State police: Beech Grove man was shot in Seymour incident Sunday

More details are being released in the Indiana State Police investigation into a Sunday night police shooting in Seymour.

Officers there shot and killed 43-year-old Jason S. Cline of Beech Grove after he ran from officers and displayed a gun during a shoplifting investigation Sunday night. According to troopers, the incident began at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday night when officers were called to the Walmart store on East Tipton Street. They found Cline pushing a shopping cart containing items allegedly taken from the store.

Rather than stop, police say Cline ran across Tipton Street and into a deep ditch near the Taco Bell store at Burkhart Boulevard. The officers caught up to Cline and attempted to take him into custody. But Cline would not let the police handcuff him and pulled a handgun. Both officers opened fire, hitting Cline. They then provided medical treatment until he was taken to Schneck Medical Center by medics, where he later died.

State police say that the gun was loaded and had been reported stolen. State police were called in by Seymour authorities to investigate the incident.

An autopsy was performed Tuesday confirming Cline’s identity. He also went by the names Jason Tabor and Jason Tabor Cline.

Both officers, who have yet to be named, have been placed on administrative leave by Seymour Police Chief Bryant Lucas. Once Indiana State Police finish their investigation, the results will be passed on to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office for consideration.

New faces to take seats on Bartholomew Consolidated school board

In the Bartholomew Consolidated School Board races, Todd Grimes has won the District 3 seat with almost 60 percent of the vote, compared to 25 percent for Mike Jamerson and just under 16 percent for incumbent James Persinger.

Todd Grimes reacts to the victory:

Incumbent Pat Bryant has won re-election in the District 5 race over Jennifer Corsi, 54 to 46 percent.

Bryant thanked his supporters:

And Nicole Wheeldon has won the District 7 race over Lacretia Ulery with 63 to 37 percent.

Wheeldon talked about what she thinks made the difference in the race:

Bartholomew County sees high turnout, surge in early voting

Bartholomew County voters have set an all-time record for ballots cast, according to Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps.

Voters cast 36,673 votes, passing the 2016 record turnout of 33,198 voters.

The vast majority of this year’s votes were cast before Election Day, with 20,867 in-person early votes and 6,700 mail-in absentee votes. In person voting Tuesday ended with 9,100 voters. That is a voter turnout of just under 69 percent.

Republicans sweep Bartholomew County Council at-large races

With all the votes tallied, Bartholomew County Republicans have won all the contested races across the county.

Incumbent Republican State Rep. Ryan Lauer defeated his Democratic opponent Dale Nowlin 60 to 40 percent in the race for District 59. State Rep. Jim Lucas, also a Republican, has won District 69 with 70 percent of the vote over Democrat Jefferey Prewitt with 17 percent, and independent Katrina “Kat” Hardwick with 13 percent. That district includes portions of Bartholomew, Jackson, Jennings and Jefferson counties.

In the Bartholomew County Council at-large races, all three Republican incumbents have won re-election. Bill Lentz is the top vote getter with 22.5 percent, followed by Evelyn Pence with just under 21 percent and Matt Miller with 20.6 percent of the vote. Democrats Tiffany Bosley and Claudette Schroer have about 12 percent and Olisa Humes has about 11.5 percent of the vote.

Bill Lentz talked last night about the win:

Matt Miller talked about his thoughts watching the results come in:

In Hope, incumbent Democratic Town Councilwoman Nellie Meek has lost to Republican challenger John Walstad 63-37 percent.

Several Bartholomew County races went uncontested last night and will continue to be held by Republicans. That included long-time County Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz and political newcomer Tony London winning their races. Former Columbus Police Chief Jon Rohde will serve as Bartholomew Superior Court 2 Judge after having no Democratic opponent yesterday. County Coroner Clayton Nolting and Surveyor E.R. Gray also won re-election last night without an opponent.

Columbus Republican Congressman Greg Pence has won re-election to the Sixth Congressional District seat with nearly 72 percent of the vote over Democrat Jeanine Lee Lake with 24.8 percent. Libertarian Tom Ferkinoff drew 3.6 percent of the vote in that race.

Updated: Republicans sweep Bartholomew County races

Updated 8:35 p.m.

With all the votes tallied, Bartholomew County Republicans are leading in all the contested races across the county.

