On December 2, 2025, at 1:32 p.m. Gibson County Sheriff’s Deputies served a protective order on 30-year-old Alexander Slagle barring him from returning to a residence in the 1200 block of North Main Street in Princeton. At 3:33 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report that Mr. Slagle was at the residence that he was prohibited from being at. Upon arriving Deputy Wyatt Huntt found Mr. Slagle on the porch of the residence with the court order still in his pocket. At that point Deputy Hunt placed Mr. Slagle into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center where he was charged with Invasion of Privacy. Mr. Slagle posted a bond and was rearrested at the residence at 11:05 p.m. He is currently being held without bond.
Deputy Hunt was assisted in his investigations by Deputies Wes Baumgart, Eric Powell, and Sgt. Loren Barchett.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Hazelton Father Arrested for OWI while Transporting Two Children
Knox County – Tuesday evening, December 2, at approximately 5:08 p.m., Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies and Indiana State Police stopped a vehicle on US 50 near Gray Barn Road for speeding and for nearly striking two other vehicles. The driver was identified as Jaret VanPatten, 27, of Hazelton. While talking to the driver, officers detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage. VanPatten also displayed signs of impairment. VanPatten’s four-year-old daughter and six-year-old son were also in the vehicle. VanPatten was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes where officers continued their investigation and determined VanPatten was impaired. He was arrested for several criminal charges and transported to the Knox County Jail where he is currently being held on bond. While at the hospital, VanPatten was also arrested for disorderly conduct. Toxicology is pending.
VanPatten’s two children were released to a relative.
Arrested and Charges:
Jaret VanPatten, 27, Hazelton, IN
Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated with Passengers less than 18 years of age, Level 6 Felony
Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated, Class A Misdemeanor
Neglect of a Dependent, Level 6 Felony
Disorderly Conduct, Class B Misdemeanor
Arresting Officer: Trooper Tanner Hurley, Indiana State Police
Assisting Agency: Knox County Sheriff’s Office
Washington man arrested for driving while suspended
On December 2, 2025, at 9:55 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a slide off on County Road 350 East near County Road 250 South. Deputy Bart Wagner was dispatched to the scene and found a Gold 2024 Toyota Camry had slid off the roadway and was stuck in the mud. During a brief investigation into the incident Deputy Wagner discovered that the driver, 20-year-old Quan Boyde’s license was suspended on a prior driving while suspended conviction. At that point Deputy Wagner placed Mr. Boyde into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Detention Center where he was charged with Driving While Suspended/Prior.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Disturbance call leads to arrest of Owensville man
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.
