Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers says he will be asking the Bartholomew County Council to ask for body cameras for his deputies, and asks that you contact members of the Council, if you support the plan.
Earlier this week, Council members said that they are not the barrier to deputies getting body cameras and in fact, they have yet to see a formal proposal from the sheriff to put up to a vote.
Myers said in a statement released yesterday that he is not trying to point fingers or lay blame on why the funding was not approved. But he says this a top priority for funding this year and the time to get the body cameras is now.
The sheriff explained the benefits of having body cameras include the valuable information showing the facts of a call, their use as a training aid and as evidence for further actions.
Myers said he will soon be making a case for the new equipment to both the County Council and the County Commissioners.
Bartholomew Consolidated Schools are looking for families’ thoughts on reopening the schools this fall.
Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts said that the current plan is to return as many students as possible to BCSC buildings on Thursday Aug. 6th, while prioritizing the health and safety of students and staff.
A survey is available on social media and the school district’s website for parents and guardians to explain their expectations and concerns.
The deadline to finish the survey is June 19th.
Roberts said that the school district is consulting with and melding the advice from the Centers for Disease Control , Governor’s Office, Indiana State Department of Health. the Indiana Department of Education and the Bartholomew County Health Department to come up with recommendations and requirements for reopening the schools.
Columbus police are looking for a man they say is armed and dangerous, possibly suicidal and who has been suspected of making threats to attack police.
An Everbridge Alert System message went out at about 3 p.m., urging the public to be on the lookout for a black man, six-foot three-inches tall and 275 pounds in the area of 6691 West State Road 46, west of ABC Stewart School. He has black hair and brown eyes and a tattoo on his right arm. He may appear lost and be asking for a cell phone charger.
Police said they are searching for 55-year-old Philip D. Brantley. He is wanted of charges of felony battery with a deadly weapon, felony intimidation and battery.
If you see him. you should not approach him and instead call authorities. He is being accused of threatening to harm police or others. If you have information on Brantley’s whereabouts you should call the Columbus Police Department at 812-376-2600. Tips and information can be left anonymously.
Columbus firefighters say that a driver and passengers escaped serious injury during yesterday’s high winds, when a tree blew down across Washington Street.
That happened in the 1400 block of Washington St. at about 5:39 p.m. yesterday afternoon when an SUV crashed into the fallen tree. Firefighters were initially called on a reported vehicle fire, but the smoke was determined to be from the airbags deploying.
The occupants of the vehicle suffered minor injuries.
Members of the Bartholomew County Council have begun to get questions from the public about the lack of body cameras for county sheriff’s deputies. But at their meeting this week, council members stressed that they are not the ones blocking the purchase.
At last week’s Solidarity Rally on the steps of Columbus City Hall Sheriff Matt Myers stressed the importance of the purchase of body cameras for deputies. Both for the safety of the officers and the public. And several speakers encouraged the public to address the issue with the County Commissioners and County Council, as a necessary tool to help fight racial injustice.
Councilman Jorge Morales said as he recalls the last presentation from the sheriff more than three years ago, the sheriff withdrew his request.
Council President Matt Miller agreed with Morales recollection.
Council members Evelyn Pence and Laura DeDomenic said that as they recall the sheriff withdrew his request in 2016.
Morales asked Miller to prepare a letter that could be sent to the concerned members of the public explaining that the council has not had a formal request from the sheriff. Councilman and former Sheriff Mark Gorbett said that the letter should state that the council would consider requests from any department heads for new equipment at budget time in August.
So far, the council has only received two inquiries, Morales said. Councilman Bill Lentz said that the council should keep in mind, and the public should know, that the council will make its decisions based on the county’s best financial interests.
In 2016, Sheriff Matt Myers had a proposal before the council for body cameras and new radios. According to our reporting from December 2016, the sheriff said that he was separating the cameras from the larger request with radios because of concerns over the quality of the video.
In April 2017, according to our reporting at the time, the sheriff brought the issue before the council again with a presentation at a council work session. Capt. Brandon Slate made the presentation then with the most attractive option, being the purchase of 35 Taser cameras and accessories. The total cost was estimated at $248,000.