Incumbent Republican State Rep. Ryan Lauer defeated his Democratic opponent Dale Nowlin 60 to 40 percent in the race for District 59. State Rep. Jim Lucas, also a Republican, has won the Bartholomew County portion of District 69 with 74 percent of the vote over Democrat Jefferey Prewitt with 19 percent, and independent Katrina “Kat” Hardwick with just over 7 percent.

In the Bartholomew County Council at-large races, all three Republican incumbents have won re-election. Bill Lentz is the top vote getter with 22.5 percent, followed by Evelyn Pence with just under 21 percent and Matt Miller with 20.6 percent of the vote. Democrats Tiffany Bosley and Claudette Schroer have about 12 percent and Olisa Humes has about 11.5 percent of the vote.

In the Bartholomew Consolidated School Board races, Todd Grimes has won the District 3 seat with almost 60 percent of the vote, compared to 25 percent for Mike Jamerson and just under 16 percent for incumbent James Persinger.

Incumbent Pat Bryant has won re-election in the District 5 race over Jennifer Corsi, 54 to 46 percent. And Nicole Wheeldon has won the District 7 race over Lacretia Ulery with 63 to 37 percent.

InĀ  Hope, incumbent Democratic Town Councilwoman Nellie Meek has lost to Republican challenger John Walstad 63-37 percent.

 

Jennings County High School moves to virtual learning

Jennings County High School is moving to virtual learning for the next two weeks due to positive COVID-19 cases.

The district announced that starting today through at least Monday, Nov. 16th, all students will be learning from home and will receive their coursework through Google Classroom. ALL Jennings County High School extracurricular and athletic events, practices, contests, and performances are postponed during the closure.

Students are to quarantine at home during the closure. If you must go out in public, be certain to follow social distancing guidelines and to wear a mask.

The high shool will be distributing food to students in need and those details will soon be announced.

Drug takeback, flu shots, COVID-19 tests offered Wednesday at community center

You will have a chance to get rid of unwanted medications, get tested for COVID-19 and get a free flu shot on Wednesday at the America and Robie Anderson Community Center on McClure Road in Columbus.

Health Communities, the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress, the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana Attorney General’s office will be holding the drug-take back event from 11:30 to 2 Wednesday at the center.

The program is meant for medications in pill or patch forms that are expired, unused, and unwanted. They will be properly disposed of without threat to the environment. Liquids and needles, new or used, will not be accepted for disposal.

According to the State Police, studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

This service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.

You can also pick up a home drug disposal kit, provided by ASAP. These kits can be used to collect and neutralize liquid medications that cannot be taken at the center.

Free flu shots will be available at the center from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, and free COVID-19 tests are available from 1 to 3 p.m.

Indiana BMV offices open for issuing IDs to vote

Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices are having extended hours today to issue ID cards and driver’s licenses to be used for voting. Branches will be openĀ  from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day.

The BMV provides free, state-issued ID cards for voting purposes to any unlicensed Hoosier who is a U.S. citizen, who can provide proper documentation, and who will be at least 18 years of age on or before the next general or municipal election.

You can find a complete list of documents you will need to bring at IN.gov/bmv.

Columbus man accused of spitting blood at police officer

Jesus G. Cruz Santiago. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department

Columbus police say that a suspect spit blood in an officer’s face while he was being arrested for being drunk and disorderly in a store.

Officers were called to the Circle K gas station on 25th Street at about 2:10 Sunday morning on a report of an intoxicated man causing problems in the store. 37-year-old Jesus G. Cruz Santiago of Columbus allegedly was uncooperative with police and as he was taken into custody he spit the blood on the officer.

Santiago was first checked out at Columbus Regional Hospital and the arrested on preliminary charges of battery by bodily fluid on a law enforcement officers and public intoxication.

State police investigating Seymour police shooting death

Seymour police shot and killed a man Sunday after he fled from a shoplifting incident.

According to the Indiana State Police, officers were called to the Walmart store on East Tipton Street at about 8:30 last night on a theft report. They found a man matching the suspect’s description and who was carrying stolen merchandise. He ran from police across Tipton Street and into a ditch.

State police say officers determined the man had a handgun and two Seymour officers fired at the man. Despite medical attention at the scene, he died after being taken to Schneck Medical Center.

Seymour Police Department requested the assistance of the state troopers to investigate the incident.

Neither the victim nor the officers have yet been identified. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.