Three Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputies have been suspended after an internal investigation into the failure to properly serve an emergency detention order that may have resulted in the death of a local man.

In the early-morning hours of Saturday, Jan. 4th, 38-year-old Derek Henderson, of Columbus, died after being shot in the head, chest and abdomen. He apparently entered the home of a neighbor he didn’t know, while armed with a baseball bat. When the homeowner was confronted by Henderson, he opened fire. Henderson was pronounced dead at Columbus Regional Hospital.

Authorities says that Henderson was under an emergency detention order and any officer who encountered him should have taken him into custody for emergency treatment.

Columbus Police report that they were called to Henderson’s home in the 1800 block of Home Avenue three times on Friday. The first trip at 11:08 a.m. Friday morning, was requested by the VA to take Henderson to the hospital for treatment. But officers could not find Henderson. He refused assistance during a police visit later that afternoon.

The emergency detention order was issued at just before 5 p.m. Friday afternoon. But a third call came at 6:21 p.m. Friday evening with Bartholomew County deputies called to the home and assisted by Columbus police.  Police did not take Henderson into custody and left after determining they were no longer needed.

Sheriff Matt Myers says that it was after those unsuccessful efforts that Henderson left his home and was later shot to death.

Sheriff Myers say the investigation revealed that visual and verbal contact was made with Henderson in his home, but he refused to leave his home or allow the deputies inside. The deputies eventually left the scene and made no further attempt to serve the emergency detention order. Myers says the deputies should not have left the scene until Henderson was detained. As a result, Lt. Gary Knoef, Sgt. Jason Lancaster and Sgt. Jason Williams have all been suspended for 15 days without pay for their roles in the failure to detain Henderson. They will also be demoted from their Sheriff appointed positions. Deputy Gary Knoef will return to his position as a merit sergeant. Deputies Lancaster and Williams will return to their positions as merit patrolmen.

Sheriff Myers says that one of the biggest challenges facing police officers nationwide is the challenge of policing the mentally ill. He says that ongoing training is necessary. With that, Myers and two members of his leadership team had previously committed to attending the Indiana Sheriff’s Association’s Winter Meeting at the end of January where mental health issues and training will be discussed and studied.

A Hope man arrested Tuesday for murder has been placed on an additional 72-hour hold.

Seventy-seven year-old James Mee is accused of stabbing and killing his son, 50-year-old Charles Mee, and injuring his wife, 78-year-old Barbara Mee during the incident in the 200 block of Scott Street in Hope. Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that a court affidavit states that Charles Mee, who had been stabbed in the neck, had called 911 himself and told the emergency operator that his father had stabbed him. The younger Mee died shortly after arriving at Columbus Regional Hospital.

The report states that investigators were told that James T. Mee suffers from dementia and was not entirely aware of what was happening.

The additional 72-hour hold was granted on Wednesday.

For more on this story, visit therepublic.com.

A longtime member of the Columbus Fire Department will be retiring.

The Columbus Fire Department announced the retirement of Fire Inspector, Captain Matt Noblitt. Noblitt, who retires with 35 years of service. His official retirement day is Friday, Jan. 10th.

Noblitt was promoted to Administrative Captain in 2001 when he was named the department’s Public Information Officer. During his first year in that position, Noblitt drafted plans for what would late be recognized at “Tilly”, the department’s miniature tiller truck . Noblitt and his father, Robert Noblitt, and the department’s mechanical division, built Tilly in 2001 with the concept that Tilly could be used as a tool for fire safety education and community involvement.

In 2014, Noblitt was promoted Fire Inspector. As inspector, Noblitt was responsible for the annual inspections of public buildings and any new construction projects within the city, as well as the investigation of fires. Noblitt also a member of the Bartholomew County Fire Investigation Team. Noblitt’s also worked to revise and update of the City’s Fire Ordinance, which was signed info effect one year ago. Through the course of his 35 year career, Noblitt has served under 10 Fire Chiefs and four Mayors.

