Virginia man arrested for Residential Entry

On June 8, 2024, at 6:16 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Zach Lienemann responded to a B & E in progress in the 300 block of East Elm Street in Haubstadt.  Upon arriving on scene Deputy Lienemann was greeted by witnesses who stated they were in charge of checking on the residence while the homeowners were away, and they discovered a man asleep inside the residence.  Deputy Lienemann went inside the residence and located 38 year old Paul McCarvell of Martinsville, Virginia asleep in a chair.  Mr. McCarvell was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Residential Entry and Criminal Mischief. 

 Assisting Deputy Lienemann in his investigation was Deputies U.B. Smith and Bart Wagner.

 All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF RECENT DISTRACTED DRIVING ENFORCEMENT

EFFINGHAM – Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 9 Commander, Captain Nathan Douglas, announces the results of Distracted Driving Enforcement Program patrols held in Effingham and Wabash counties during May. This program provided extra patrol coverage for ISP officers to focus on saving lives and reducing serious crashes by enforcing distracted driving laws.

Violations Enforcement Activity

Hand-held phone/device citations 13

Texting while driving citations 9

Other types of distracted driving citations 0

Total distracted driving citations 22

Total distracted driving written warnings 0

Total of all citations 26

Total of all written warnings 9

This project was funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Oil Cooler Issue Sidelining New Indiana State Police Dodge Durango Patrol Vehicles

The Indiana State Police began the transition from the Dodge Charger, a vehicle which it has used for its police fleet since 2010, to the Dodge Durango police package vehicle in May 2023.  ISP has ordered a total of 516 Durangos (approximate value of $25.8M).  Over the last year, a total of 219 of these have been issued into the field for patrol duties.

During this timeframe, 39 Durangos (18%) have experienced a mechanical failure due to a defective oil cooler.  Using this same ratio, ISP would anticipate having an additional 40 Durangos experience this same mechanical failure for a total of 79 anticipated failures.  That means approximately $3.9 million dollars of equipment may not be available for their intended use by ISP personnel.

ISP Superintendent Doug Carter has spoken with a Chrysler representative and was not given a timeline to resolve the matter.

A fully equipped ISP Dodge Durango costs approximately $50,000.  During the month of May 2024, ISP had 15 Dodge Durangos experience this oil cooler failure.  The average downtime for an engine replacement/repair is four-to-eight weeks.  This downtime creates a huge burden on fleet operations, a significant loss of confidence in the vehicle by ISP personnel, and an ineffective loss of public service while the Trooper cycles in and out of a pool car to perform their daily duties. 

“ISP has used Dodge as our primary police vehicle provider for the last decade-and-a-half, it is unfortunate that we have found ourselves in this precarious position”, said Carter.  “We’re having to sideline brand new vehicles, losing out on their value and functionality… the citizens and taxpayers of Indiana are being shortchanged and deserve better.”

Voters To Decide Fate Of City Pool

Mt. Carmel voters will get to decide this November whether or not a new city pool is built. Mayor Joe Judge said the city is in the process of filing the necessary paperwork with the county clerk’s office to place a referendum on November’s ballot…

Estimates for a new city pool have come in at around $8 million while renovating and bringing the current pool up to state and federal codes is $11 million. If a new city pool isn’t built, Judge said it’s only a matter of time before Mt. Carmel joins the growing list of other communities who find themselves without a city pool….

Judge said the pool foundation committee is looking at creative ways to generate money including selling the naming rights of the new aquatic center and specific items located in the splash area of the new pool. There have been no firm numbers released yet on how much the city will be asking voters to approve in the November referendum.

WSJD File Photo

Mt. Carmel Man Arrested For DUI For 2nd Time In A Month

On 6/11/24, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Wade Lingerfelt, age 31, of Mt. Carmel for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving While License Suspended, Illegal Transportation of Alcohol, and Endangering the Life of a Child following a traffic stop in the 100 block of W 5th Street.  The stop was a result of the arresting officer observing Lingerfelt operating a blue Jeep and that he had a suspended license.  In speaking to Lingerfelt, the officer noted Lingerfelt showed signs of impairment.  Lingerfelt refused to submit to a roadside sobriety check so the officer arrested Lingerfelt, based on his prior observations.  During the arrest the officer also located an open bottle of alcoholic liquor near Lingerfelt.  Furthermore, Lingerfelt had his juvenile child in the vehicle, resulting in the additional charge of endangerment.  The child was turned over to another family member and Lingerfelt was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was processed on the charges and released on a Notice to Appear.  It should be noted this is Lingerfelt’s second arrest for DUI in the last month. 

Mt. Carmel Woman Picked Up On FTA Warrant & Meth Charge

On 6/05/24, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Brittny M. Byrns, age 36, on a Wabash County FTA Warrant and added a new charge of Possession of Methamphetamine.  The arresting officer located Byrns in the Lucky Lady in the 300 block of West 9th Street.  Byrns was taken into custody at which time the officer located suspected methamphetamine, which Byrns acknowledged, inside her wallet.  Byrns was taken to the Wabash County Jail where she was issued the warrant along with the new drug charge.  Byrns is being held pending a pre-trial release determination by the court.

Mt. Carmel Man Picked Up On Gibson County Warrant

On 6/11/24, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Byron A. Ayscue, age 35, of Mt. Carmel on a Gibson County Indiana Warrant for Domestic Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Intimidation-Defendant draws or uses a deadly weapon, Criminal Recklessness committed with a deadly weapon, and Criminal Mischief Damage is between $750 & $50k.  Mt. Carmel Police located Ayscue at a river camp located just off Hydraulic Ave.  Ayscue was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was issued the warrant and held pending extradition back to Gibson County. 

Hopper Leaving MCPD To Take Job In Wayne County

Today is the last day on the job for Mt. Carmel Police K-9 officer Daniel Hopper. Hopper has been with the MCPD for the last 8 years…7 of which were as K-9 officers. At this week’s city council meeting, police chief Mike McWilliams said Hopper will be missed…

Hopper is taking a position as school resource officer in Fairfield. McWilliams said he’ll continue to assist the department on an as-needed basis through the end of the month. Hopper’s role as K-9 officer will be filled by one of the existing city officers which McWilliams said hasn’t been determined yet. Training for the new K-9 officer would be a 6 week process.

Photo credit: Daniel Hopper Facebook page.