On September 1st, 2023 at approximately 6:20 a.m. Gibson County Sgt. John Fischer was patrolling US 41 when a 2022 Jeep passed by in excess of 90 mph. Sgt. John Fischer caught up to the vehicle and paced the vehicle at 95 mph. Sgt. Fischer initiated his emergency lights near State Road 168 and the vehicle disregarded and continued south. Sgt. Fischer initiated his sirens and called for Deputy Bart Wagner and Indiana State Police to assist. Deputy Wagner was able to get behind the vehicle and it finally stopped shortly afterwards. The vehicle came to a stop at US 41 just south of State Road 68. A felony stop was conducted and the driver was placed into custody without incident. The driver was identified as Wislin Valziris, age 36, holding a temporary Florida driver`s license. Mr. Valziris was transported to the Gibson County Jail and charged with reckless driving and resisting arrest in a vehicle. Arresting officer was Sgt. John Fischer
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Illinois Man Arrested For DUI and Traveling 101 MPH in a Construction Zone
Vermillion County, IN - August 31, 2023, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Trooper Chuck Murphy of the Putnamville State Police Post was patrolling on State Road 63 at State Road 234 near a construction zone. This is when Trooper Murphy observed a white passenger vehicle approaching him from behind, traveling southbound at a high rate of speed. Trooper Murphy then activated his rear radar and received a top speed of 101 miles per hour on the white passenger vehicle. The vehicle then continued at a high rate of speed passing, and then cutting off, Trooper Murphy at the merge point of the construction zone. Trooper Murphy was able to stop the vehicle and the driver was identified as Romell Watson, age 24, of Dolto, Illinois. Watson displayed signs of impairment and failed field sobriety tests. Watson was transported to the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department where he submitted to a certified chemical test. The test results indicated a blood alcohol content of .11%. Watson was arrested and turned over to the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department jail staff without incident.
Assisting: Trooper Tyler Turchi of the Putnamville State Police Post.
Arrested and Charges: Romell Watson, 24, Dolto, IL
Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated with a Prior Conviction, Level 6 Felony
Reckless Driving in a Worksite, Felony 6
Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangerment, Class A Misdemeanor
911 call leads to arrest of Oakland City woman
On September 1, 2023, at 11:21 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a battery that had occurred in the 7000 block of West 250 South in the rural Owensville area. Upon arriving on scene officers began an investigation into the complaint, and at the end of their investigation Deputy U.B. Smith placed 37 year old Lauren Croak of Oakland City into custody and transported her to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the jail Ms. Croak was charged with Battery. She remains in custody on a $650 bond.
Assisting Deputy Smith in his investigation was Deputies Logan Lashbrook, Michael Owens, and Bart Wagner. Also assisting was Conservation Officer Matt Clark.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
911 report of unresponsive female leads to arrest of Fort Branch woman on multiple charges
On September 2, 2023, at 7:08 a.m. Gibson County Sergeant Loren Barchett was dispatched to the Huck’s convenience store located at 78 E State Road 168 in reference to an unresponsive female. Upon arriving Sgt. Barchett located the female, who was later identified as 43 year old Jillian Miller of Fort Branch in a Gold 2008 Ford Escape unresponsive in the running vehicle. After several attempts Ms. Miller was awakened and Sgt. Barchett began an investigation into the call. During the investigation it became clear to Sgt. Barchett that Ms. Miller was under the influence of illegal drugs. At that point Sgt. Barchett began a roadside OWI investigation. At the conclusion of his investigation Ms. Miller was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the jail Ms. Miller was charged with Possession of Methamphetamines, Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Refusal, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Paraphernalia. She remains in custody on a $750 bond.
Assisting Sgt. Barchett in his investigation was Deputy Bryan Small.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Gibson County Sheriff's Office completes traffic light blitz
On September 1, 2023, from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office conducted a stop light enforcement blitz on US 41 from County Road 100 North to County Road 350 South. During this four hour block of time deputies conducted 22 traffic stops in this four mile stretch of roadway. As a result of these traffic stops 13 citations were written for disregarding a lighted traffic signal. One was written for disregarding a stop sign, and one citation was written for speeding. In addition to the citations multiple warnings were distributed.
Parks Commissioner Comments On Restroom Vandalism
The Mt. Carmel City Park has been a busy place this summer and the new restrooms at the park have drawn a lot of praise from visitors. But, vandals have caused damaged to the restrooms at different times since opening last year causing parks commissioner Tyson Meador to issue a reminder to residents…
And despite what you may have seen on Facebook..Meador said there are no security cameras inside the bathrooms. He said comments concerning photos of vandalism damage were taken by security cameras inside were false and were instead taken by city employees after discovering the damage.