Columbus Fire Chief Andy Lay commends Noblitt for his contributions to the Department and Community, “Captain Noblitt has been an outstanding advocate for the safety of our community through his work in risk reduction and code enforcement. On behalf of the Columbus Fire Department, I thank Matt for his hard work and dedication, and I wish Matt the best in his well-deserved retirement.”

The Columbus Fire Department plans to announce Noblitt’s successor at a later date.

Wednesday was the first day of filing for the 2020 Primary Election.

Bartholomew County voters will be choosing county commissioners for districts 1 and 3, members of county council at large, coroner, surveyor and Superior Court 2 Judge.

Other local races will include Hope Town Council seats in Wards 1, 2 and 3. Hope Clerk-Treasurer and Hartsville Town Council members.

Filing on the first day were:

– Clayton Nolting (R) for Bartholomew County Coroner
– E.R. Gray (R) for County Surveyor
– Larry Kleinhenz (R) for County Commissioner District 1
– Joanne Flohr (R) for County Commissioner District 3
– Tony London (R) for County Commissioner District 3
– Derick Olson (R) for County Council At-Large
– Evelyn Strietelmeier Pence (R) for County Council At-Large
– Matt Miller (R) for County Council At-Large
– John Walstad (R) for Hope Town Council Ward 2
– Jim Lucas (R) for State Senator District 69

You can file to run in the voter registration office in the Bartholomew County Courthouse through noon on Friday, Feb. 7th.

A man shot to death early Saturday morning was under an emergency detention order and any officer who encountered the troubled Derek Henderson should have taken him into custody for emergency treatment, according to Columbus and Bartholomew County authorities.

Columbus police report that they were called to Henderson’s home in the 1800 block of Home Avenue three times on Friday. The first trip at 11:08 a.m. Friday morning, was requested by the VA to take Henderson to the hospital for treatment. But officers could not find Henderson. He refused assistance during a police visit later that afternoon.

The emergency detention order was issued at just before 5 p.m. Friday afternoon. But a third call came at 6:21 p.m. Friday evening with both Columbus police and Bartholomew County deputies called to the home.  Police did not take Henderson into custody and left after determining they were no longer needed.

Sheriff Matt Myers says he is investigating the circumstances surrounding his deputies’ unsuccessful efforts to detain Henderson. And the sheriff says that it was after those unsuccessful efforts that Henderson left his home and was later shot to death.

At about 1 a.m. Saturday morning, police were called to the 2000 block of Home Avenue on reports of shots being fired. A homeowner, 55-year-old John Noonan, told police that he was confronted in his residence by a man he didn’t know who was carrying a baseball bat. Noonan opened fire, striking the 38-year-old Henderson three times.

Henderson was pronounced dead at Columbus Regional Hospital from the shots to his head, chest and abdomen.

An internal investigation is ongoing in the sheriff’s department.

A defendant upset with his sentence did some damage in Bartholomew Superior Court 1.

Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that 33-year-old Jermaine Ford, of Columbus, was being sentenced Wednesday morning for an incident in May of 2018 when he was arrested on two counts of Dealing in Methamphetamine. According to the report, Ford was sentenced to 26 years in prison, with four years suspended.

The paper says that Ford became irate at the sentence and began making yelling and making threats, including slamming an entryway door to the courtroom, breaking glass. Judge Jim Worton added an additional six months of prison time to Ford’s sentence for Contempt of Court.

For more on this story, visit therepublic.com.

A report of a Columbus North High School student possibly in possession of a handgun resulted in three students facing charges. On Monday, Jan. 6, a student reported to a dean that the student may be in possession of a weapon. School Resource Officers from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office and Columbus Police Department were immediately contacted and began an investigation. The student who was allegedly in possession of the handgun was spotted, along with three other students, by SRO Deputy Teancum Clark at the Taco Bell off 25th St.

