On May 9, 2021, at 11:43 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 call of a disturbance that was occurring at the Baymont Inn and Suites located at 12798 Access 1250 South. Deputy Jennifer Robb and Sergeant Bruce Vanoven were dispatched to the scene and upon speaking to the reporting party they were advised that 30-year-old Tyler Stokes of Evansville had left the scene prior to law enforcement’s arrival. The reporting party advised Deputy Robb that Mr. Stokes took two small children with him and their car. During the investigation it was discovered that Mr. Stokes’ operator license status listed him as a Habitual Traffic Violator and he was not permitted to drive. Further the investigation revealed that there was an active restraining order that was placed against Mr. Stokes by the reporting party. Once the initial report was taken a Be On the Look Out was placed to all dispatch agencies in the south west part of the state instructing them to look for the vehicle and check the welfare of the children. A short time later Sergeant Bruce Vanoven located the vehicle at the Dollar General Store in Haubstadt. Sergeant Vanoven removed the children from the vehicle while Deputy Robb finished her investigation. At the conclusion of her investigation she had Mr. Stokes transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Invasion of Privacy, Driving While a Habitual Traffic Violator, and Possession of Methamphetamines. He remains in custody on a $1250 bond.
Assisting Deputy Robb in her investigation was Sergeant Bruce Vanoven, Fort Branch Town Marshal Darrell Parker, Haubstadt Officer Riley Farmer, and Indiana State Trooper Ross Rafferty.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.