On October 21, 2018, at 1:43 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Ben Kiesel and Princeton Police Officer Chelsea Jones were performing a welfare check in the 2300 block of Taylor Avenue in Princeton. During the welfare check Officer Kiesel and Jones observed a Gold 2006 Dodge approach the scene. Upon speaking with the driver Officer Jones detected the odor of alcohol on the driver 42 year old Melissa Whetstone of Princeton. At that point Deputy Kiesel began a roadside investigation that resulted in Ms. Whetstone being transported to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Gibson County Jail Ms. Whetstone was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. She has since posted a $450 bond.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Evansville man arrested for operating a vehicle while a Habitual Traffic Violator
On October 22, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Austin Farrington conducted a traffic stop on a Tan 2001 Chevy Tahoe on US 41 near County Road 100 East. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Farrington identified the driver as 33 year old Charles Collier of Evansville, Indiana. During a roadside investigation Deputy Farrington ran Mr. Collier through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles and learned Mr. Collier was listed as a Habitual Traffic Violator. At that point Deputy Farrington placed Mr. Collier in custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Gibson County Jail Mr. Collier was charged with Operating a Vehicle While a Habitual Traffic Violator. He has since posted a $1250 bond.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Princeton man arrested on drug charges
On October 28, 2018, 10:17 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Jennifer Loesch was serving Civil Process Papers in the 400 block of North Brown Street in Princeton. While approaching a residence Deputy Loesch detected the odor of Burnt Marijuana coming from a residence and began a drug investigation. At the conclusion her investigation Deputy Loesch placed 35 year old Christopher Fisher of Princeton into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Gibson County Jail Mr. Fisher was charged with Possession of Paraphernalia and Possession of Marijuana. He has since posted a $550 bond.
Assisting Deputy Loesch in her investigation was Princeton Officers Jay Riley and Neftali Padilla.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Traffic stop leads to arrest of Evansville woman for Possession of Marijuana
On October 28, 2018, at 7:25 p.m. Gibson County Deputy U.B. Smith conducted a traffic stop on a Blue 2008 Toyota Corolla for speeding on State Road 65 near County Road 450 South. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Smith detected the odor of Burnt Marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. At that point Deputy Smith began a roadside investigation that resulted in the driver 22 year old Madeline Kieffer of Evansville being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Jail Ms. Keiffer was charged with Possession of Marijuana. She has since posted a $550 bond.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Traffic stop leads to arrest of Evansville man for Driving on a Suspended License
On October 28, 2018, at 10:39 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Austin Farrington conducted a traffic stop on a Silver 2001 Lexus for speeding on US 41 near Oak Street in Fort Branch. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Farrington identified the driver as 30 year old Robert Compton of Evansville. During a roadside investigation Deputy Farrington ran Mr. Compton through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles and discovered that Mr. Compton’s Operators license was suspended on a prior conviction. At that point Deputy Farrington placed Mr. Compton into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Driving While Suspended Prior. He has since posted a $650 bond.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Traffic stop leads to arrest of Mount Carmel woman for Reckless Driving
On October 28, 2018, at 11:31 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Ben Kiesel conducted a traffic stop on a Black 2017 Nissan for traveling at 97 mph in a 60 mph zone on US 41 near Fort Branch. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Kiesel identified the driver as 20 year old Monique Kimpling of Mount Carmel, Illinois. Deputy Kiesel performed a brief roadside investigation before placing Ms. Kimpling into custody and transporting her to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Jail Ms. Kimpling was charged with Reckless Driving. She has since posted a $900 bond.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Commercial Vehicle Inspection finds estimated $5-Million in Illegal Drugs
Vigo County - Tuesday morning around 10:30, an Indiana State Trooper with Commercial Vehicle Enforcement stopped a tractor-trailer at the eastbound scales located at the 1 mile-marker for a routine DOT inspection. During conversations with the driver the trooper noticed several criminal indicators.
After consent from the driver, a search of the tractor-trailer was conducted. Troopers found 220-pounds of suspected cocaine and 65-pounds of suspected methamphetamine. The drugs were located inside the trailer in travel bags. Estimated street value of the illegal drugs is approximately $5-Million. The tractor-trailer was loaded with aluminum crates and was traveling from California to Ohio.
The driver of the commercial vehicle was incarcerated in the Vigo County jail for the following charges.
Arrested: Ravninder Singh Kaler, age 22, of Bakersfield, California
Charges: Dealing Narcotics (felony)
Possession of Narcotics (felony)
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Traffic stop leads to arrest of Hammond man
On October 20, 2018, at 9:24 a.m. Deputy Jennifer Loesch conducted a traffic stop on a Silver 2006 Honda Odyssey for speeding on US 41 near CR 300 South. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Loesch detected the odor of burnt Marijuana coming from inside the vehicle at that point she began a roadside investigation that resulted in the driver 30 year old Chuntzie Carter of Hammond being taken into custody. Mr. Carter was transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Possession of a Firearm without a Permit and Operating a Vehicle Without Ever Receiving a License. Mr. Hammond has since posted a $1300 bond.
Assisting Deputy Loesch in her investigation was Deputy U.B. Smith.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
AUTOPSY UPDATE FROM WABASH COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE
UPDATE FROM THE WABASH COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE
Following an autopsy of the skeletal remains found on October 23, 2018 in a farm field north of Mt. Carmel, Illinois no definitive cause of death could be determined. Further examination will be completed by a Forensic Anthropologist and a Forensic Odontologist to help determine the cause of death and identity to the skeletal remains. This is an ongoing investigation and no other information will be given at this time. We will update you as more information becomes available. Resources working this case include the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, Crime Scene Unit & Investigations Unit and the Wabash County Coroner’s Office.
Ste. Marie Woman Arrested On Effingham County Warrant
Mt. Carmel Police arrested 27 year old Brittany L. Jarosik of St. Marie on a $575.00 cash bond Warrant out of Effingham County. Jarosik was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by Mt. Carmel Police. Jarosik was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was held pending transfer to Effingham County.