Council members at the time indicated that the money for the cameras simply wasn’t there.
Myers said yesterday on social media that he is preparing a new presentation on the issue, and hopes to present it to the council soon.
A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect in our area until 6 p.m. this evening. The National Weather Service in Indianapolis says that severe thunderstorms will be developing this afternoon with strong wind gusts as high as 40 to 45 mph through the early evening. Damaging winds are possible, with tornadoes, torrential downpours and lightning.
The agency says a strong upper level wave with an associated surface low and cold front is moving through central Indiana, triggering the showers and thunderstorms.
Jeremy A. Weed. Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department
Bartholomew County deputies have identified a suspect in a Centra Credit Union bank robbery last year.
The sheriff’s department reports that 33-year-old Jeremy A. Weed of Indianapolis was already serving time in the Indiana Department of Corrections system on another crime.
The robbery happened at the Central Credit Union on North U.S. 31 on Feb. 4th, 2019. Video footage showed the suspect getting into a Pontiac and about 10 minutes later, a passerby reported the vehicle on fire on Tannehill Road.
The investigation led to Weed who was found in a hotel in Franklin. He was taken into custody on the unrelated charge that led to the prison time.
An arrest warrant was issued for Weed this month on preliminary charges of robbery, auto theft and theft.
Bartholomew County’s Community Corrections program is facing a steep drop in revenue and budget shortfalls due to the effect of the coronavirus.
The department, funded by the state and by user fees, came to the County Council last night asking for help to continue to pay for employees health care — a cost of about $5,000 a month, said Brad Barnes, head of the county’s court services division.
Barnes explained the dip in funds is largely related to a drop in fees paid in by users.
Other department programs also took a hit with many of those participating losing their jobs and their ability to pay.
Gov. Eric Holcomb is calling for funding cuts to all state agencies. Traditionally the Community Corrections budget has not faced the knife because it is cheaper to keep someone in the community under supervision than it is to hold them in jail or prison, Barnes said.
Council members did suggest that if finances did not turn around, or if there was no state help coming, that the department might have to look at cutting staff.
The council agreed to cover the next two months of health care costs, which would take the county to budget time in August. The hope is that there would be a better picture of where the department is at that time.
In an unrelated discussion, the council re-emphasized its direction last month on staffing cuts or freezes. Although the council can not easily take away money that is already appropriated for a position this budget year, there is no guarantee that the money will be made available next year. Department heads making hiring decisions now would have to understand that the funding could be withdrawn next budget yet.
Bartholomew County’s Emergency Management Agency says that they will be keeping a close eye on the weather throughout the day, but our area is not under any watches or warnings at this time.
The remnants of Tropical Storm Cristobal are passing through today according to the National Weather Service office in Indianapolis.
Showers and thunderstorms will develop today with a potential for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Damaging winds and a few tornadoes will be the primary threats along with locally heavy rainfall. In addition, wind gusts outside of showers and thunderstorms will peak at 40 to 50 mph during the afternoon and evening.
Columbus City Councilman Jerone Wood speaks on the steps of City Hall during last week’s Solidarity rally. WRB photo
Columbus city officials say that the groundwork laid years ago between the city and its minority communities has helped the city in today’s landscape.
Last Thursday, hundreds of residents turned out for a Solidarity Rally on the steps of Columbus City Hall, calling for the nationwide end of police brutality and racial inequality. But all of the speakers said there were good local relations between police and their community.
Mary Ferdon, executive director of administration for the city says that in 2017 city officials worked with local African American groups to create a police review board. The city revamped an existing committee called the audit and review committee for the new purpose.
Aida Ramirez, director of the Columbus Human Rights Commission said that the review board allows people with a complaint to know that they are being heard.
Ramirez said that it is easy for file a police complaint. Forms are available online, at the police department and in the Human Rights office in City Hall. She said anyone who needs help or has questions can contact her office at 812-376-2532.
Ramirez says that her department was formed in response to inequalities in the 1960s, one of the first such organizations in the state. The Human Rights Commission also investigates local cases of discrimination in housing, employment , education, public accommodation or credit.
