On December 2, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of a disturbance at a residence in the 6000 block of Thompson Lane near Owensville. Multiple law enforcement officers were dispatched to the scene and upon arriving Princeton Officer Ben Kiesel and Ben Michel got into a struggle with 23-year-old Chyle Linxwiler who was one of the people involved in the disturbance. When Deputy Levi Sims arrived on scene, he placed Mr. Linxwiler into custody and began an investigation into the incident. After speaking with the parties involved it was determined that Mr. Linxwiler had allegedly taken a cell phone belonging to another family member without their permission. Once the investigation was completed Deputy Sims transported Mr. Linxwiler to the Gibson County Detention Center where he was charged with Theft and Resisting Law Enforcement.
Owensville Police Officer Steven Parker also assisted in this investigation.
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 OWI
On December 1, 2025, at 11:26 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Eric Powell conducted a traffic stop on a Silver 2010 Chevy Equinox on State Road 68 near US 41 after observing the vehicle fail to stop for the traffic signal. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Powell observed multiple clues that the driver was under the influence and began a roadside OWI investigation. Once the investigation was completed Deputy Powell placed the driver, 28-year-old Kainen Coomer into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Detention Center. Upon arriving at the detention center Mr. Coomer was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.
Deputy Powell was assisted in his investigation by Deputies Michael Bates and Levi Sims.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mt. Carmel Man Jailed On Various Charges
A Mt. Carmel man is facing a long list of charges following a series of alleged domestic violence incidents.
34-year-old Jeremy Birkla remains in the Wabash County Jail after his arrest last week. According to court records, Birkla is charged with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, after he allegedly choked his girlfriend during an incident on November 23rd.
He also faces charges of unlawful restraint, for allegedly preventing the woman from leaving the residence, and domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor, for reportedly striking her in the face. In addition, Birkla is charged with interference with the reporting of domestic violence, also a Class A misdemeanor, after he allegedly took her phone to keep her from calling police or medical personnel.
Prosecutors have also filed a separate domestic battery charge stemming from an incident on November 21st, along with criminal damage to property for allegedly breaking a vehicle window belonging to the victim on November 10th.
Birkla made his first court appearance last Wednesday. A preliminary hearing is set for December 15th, and a jury trial is scheduled for February 2nd.
Birkla previously pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the 2012 death of Billy Gunzel and was sentenced at that time to 30 months of probation and 364 days of periodic imprisonment.
Haubstadt man arrested for Reckless Driving
On November 29, 2025, at approximately 8 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Eric Powell conducted a traffic stop on a White Ford Explorer for traveling at 108 miles per hour on US 41 near Dead Mans Curve. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Powell conducted a brief investigation where he placed the driver 26-year-old Anthony Sharp into custody. Once the investigation was completed Mr. Sharp was transported to the Gibson County Detention Center where he was charged with Reckless Driving.
Deputy Wes Baumgart and Owensville Officer Steven Parker assisted Deputy Powell in his investigation.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Disturbance leads to arrest of Patoka woman
On November 29, 2025, at 10:35 p.m. Gibson County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 200 block of South Main Street in Patoka. Upon arriving on scene Deputies separated the parties and began an investigation into the incident. During the investigation it was determined that the disturbance was over a debit card that one party was refusing to return to the other. Once the investigation was completed 26-year-old Kameron Thomas of Patoka was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center where she was charged with Theft.
Arresting Officer Michael Bates was assisted in his investigation by Deputies Wes Baumgart and Eric Powell. Also assisting in the investigation was Princeton Officer Logan Lashbrook.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Liquor License Transfer Approved
Acting as the city’s liquor control commissioner, Mt. Carmel Mayor Joe Judge has approved the transfer of a video gaming license from Rockstar Ventures, LLC which had operated out of 516 Market Street to Jameet Entertainment, Inc. Jameet currently operates two convenience stores and two liquor stores in Mt. Carmel. City officials say plans call for 8th Street Liquor to move to a new location to be built at 3rd and Walnut Street. The 8th Street liquor location would then be flipped to a gaming only location, utilizing the Class A liquor license that was obtained from Rockstar. Judge stressed that no new liquor licenses are being issued as this is only a transfer of an already existing license.
Princeton man arrested for DUI
On November 29, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Eric Powell conducted a traffic stop on a White Pontiac G6 after observing the vehicle traveling well below the posted speed limit. Upon following the vehicle a short distance Deputy Powell observed the vehicle cross the center of the roadway and fog line multiple times. At that point Deputy Powell stopped the vehicle on Main Street near Garfield Avenue in Princeton.
Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Powell detected multiple clues that the driver was intoxicated. At that point he began a roadside DUI investigation that resulted in the driver, 34-year-old Rigo Diaz Sanchez being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center. Upon arriving at the detention center Mr. Sanchez was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Operating a Vehicle Without Ever Being Licensed.
Deputy Wes Baumgart assisted Deputy Powell in his investigation.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Owensville man arrested for DUI
On November 27, 2025, at 1:43 a.m. Owensville Town Marshal Rodger Leister and Deputy Michael Bates conducted a traffic stop on a Grey 2021 Toyota passenger car for speeding on State Road 168 near County Road 500 West. Upon approaching the vehicle officers detected the odor of alcohol and other clues that the 23-year-old driver Logan Fauquher of Owensville might be under the influence of alcohol. At that point they began a roadside DUI investigation that resulted in Mr. Fauquher being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center. Upon arriving at the detention center Mr. Fauquher was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Georgia man arrested for DUI
On November 27, 2025, at 6:20 p.m. Gibson County Deputy U.B. Smith conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Broadway and First Avenue in Princeton on a Grey 2019 Honda Pilot after observing an equipment violation on the vehicle. Upon approaching the vehicle the driver, 54-year-old Lem Sanders of Pelham, Georgia exited the vehicle and met Deputy Smith at the rear of the vehicle. While speaking with Mr. Sanders, Deputy Smith detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage and began a roadside DUI investigation. At the conclusion of the inquiry Mr. Sanders was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center. Upon arriving at the detention center, Mr. Sanders was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.
Princeton Officer Logan Lashbrook assisted Deputy Smith in his investigation.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Princeton woman arrested on multiple charges
On November 27, 2025, at 11:09 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of an intoxicated female attempting to enter a residence on the west side of Princeton near Broadway. Officers from the Princeton Police and Gibson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and located 26-year-old Ashlyn Werner of Princeton. After a brief investigation Ms. Werner was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center where she was charged with Residential Entry and Criminal Mischief by the Princeton Police Department and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated by the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
