Three people were arrested Tuesday night on drug charges after the vehicle they were in was stopped for having a false license plate. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that at approximately 7:50 p.m., officers observed the violation and stopped the vehicle near Seventh Street and Pleasant Grove. He adds that a police canine later alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle.

Officers confirmed a warrant for 35-year-old Zachariah B. Gruber, of Greenwood, who was passenger in the vehicle. When he taken into custody officers allegedly found him to be in possession a syringe, heroin and drug paraphernalia. In addition to the warrant, Gruber was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Legend Drug Injection Device and Possession of Heroin.

Harris says that an arrest warrant was also confirmed for another passenger, 27-year-old Michael R. Hankins, of Columbus. While searching Hankins, the officers reported finding a digital scale with methamphetamine residue. In addition to the warrant, he is facing a preliminary charge of Possession of Methamphetamine.

Officers allegedly located marijuana in a purse that belonged to a third passenger, 25-year-old Breanna D. Meier, of Columbus. After she was arrested and transported to the Bartholomew County Jail, corrections staff there reported finding heroin and pills that Meier had attempted to conceal in her clothing. Meier is facing preliminary charges of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Heroin, Possession of a Legend Drug and Trafficking with an Inmate.

Eastern Bartholomew Water Corporation has issued a boil water advisory for anyone on County Road 700 South and County Road 600 East in Elizabethtown. Customers should boil all cooking and drinking water for one minute before consuming. Officials say this boil advisory is in effect through noon on Friday.

A local man with multiple warrants was apprehended by a Columbus Police Department canine after he fled from officers on a bicycle Tuesday afternoon. Lt. Matt Harris, department spokesman, says that approximately 5:25 p.m., officers saw 21-year-old Sage Banks, of Columbus, in the 2800 block of 22nd Street. The officers confirmed that Banks was wanted on three local warrants. Banks allegedly fled on a bicycle with police in pursuit. Harris says that officers pursued Banks through a nearby apartment complex and later into the parking lot at Columbus Regional Health. During the chase, a police canine was deployed and was able to bring Banks down.

Banks was taken to Columbus Regional Health for medical clearance before being booked in the Bartholomew County Jail. In addition to the outstanding warrants, Banks is facing preliminary charges of Resisting Law Enforcement and Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device.

Bartholomew County authorities say that a woman is under arrest, accused of trying to bring a syringe and drugs into the courthouse.

Deputies were called to the courthouse at 3:24 p.m. Monday afternoon after a correctional officer allegedly found a syringe in a makeup bag being carried by 54-year-old Sharon Cook of Columbus.

According to Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s department, Cook told the deputy that the syringe belonged to someone else and that while she did have a pipe with her, she didn’t have any other drugs or drug-related items. However, a search at the jail uncovered a small baggie with a white crystal substance inside.

Cook was arrested on preliminary charges including trafficking with an inmate, and possession of methamphetamine, a legend drug injection device, and drug paraphernalia.

Two men said they had been given permission to take a truck from a property in southern Bartholomew County yesterday. But the property owner told deputies that no one had permission to be on the property or to take the vehicle.

The two are now under arrest on auto theft charges.

A witness called Bartholomew County deputies after seeing an SUV remove a pickup from a property near South Jonesville and Deaver roads at about 10:40 a.m. Tuesday morning.

A state trooper saw the vehicles and pulled them over at Jonesville Road and Spear Street.

35-year-old Jeremiah Anderson and 47-year-old Trevor Dilk, both of North Vernon, told their story to deputies and then were arrested, according to police reports.

A Columbus North High School graduate was part of this year’s Pulitzer prize winning team from The Arizona Republic.

BCSC announced that Erika Espinoza, who is now a graduate student at Ball State and an alumni of the Ball State Department of Journalism worked on graphics and site design last year for the project called “The Wall.”

According to the Ball State journalism program, the team won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting.

Espinoza is a 2017 BSU graduate in journalism graphics and is a graduate student in the school’s emerging media design and development program. 

The Wall website

An Indianapolis man is being accused of battering a woman Tuesday afternoon near 22nd and California streets in Columbus.

According to Columbus police 26 year old Randy H. Wilson is facing charges of battery, intimidation, disorderly conduct, public intoxication and resisting law enforcement after the incident.

Officers were called on a report of a shirtless man beating up a woman and they found Wilson sitting in a vehicle at about 5:50 p.m. Tuesday evening. As he was being taken into custody, he allegedly began arguing with officers and attempted to kick a window out of a patrol car. Police say that the alleged victim was uncooperative and refused medical treatment.

We asked the candidates in Bartholomew County Council Districts 1 and 2 in the Republican primary about areas where local government could be streamlined and what they thought of the various studies and Six Sigma projects to improve county government efficiency.

County Council District 2 covers northwestern Bartholomew County. In the Republican primary, incumbent Laura DeDomenic is being challenged by Glenn Petri.

Petri warns about the dangers of relying on consultants and studies:

DeDomenic says that you don’t always get the answer that cuts are needed:

County Council District 1 covers northeastern Bartholomew County and Republicans Marcus Speer and Scott Bonnell are running against each other in the primary.

Speer said that some county departments are models for efficiency:

Bonnell said that he would take a deeper look at the various studies and possible efficiencies, if elected:

The primary election is May 8th. Voting is underway at the Bartholomew County courthouse from 8 to 5 this week.

Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps said that early voting is running much higher than it did in the past several primary elections.

As of Tuesday, 275 voters had cast early ballots. That compares to 90 at this point in 2014, 36 in 2010 and 43 in 2006.

Columbus City Council has given its initial approval to spending money from last year’s local option income tax increase that was approved by the Bartholomew County Council. Mary Ferdon, the city’s director of administration, explains that the increase was passed after the budgeting process for 2018, necessitating the need for additional appropriations. She says that Columbus is expecting just over $6.35 million in additional revenue for 2018 from the county’s tax increase. As for how that extra money will be spent.

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Ferdon talked about how some of these public safety dollars will be spent.

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As for infrastructure…

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Ferdon talked about the need to address the long-term financial health of the city, noting that Columbus dodged a bullet a couple of weeks ago with the flooding that affected much of the state.

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Council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance on first reading. Second reading is set for May 1st.

We asked the candidates in Bartholomew County Council District 1 and 2 in the upcoming Republican primary about county commissioners plans to spend up to $3 million dollars a year in maintenance on county buildings and roads.

The Bartholomew County Council has four members elected by geographic district who are up for election this year.

County Council District 1 covers northeastern Bartholomew County. Republicans Scott Bonnell and Marcus Speer are running to replace Councilman Chris Ogle, who opted not to seek re-election.

Bonnell said he believes that the maintenance spending is needed.

Speer said he appreciates the long-term planning

County Council District 2 covers northwestern Bartholomew County. In the Republican primary, incumbent Laura DeDemonic is being challenged by Glenn Petri.

DeDomenic explains that spending on maintenance has been lacking:

Petri said buildings are falling apart because of a lack of spending on maintenance:

The primary election is May 8th and early voting is under way at the Bartholomew County Courthouse from 8 to 5 this week.