Hope police are warning about a scam continuing in our area.
They report this morning that a resident was lured into a scam after being told that a family member was in jail and needed money to bond out. The victim was instructed to buy several thousand dollars worth of gift cards and then gave the gift card numbers to the scammers.
Police say that no legitimate business or agency will ever ask you to send money via gift card purchases. Hope police recommend that if you receive a call like this, you should immediately hang up and notify authorities. Police also say they can not stress enough the importance of knowing who you are dealing with on the phone and making sure it is a legitimate call.
Proposed changes to the makeup of Columbus’ Audit and Review Committee for Citizen and Police Relations have some residents concerned. Currently, the committee has designated seats for the local NAACP and the African-American Pastor’s Alliance. Proposed changes would have no designated seats set aside for any one group. Those serving would be appointed by the mayor. Aida Ramirez, with the city’s Human Rights Commission, explains why…
Mary Ferdon, the city’s director of administration, stresses that it is the goal of the mayor to accurately reflect the demographics of Columbus and ensure that all voices are heard when it comes to making these appointments.
The purpose of the board is to hear appeals made by residents who are unsatisfied with how a complaint to the Columbus Police Department is handled. Currently, complaints are investigated by CPD with the results shared with the party making the complaint. If the person who registered the complaint is not satisfied with any aspect of the initial investigation, they can appeal it to the board.
Ferdon adds that a public forum to further discuss these proposed changes is set for Feb. 19th at Donner Center.
Stephanie G. Cecil; photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Dept.
A Columbus woman already in jail for an outstanding warrant is facing additional drug charges after authorities say they found drugs and paraphernalia hidden in a body cavity. Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that on Monday, staff at the county jail discovered information that 29-year-old Stephanie G. Cecil, of 1507 Lafayette Street, was in possession of narcotics and a syringe.
Jackson says that Cecil was searched and evidence showed that a bag was hidden in a body cavity. Authorities say that Cecil refused to cooperate with jail staff and denied having contraband. The Sheriff’s Department’s Investigation’s Division assisted jail staff in obtaining a search warrant and Cecil was transported to Columbus Regional Health where authorities say that she agreed to cooperate. The bag, allegedly containing narcotics, a syringe and a lighter, were recovered.
In addition to original charge, Cecil is now facing additional charges of Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Syringe, both Level 6 felonies.
Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Dept.
Sheriff Matt Myers credited the work of jail staff. “It is critical to keep drugs and drug-related items out of our jail. Had staff not developed information about the hidden drugs, they would have possibly been shared with other inmates,” said Sheriff Myers.
Shane Wilson; photo courtesy of Columbus Police Dept.
A Ripley County man is in custody after he allegedly fled on foot during a traffic stop in Columbus on Wednesday afternoon. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that at approximately 2:10 p.m., Officers Frank Dickman and Reid Thayer attempted to stop a vehicle with a false and fictitious license plate near Eighth Street and Cottage Avenue. The driver, 21-year-old Shane D. Wilson, of Sunman, allegedly pulled away from an officer and began fleeing on foot. Harris says Wilson was apprehended by Officer Thayer, who was finishing his first day of training as a CPD officer, in the backyard of a home in the 700 block of Maple Street.
Wilson is facing a preliminary charges of Resisting Law Enforcement. Officers add that Wilson was also wanted on an outstanding Bartholomew County warrant.
Bartholomew County’s anti-opiate task force has set the date for its next report to the community.
This time, organizers hope to be unveiling the concrete steps the community is taking to fight the drug epidemic.
Jeff Jones, the executive lead of the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County, says the meeting will be held at the Commons on April 25th, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the evening.
The group, sponsored by the city of Columbus, Bartholomew County and Columbus Regional Health, publicly launched in April of last year..
The group gave its first communitywide update in October. That meeting focused on the research the group has done identifying the scope of the problem and the resources the community is lacking to deal with the epidemic.
Jones says the upcoming meeting will have a different focus.
ASAP is working on several efforts including starting a drug court, finding a way to treat inmates in the jail, as well as a centralized hub where those who are addicted can access all of the services they need to get into recovery.
Area students interested in exploring engineering and technology careers, and their parents, are invited to participate in an upcoming “Day in College” event at Purdue Polytechnic Columbus. School officials say the event will be held Friday, February 23rd from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the campus, located at 4444 Kelly Street in Columbus.
Organizers say that attendees will be treated to a true “day in college”, with the opportunity to attend classes, engage with faculty and staff, and learn more about student life. Parents will learn more about financial aid and tuition assistance. Participants will also learn about technology related internships and careers from local business and industry representatives.
For more information, or to reserve a spot, visit bit.ly/2sg6Qce.
Richard A McKee; photo courtesy of Columbus Police Dept.
A Franklin man was arrested after he led Columbus police officers on a pursuit Wednesday morning. Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman, says that shortly after 7 a.m., officers were initially dispatched to a parking lot in the 700 block of Whitfield Drive in regards to a man slumped over inside a car. Harris says that when officers arrived, they observed the man and drug paraphernalia inside the locked vehicle. Police say the suspect, 32-year-old Richard A. McKee, refused to open the vehicle’s door and sped off. The officers pursued McKee as he exited the parking lot on to 10th Street. He then turned south on US 31, then west on Base Road where he drove into a cornfield. Moments later McKee allegedly fled from the car on foot. He was apprehended a short time later.
Harris says that one officer was slightly injured while arresting McKee. He was later treated and released. McKee was taken to Columbus Regional Health for a blood draw before being booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of Resisting Law Enforcement in a Vehicle, Resisting Law Enforcement on Foot, Possession of a Syringe, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Criminal Recklessness and Invasion of Privacy. Police say that McKee was also wanted on warrants out of Bartholomew and Marion counties.
The Columbus Human Rights Commission is kicking off its annual art and essay contest for local students.
Each year the commission hosts the J. Irwin Miller Art Contest and the Benjamin M. King Essay Contest. The theme of this year’s contests is Fair Housing for All. That coincides with the 50th anniversary of the law signed by President Lyndon Johnson.
Students can enter in three categories: 5th and 6th graders, 7th and 8th graders and 9th through 12th graders.
Winners of the awards receive a $75 prize and are honored at the annual Human Rights Commission Dinner.
The deadline to enter is Thursday, March 8th, by 5 p.m.
The Hope Town Council will hear accusations against an unidentified town employee later this month.
Several people at previous meetings have asked that the council look into accusations of wrongdoing against the unnamed employee. The town’s attorney had suggested that any personnel discussion needed to be held in an executive session, which are closed to the general public.
At the close of a council work session last night, Councilman Ohmer Miller asked when the council would hold a special session to hear the complaint. Outgoing council president Clyde Compton last year passed the decision on how to proceed to his successor, new Council President Ed Johnson.
At last night’s meeting, Johnson and the council agreed to hold an executive session at 6 p.m. the evening of Monday, Feb. 26th to hear the complaint.
Relay for Life of Hope is planning a Valentine’s dinner fundraiser starting at 6 p.m. Saturday evening.at First Baptist Church in Hope with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society.
Tickets are $15 for a single person and $25 for a couple. The taste of chocolate table is $5. You can get tickets at Duck Creek Gardens, Bush’s Market or Willow Leaves of Hope.
