A 14-year-veteran of the Columbus Police Department was arrested today, accused of battering a handcuffed suspect in a patrol car.

Indiana State Police say that Officer John Velten is facing felony charges of battery and misconduct after the investigation by state police detectives.

The charges came after an incident in June where a suspect in the back of Velten’s patrol car began hitting his head against the inside of the vehicle. In response, Velten allegedly punched the suspect, causing moderate injuries.

The case has been turned over to a special prosecutor and Velten turned himself in today at the Bartholomew County Jail. State police say the Columbus Police Department has been fully cooperative and Velten remains employed by the city in a non-law enforcement role, since the start of the investigation.

Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is accepting applications for grants to help local kids participate in sports and fitness programs.

This is the second year for Analytical Engineering Inc.’s partnership with Heritage Fund in the Youth Sports Fund.

Local not-for-profit organizations with youth athletic programs for those 18 and under are eligible to apply for funds of up to $5,000. Groups can get assistance with things such as sports lessons, clinics, travel, equipment, program fees or dues. The requests will be considered based on the financial need of the organization and the barriers to participation faced by the athletes in the program.

Grant requests may be submitted by coaches, team leaders or athletic directors.

The deadline to apply is March 1st. You can get more information or apply online at heritagefundbc.org.

A stolen SUV was recovered after a woman drove it to a convenience store on Gladstone Avenue Friday evening.

Columbus police say that a resident in the 3000 block of Griffa Avenue reported at about 6:30 Friday evening that he left his vehicle running in the driveway for a few minutes before noticing that it was gone.

Later that evening, the vehicle was seen at the convenience store. A witness said that the driver, 29-year-old Kaliegh R. Stogdill of Columbus got out of the stolen vehicle and entered the store. Police found her a short time later and she was arrested.

She is facing a felony charge of auto theft.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center saw a record number of emergency radio transmissions in 2020, according to an annual report discussed by the Bartholomew County Commissioners Monday.

Todd Noblitt, director of the center, reported that there were 2.7 million emergency radio transmissions in the county last year.

Although the total number of phone transactions were almost 142,000, that indicates the lowest number since 2016. The peak over the past 20 years was set in 2006, which had just over 200,000 phone transactions with the center. The center did see an increase in calls for service to law enforcement, fire service and medical calls in 2020, Noblitt said.

During the first months of the pandemic, the center saw a dramatic decrease in the number of calls, Noblitt said. The number of calls in March, April and May were down 17 percent, but increased throughout the year to bring up the overall numbers, Noblitt said.

Noblitt said that the center is responsible for the communications of more than 400 first responders in the county in 20 public safety agencies.

Conservation officers say it appears that a Columbus hunter died in a shooting accident over the weekend.

DNR officers say family members found 54-year-old John Walker dead near the 9200 block of South State Road 58 at just before 9 a.m. Sunday morning. The search started after he failed to come home.

Conservation officers report that he was pronounced dead at the scene and the initial investigation indicates he was killed by an accidental discharge of his firearm. The investigation is ongoing and the exact cause of death won’t be known until an autopsy is completed.

Vice President Mike Pence plans to attend the inauguration of Joe Biden as the nation’s 46th President. Bloomberg News is reporting that the Columbus native will be there on January 20th.

President Trump said in his final tweet before his Twitter account was suspended that he would not attend. Biden responded by saying it’s a “good thing” that Trump isn’t coming.

The last President who chose not to attend the swearing in of his successor came about 150 years ago when Andrew Johnson missed the swearing in of Ulysses S. Grant. Pence defied the President by refusing to overturn the results of the election Wednesday. There is video of the angry mob that stormed the Capitol chanting they planned to hang Pence.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said a resolution will be introduced today that calls on the vice president to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the president. A majority of the Cabinet would have to sign off on the idea that Trump is incapable of executing his duties. Pelosi said if Pence doesn’t respond within a day, they will go ahead with bringing articles of impeachment to the House floor.

The Bartholomew County Health Department is scheduling appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine, for those in eligible groups.

That includes people who are 80 or older, as well as health care workers and first responders who work face-to-face with patients or infectious material, or who work in direct contact with the public.

Amanda Organist, nursing director for the county health department, says that you can get more information on eligibility by going online to ourshot.in.gov, and also register to receive your vaccine.

If you do not have internet access you can call 211, Thrive Alliance at 812-372-6918, Mill Race Center at 812-376-9241, or WellConnect at 812-376-5136 to get help signing up.

There is no cost to you to receive the vaccine, but your insurance may be charged an administration fee. When you come to get a vaccine, you should bring a photo ID and an insurance card if you have one.

There will be no walk-ins for the vaccine, all appointments must be pre-scheduled.

Columbus firefighters say that a mobile home suffered more than $80,000 in damages Saturday afternoon in the Candlelight Village mobile home park.

Firefighters were called to the home in the 2600 block of Rosedale Drive at 1:04 Saturday afternoon and found flames coming from the home. Columbus police said all the residents were out of the home and accounted for.

It took about 15 minutes to get the fire under control. Firefighters believe the fire may have been sparked by a heating device that was too close to combustible material, but the exact cause remains under investigation.

One resident was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

According to reports from firefighters, no working smoke detectors were in the residence.

If you need smoke detectors for your home, the Columbus Fire Department can help. You can contact Capt. Mike Wilson at (812) 376-2584. Wilson says that it is important to remember that working smoke alarms save lives.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Fire Department