, the mail has been sent to the same inmate repeatedly.

The sheriff described the battle to keep drugs out of the jail a constant battle.

Some people will even go as far as hiding drugs inside themselves on their way into the jail, he said. That is requiring the jail to consider sophisticated new scanners.

The sheriff said that while the jail staff does inspect each piece of mail, they also receive tips, and have other ways of knowing when to watch for incoming contraband. He said that if they can identify who is sending the suboxone in the mail, they intend to prosecute.