Photo from Mayor Joe Judge of damage found last month.
Terre Haute Man Arrested for Driving While Impaired in Stolen Vehicle
Knox County – Thursday afternoon, August 31, at approximately 3:45 p.m., Trooper Detective Hatfield was patrolling US 41 near Oaktown when Knox County Dispatch reported a white GMC truck, owned by M & K Construction, had been stolen from a gas station in Terre Haute and was traveling south on Old 41 from Moody Road near Oaktown. Hatfield observed the vehicle turn into Oaktown at Old 41 and stopped it at School Street at 3 Street. The driver was arrested and identified as Markus D. Arthur, 44, of Terre Haute. During the traffic stop, Arthur displayed signs of impairment and later failed field sobriety tests. Further investigation revealed Arthur had a BAC of .04% and was under the influence of cannabinoids, amphetamine, and methamphetamine. Arthur was arrested and taken to the Knox County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.
Arrested and Charges:
Markus D. Arthur, 44, Terre Haute, IN
Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated with a Prior Conviction, Level 6 Felony
Theft of a Vehicle, Level 6 Felony
Driving While Suspended, Class A Misdemeanor
Arresting Officer: Trooper/Detective N. Hatfield, Indiana State Police
Assisting Agency: Terre Haute Police
Indiana State Police To Have Extra Labor Day Weekend Patrols
Troopers from the Indiana State Police Jasper Post would like to encourage safe travels during this Labor Day weekend. To help ensure the safety of all motorists during this holiday period, the Indiana State Police will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) and DUIEP (Driving Under the Influence Enforcement Project). Both federally funded programs allow extra troopers to patrol Hoosier highways during the upcoming holiday period.
Efforts will be focused on aggressive drivers, distracted drivers, impaired drivers, and drivers and passengers not buckled up.
Do your part to ensure safety on Indiana’s roads:
Don’t drive distracted
Avoid tailgating
Use turn signals
Obey the speed limit
Make sure everyone is buckled up
Don’t drive impaired by drugs or alcohol
If you do see a possibly impaired driver, call 911 and give the vehicle’s description, location and direction of travel, and license plate, if possible. The goal is for everyone to celebrate safely and responsibly to ensure a safe Labor Day weekend. Be courteous to others while you are driving.
ISP AND SOUTHEASTERN ILLINOIS DRUG TASK FORCE MAKE DRUG ARREST NEAR SCHOOL
SALEM – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force (SEIDTF) and Illinois State Police Division of Patrol Troop 9 announce the arrest of 23-year-old Jeremiah A. Fink of Salem, IL for four counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Class X Felony).
Over several months, ISP DCI SEIDTF conducted a narcotics investigation that resulted in the illicit sale of controlled substances. On August 31, 2023, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Fink was taken into custody, without incident, in the area of Mills Cart Road and West Main in Salem. Fink was charged with all Class X Felonies due to all transactions occurring less than 500 feet of a school while children were present.
Fink is currently being held at the Marion County Jail, with bond set at $75,000, 10% to apply. The investigation remains ongoing. No further information will be disseminated by Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force.
SEIDTF is comprised of the Salem Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Robinson Police Department, the Mount Carmel Police Department and the Illinois State Police. This investigation was a cooperative effort amongst the area police departments in an effort to curb drug usage and violence in the area.
Traffic Stop Results In Arrest Of Two Lawrence County Residents
On 8/30/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Tiffany D. Smith, age 28, and Mark W. Richards, age 55, both of Lawrence County for Possession of Methamphetamine, Obstruction of Justice, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Additionally, Smith had three active arrest warrants for her arrest out of Vanderburgh County, Crawford County, and Lawrence County. The arrests stemmed from a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Avalanche at 3rd & Poplar Street for expired registration. During the stop, Wabash County Deputy Cheadle responded with his K-9 Kiki to conduct a free air narcotics sniff around the exterior of the Chevrolet. In doing so, Dep. Cheadle advised KiKi had alerted to the presence of narcotics. The occupants exited the vehicle at which time officers located suspected methamphetamine, glass smoking devices and a digital scale in the vehicle. Furthermore, officers learned of Smith’s true identity after she attempted to provide a false name to avoid detection of her outstanding warrants. Smith was transported to the Wabash County Jail while Richards was transported to an area hospital for unrelated health issues, being released on a Notice to Appear. Currently, Smith remains at the Wabash County Jail on the above charges along with the outstanding warrants for Obstructing Identification, Forgery and Fraud cases.
Tiffany D. Smith, age 28