Indiana State Police conducted a traffic stop on I-65 in Jackson County that led to the arrests of two people.

The investigation began at approximately 5:45 p.m. Tuesday when a Trooper stopped a car on I-65 Northbound near the 48 mile marker. During the course of the traffic stop, the Trooper believed the driver of the vehicle was providing false information about his identity. He eventually identified the driver as 25-year-old David K. Darnell, of Elkhart. Darnell was wanted on an outstanding warrant for Robbery out of Elkhart County.

Darnell was arrested on the warrant. He is also facing charges of Identity Theft, False Informing and Driving While Suspended/Prior. His passenger, 28-year-old Ayla K. Granning, also of Elkhart, was found to be wanted on a warrant for Robbery out of Elkhart County, Indiana.

Darnell and Granning are awaiting extradition to Elkhart County.

Indiana State Police conducted a traffic stop on I-65 in Jackson County that led to the arrest of a wanted Jackson County man.

The investigation began at approximately 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the southbound lanes on the Interstate near the 40 mile marker. A Trooper initiated a traffic stop and spoke to the driver38-year-old John J. Bates, of Seymour. Authorities say that Bates initially gave false information about his identity. After his true identity was realized, Bates was found to be wanted on Jennings County on warrants for Battery and Criminal Mischief.

Bates was arrested on the warrants and is facing new charges of Identity Theft, False Informing and Driving While Suspended/Prior.

Due to the extreme weather conditions, the U.S. Postal Service has temporarily suspended delivery service throughout most of the state on Thursday, January 31st. Authorities first suspended deliveries on Wednesday due to the bitter cold. All local post office retail operations will be open.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this weather related service disruption has caused,” said District Manager Todd Hawkins, Greater Indiana District. “The safety and well-being of our employees is of paramount concern to the Postal Service.”

Customers can call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) to obtain information, including available, alternate Post Office retail locations, or check the Postal Service website at usps.com.

A Columbus man is facing a number of felony charges after allegedly trying to elude police. At approximately 4:40 p.m. on Tuesday, officers from the Columbus Police Department’s Intelligence Led Policing Unit tried to stop a vehicle on Terrace Lake Road being driven by 27-year-old Daniel C. Miller. Police say Miller refused to pull over. The pursuit continued until Miller’s vehicle stopped in front of his home in the 4100 block of County Road 25 South a few minutes later. A high risk traffic stop was conducted and Miller was taken into custody without incident.

Miller was wanted on an outstanding Bartholomew County warrant for Dealing Methamphetamine, Neglect of a Dependent, Possession of a Narcotic Drug, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Dealing Marijuana. When Miller was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail, officers reported finding methamphetamine and a controlled substance concealed in his clothing.

A search warrant for Miller’s home was later granted and officers located a large amount of drug paraphernalia inside the home. This includes digital scales, syringes and drug packaging materials.

Miller is facing new preliminary charges of Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Legend Drug and Trafficking with an Inmate

Miller remains behind bars on a 48-hour hold as the investigation continues.

Three people were taken to the hospital after a Tuesday night fire at an apartment complex. Columbus Firefighters were called to 175 Cambridge Square at approximately 11:53 p.m. Firefighters arrived on the scene within five-minutes. As firefighters assessed the scene, Columbus Police reported that all occupants were out of the building and that three injured residents were being transported to Columbus Regional Health.

All three of those injured were adults who lived in different apartments within the complex. One of the injured, a 62-year-old woman, was transported with burn injuries to her lower body. Two other residents were transported for smoke inhalation. Their conditions are unknown.

Firefighters reported light smoke conditions as they entered the apartment. They found a small fire in the apartment’s bedroom, which was quickly extinguished with a small amount of water.

CFD investigators determined that the fire began in a bedroom and that the cause of the fire may have been attributed to smoking material and oxygen use.

No other apartment tenants were displaced.

Columbus Police arrested a local man after he reportedly assaulted man and tried to take his wallet. Officers were called to the 1200 block of California Street Tuesday night. Shortly after 11 p.m., officers met with the victim who stated that the suspect approached him while he was walking and demanded his wallet. When the victim refused, a struggle ensued and at one point the suspect allegedly tried to use a stun gun on the victim.

Police say the suspect, 29-year-old Zackary C. Townsend, of Columbus, fled the area after the altercation. He was located a short time later in the 1300 block of Lafayette Avenue where he was taken into custody. He was also wanted on an outstanding warrant.

Townsend is facing preliminary charges of Battery and Robbery.

Columbus Police arrested a local man Tuesday morning after his vehicle struck a pole in the parking lot of an apartment complex. At approximately 8 a.m., officers were called to the 3500 block of Cardinal Court and discovered the driver had a small child with him inside of the crashed vehicle.

Officers say they had difficulty waking the driver, 40-year-old Phillip Menefee, who appeared to be under the influence. After failing several field sobriety tests, Menefee was taken to Columbus Regional Health for a blood draw. The child was not injured and was released to a family member.

Menefee is facing a preliminary charge of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated (Endangerment).

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission hired a Chicago-based consultant to help city officials find a developer for a proposed downtown hotel and conference center.

Heather Pope, the city’s director of redevelopment, brought forth the proposal Monday afternoon that the city would contract with Hunden Strategic Partners. Pope says that this organization has done past work for the city. Hunden will be charged with creating a market and financial feasibility analysis for the project. The commission voted unanimously to approve the contract, for an amount not to exceed $62,600.

Pope says Hunden is a good fit for Columbus, as the company specializes in hospitality industry projects. She adds that the project could include an urban grocer, as a recent study found that a proposed site on downtown Third Street could be utilized for hotel, conference center and grocer.

Pope estimates it will take six to eight months for Hunden’s work to be complete.

Bitter cold temperatures are expected to arrive tonight. Shannan Hinton, Bartholomew County’s director of emergency management, says your best bet is stay indoors.

If you must be out and about, Hinton urges you to take precautions.

If you have to be in a vehicle, make sure you bring an emergency kit with food, water, extra clothes and a phone.

With expected temperatures below zero, Columbus City Utilities is urging customers to take precautions to prevent their water lines from becoming frozen.

Staff say that leaving a small amount of water (no more than a pencil lead thickness) run in the faucet farthest from the water source, or next to an outside wall can prevent pipes from freezing. Use wrap insulation on pipes in unheated areas. You can also open vanity and cabinet doors to expose pipes to warmer, inside temperatures. Make sure all crawl space openings are closed and if possible insulate the opening.

If your pipes do freeze, you should call the Columbus Utilities to determine if the problem is in the meter pit.

For more information, visit columbusutilities.org.