As Deputy Clark approached the students, they reportedly fled the area. Deputy Clark located three of the four students, including the one who was alleged to be in possession of a gun. The fourth student got away but was later identified. The three students who were apprehended were taken to the Bartholomew County Juvenile Youth Services Center and are facing preliminary charges of Truancy and Resisting Law Enforcement.

Authorities say that no handgun was located. As the investigation continued throughout the evening, it was learned that the handgun had been thrown into nearby landscaping during the foot pursuit. After a thorough search by Deputy Clark and additional Deputies including a K9 unit, no gun was located. The ongoing investigation revealed that the fourth student who had evaded apprehension had later gone back to the scene and retrieved the handgun. Deputy Clark was able to track down the handgun along with an additional handgun, both of which had previously been reported as stolen through the Franklin Police Department.

Authorities believe that no staff or students were in danger on campus.

“I want to commend Deputy Clark and other SRO’s for taking this information seriously and working extensively throughout the night to bring quick and safe resolution. I also want to highlight the process of ‘See Something, Say Something’ being instilled in our students and its effectiveness in this incident,” said Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers.

BCSC Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts released the following statement:

“Obviously, it’s very concerning when we are made aware of a situation like this. However, we are pleased with the system we have put in place as it allows students to share information freely with us and for us to utilize our available resources to address allegations effectively and efficiently. These resources include the excellent partnership we maintain with both the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office in their provision of School Resource Officers.”

Authorities have identified the victim in Tuesday morning’s stabbing death in Hope.

The Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office and the Bartholomew County Death Investigation Team are investigating the death of 50-year-old Charles A. Mee, of Hope. A forensic autopsy was performed Tuesday afternoon. Coroner Clayton Nolting stated the preliminary cause of death is one stab wound to the neck and blunt force trauma to the head and face.

Authorities arrested 77-year-old James T. Mee, of Hope, on preliminary charges of Murder and Domestic Battery. He has been placed on a 48-hour hold without bond.

Another family member, 78-year-old Barbara Mee, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. She was treated at Columbus Regional Hospital.

Toxicology results are pending. All autopsy information will be forwarded to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor.

The Bartholomew County Death Investigation Team is comprised of the coroner’s office, the prosecutor’s office, Indiana State Police, Columbus Police Department, and Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office.

A Ripley County man was killed in a Tuesday morning crash in Jennings County.

Indiana State Police say that they responded to the two-vehicle crash at about 6:30 a.m. The initial investigation revealed that a car driven by 26-year-old Justin M. Rangel, of Osgood, was traveling eastbound on the US 50 Bypass, just east of State Road 3. For an unknown reason, Rangel’s vehicle crossed the centerline into the path of a westbound semi pulling a loaded trailer, driven by 49-year-old Todd E. Lennartz, of Fort Recovery, Ohio.

ISP says the vehicles collided nearly head on in the westbound lane of US 50. Both vehicles then skidded into the eastbound lane where they came to a stop. Rangel sustained fatal injuries in the crash. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Jennings County Coroner’s Office. Lennartz was transported to St. Vincent-Jennings Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Toxicology results on both drivers are pending. The investigation is ongoing.

US 50 was closed just east of State Road 3 for nearly four hours for crash investigation and cleanup.

An investigation into a parked car at an intersection in Jackson County led to the arrest of a Seymour woman early Monday morning.

“The Tribune” is reporting that at about 1 a.m., Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 6000 block of East County Road 300S in reference to a suspicious vehicle. According to the report, 43-year-old Yvonne Nicole Colwell exited the vehicle from the passenger side and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

During the investigation, deputies found Colwell had an active warrant out of Bartholomew County. In addition, they found several prescription medications in the vehicle that Colwell did not have prescriptions for. Deputies also located a handgun that Colwell didn’t have a permit to be carrying.

Colwell faces preliminary charges of Prescription Fraud, Possession of a Handgun without a License and Public Intoxication.

For more on this story, visit tribtown.com.