A burglary suspect driving a stolen vehicle in Jennings County was apprehended by police dog after a vehicle chase.

At about 6 a.m. Tuesday, Jennings County deputies responded to a vehicle crash on Highway 50 in Nebraska. While responding, deputies learned that the driver of the vehicle had fled on foot. Deputy Garrett Hoppock and Sgt. Anthony Maberry arrived at the scene and searched the area for the driver. During the search, a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed crossed the centerline causing Deputy Hoppock to jump into a ditch line to avoid being struck.

Sgt. Allen Ritchie and canine partner Vampir, who were in the area, was able locate the vehicle and attempted to stop it, but the driver refused to stop. After a short vehicle pursuit, the vehicle crashed and the driver fled on foot. Sgt. Ritchie deployed Vampir, and the subject was taken into custody.

During the course of the investigation, it was learned that the vehicle involved in the original crash was reported stolen out of Ripley County. The second vehicle was stolen near the scene in Jennings County. It was also learned that the driver, 44-year-old Weldon Wiley, of Westport, had entered a home without permission, seeking a ride.

Wiley is facing preliminary charges of:

Auto Theft – Level 6 Felony
Criminal Recklessness – A Misdemeanor
Resisting by Fleeing – Level 6 Felony
Residential Entry – Level 6 Felony
OWI w/ endangerment – A Misdemeanor
Leaving the scene of an accident – A Misdemeanor

Wiley is being held in the Jennings County Jail on a $1,055 bond.

A traffic stop for speeding in Scott County landed two Indianapolis residents in jail after Indiana State Police Troopers found them in possession of two pounds of suspected methamphetamine.

ISP says that at approximately 10 p.m. Monday, a Trooper in Sellersburg was patrolling on I-65 in Scott County when he observed a pickup traveling northbound at a high rate of speed. The Trooper initiated a traffic stop on the northbound Austin exit. The driver, 39-year-old Derek Ellis, was found to be wanted out of Marion County. Further investigation uncovered two pounds of suspected methamphetamine and a small amount of marijuana.

Ellis and his passenger, 31-year-old Tyesha Bell, were arrested on the following preliminary charges:

1. Dealing in Methamphetamine – Level 2 Felony
2. Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 3 Felony
3. Possession of Marijuana – A Misdemeanor

A Columbus man is facing numerous charges after a domestic violence incident early Monday morning.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that shortly after midnight, deputies responded to a home in Hartsville after receiving a call about a domestic disturbance. Deputies arrived on scene and made contact with the complainant who reported that 52-year-old Paul Richard Comstock had battered her inside her home.

Comstock is facing the following preliminary charges:

Domestic Battery
Invasion of Privacy
Intimidation
Criminal Confinement
Interfering with the Report of a Crime

Comstock remains in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $27,500 bond.

An Indianapolis man was arrested after leading police on a 20-mile pursuit in Scott and Jackson Counties.

Indiana State Police say that just before 7 p.m. Monday, the driver of a log truck pulled into a fast-food restaurant in Scottsburg for a meal. The driver left the vehicle running with the keys still in the ignition. A few minutes later, the owner realized the truck was missing from the parking lot and spotted the vehicle northbound on I-65.

Indiana State Troopers soon located the vehicle and attempted to stop the truck near the Austin exit. However, the driver failed to pull over and continued driving north. Troopers continued to follow the truck, which at one time appeared to be stopping at the Exit 41 ramp, but then continued north. The truck eventually stopped at the bottom of the Seymour ramp at Exit 50 when Seymour Police assisted Troopers.

The driver, 29-year-old Robert Lee Coffee, was arrested on preliminary charges of:

– Auto Theft – Level 6 Felony
– Theft Above $750 – Level 6 Felony
– Resisting Law Enforcement – Level 6 Felony
– Reckless Driving – Class C Misdemeanor.

Investigators believe Coffee was hitchhiking from Bowling Green, Kentucky when he stole the vehicle.

The log truck was returned to the owner without damage.

The North Vernon McDonalds will be holding a fundraiser for the Jennings County Vet to Vet program today.

Between 4 and 8 p.m., the store will be giving 10 percent of the proceeds of all items purchased to the local not-for-profit group helping veterans.

IUPUC recognized a Bartholomew Consolidated Schools Spanish language immersion program and an academic advisor with its 2020 Excellence in Diversity awards. That was at a MLK Day event held in the Columbus Learning Center.

Riah Coley was recognized for their work at creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for students. Reinhold HIll, IUPUC’s vice chancellor and dean explains:

Coley is an academic advisor and mentoring coordinator for students in transition at IUPUC.

The Legado Spanish Immersion Academy at Clifty Creek Elementary School was recognized for its continuing efforts to educate and encourage bi-lingual learning by teaching students in both Spanish and English. The program started in 2018 and now has 110 students.

The African American Fund of Bartholomew County , under the umbrella of Heritage Fund — the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, awarded its first Dr. Martin Luther King Community Scholarships at yesterday morning’s community breakfast in honor of the civil rights leader.

This years recipients were Daveed Jolley, Madison Fischer, Dominik Pinkney, Tessa Lomax and Makayla Reeves.

The $1,000 scholastic award granted by the African American Pastors Alliance will apply to the students’ second year of postsecondary education. According to organizers, in many cases, students receive scholarship dollars that enable them to attend college for their first year. This new scholastic award is designed to motivate and help successful students continue their education.

The African American Fund will issue the  awards to this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Community Scholars for their Fall 2021 semester.

Grubby the Groundhog will be prognosticating again from the Hope Town Square on Groundhog Day.

The resident of Utopia Wildlife Rehabilitators will be the star of the festivities starting at 8 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, Feb. 2nd near the bandstand on the square. There will also be music, costumes and the Hope Volunteer Fire Department will be providing breakfast and hot drinks at Hope United Methodist Church following the festivities.

The annual event is organized by Main Street of Hope.

A Hope man is accused off stabbing a man during a dispute Monday afternoon in downtown Columbus.

Columbus officers were called to a reported disturbance in the 900 block of 11th Street at about 3:50 p.m. Monday afternoon. A victim had been stabbed in the leg with a box cutter and told officers that he and 28-year-old Daniel T. Beeker II  had been in an argument when the stabbing happened.

Beeker then broke out a second floor window and jumped off the roof to escape. Police found Beeker near 11th and Sycamore streets. He had suffered injuries to his head and face. He was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment before being arrested on a preliminary charge of battery resulting in bodily injury.

A dog that was declared a dangerous animal will go home with his owner after a special meeting of the Columbus Animal Care Services Commission.

Jake, an 11-year-old Australian Shepherd/Husky mix, was declared dangerous after an incident last May when he escaped his owner’s property in the 3400 block of Duffer Drive and killed a neighbor’s dog. At that time, Columbus Animal Care Services ordered Jake’s owner, Jeff Rosenburg, to keep the dog secure in his home and to make sure Jake was muzzled when out outside of his home.

On Jan. 12th, Rosenburg was spotted walking Jake without a muzzle in the Presidential Parks neighborhood. A concerned neighbor snapped a photo and sent it to Columbus Animal Care Services. Officials with Animal Care Services took possession of Jake on Jan. 15. Rosenburg paid a $500 fine on the same day and appealed the decision in an effort to keep the dog from being euthanized.

Nicohl Birdwell Goodin of Animal Care Services recommended during Monday night’s meeting that Jake be returned to Rosenburg with the clear understanding that any further violations would result in Jake being destroyed or re-homed. That recommendation passed on a vote of 4-1.