Indiana Crime
Lake Shafer Tubing Crash Results in Severe Injury and Arrests of John Mentel, 59, and Cole Hartman, 23
Wednesday, May 31, 2017, 8:00 AM
Monticello, IN – Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a boat crash that occurred on Memorial Day, on Lake Shafer. A man struck a pier while being towed on a tube.
On May 29, near 8 p.m., emergency personnel responded to a residence on Chamber Ct for a report of a man seriously injured after he, and his tube, collided with a dock support pole. The tube was being pulled by a 1993 Maxum ski boat. It was determined the occupant of the tube, Jason Mullendore, 31, of Lafayette, sustained a life-threatening leg injury and lost a considerable amount of blood. Emergency treatment was provided by bystanders and arriving personnel. Mullendore was transported to IU White Hospital by Monticello Fire Department Paramedics. Upon arriving at IU White Hospital, he was immediately flown to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
Indiana Conservation Officer’s and White County Sheriff’s Deputies began their investigation and were told by several occupants of the boat that Britany Mentel, 24, Lafayette was operating the boat at the time of the crash. It was later determined that all of the adults in the boat fabricated their story about who was actually driving the boat.
It has been determined that the boat was actually being operated by John Mentel, 59, Monticello.
Mullendore underwent emergency surgery in Indianapolis and is in serious condition. The injury resulted in the loss of his lower leg.
The investigation on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, by Indiana Conservation Officer’s resulted in the arrests of:
- John Mentel, 59, of Monticello for Misdemeanor False Informing
- Cole Hartman, 23, of Delphi for Misdemeanor False Informing
Hartman and Mentel were booked into the White County Jail.
This investigation is ongoing and additional charges and the arrests of others involved are possible.
All suspects in any criminal case are merely accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court.
SOURCE: Indiana DNR Law Enforcement
Jessica Skeens, 28, Also Arrested in 6-year-old’s Death
Tue, May 30, 2017, at 3:15 PM
Muncie – A second arrest was made this afternoon as the result of the ongoing investigation into a fatal crash that claimed the life of a 6-year-old girl Sunday afternoon. Sunday around 4:30 p.m. officers responded to a report of an overturned vehicle on northbound SR 67, the Muncie Bypass, just north of Meeker Avenue. Troopers Coley McCutcheon and Eric Patterson along with Delaware County Deputies arrived to find a car rolled over on the right side of the road.
The preliminary investigation indicated the driver, Jessica Skeens age 28 of Farmland, was driving a van north on the Muncie bypass with her boyfriend, Nathaniel Jordan, age 27 of Muncie, with two of her children in the middle seat in child restraint seats, and two more of her children in the rear seat without child restraint seats.
Skeens and Jordan had been arguing when Jordan punched Skeens and grabbed the steering wheel, causing her to lose control of the van. The vehicle left the right side of the roadway rolling over into the ditch, coming to rest on its wheels.
Skeens 6-year-old daughter, Taelyn Woodson, a back seat passenger who was not properly restrained in a child restraint seat, was partially ejected out of a window and succumbed to her injuries. The other three children in the van were transported to I.U. Health’s Ball Memorial Hospital for the treatment of minor injuries. Crash Reconstruction Investigator Trooper Scott Keegan was summoned to the scene to assist with the investigation.
After the prosecutor’s office preliminary review of the ongoing investigation, Jessica Skeens, age 28, was arrested this afternoon and charged with Neglect of a Dependent Causing Death, Level 1 Felony; Operating While Intoxicated Causing the Death of another person, a Level 5 Felony; Operating While Intoxicated with a passenger less than 18 years of age, Level 5 Felony and three counts of Neglect of a Dependent, Level 5 Felony.
Toxicology reports showed that Skeens had a B.A.C. over the .08% legal limit at the time of the crash. Skeens was lodged in the Delaware County Jail.This is all the information available for release at this time.
All Suspects Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law
SOURCE: Indiana State Police
Nathaniel Jordan, 27, of Muncie, Arrested After 6-year-old Killed in Car Crash
Sun, May 28, 2017, at 10:04 PM
Muncie – Sunday afternoon around 4:35 p.m. Delaware County dispatched a report of a one vehicle crash with ejection on northbound SR 67, the Muncie Bypass, just north of Meeker Avenue. Troopers Coley McCutcheon and Eric Patterson, along with Delaware County Deputies arrived to find a car off the right side of the road.
The preliminary investigation indicates the driver, Jessica Skeens age 28 of Farmland, was driving a van north on the Muncie Bypass with her boyfriend, Nathaniel Jordan, age 27 of Muncie, with two of her children in the middle seat in child restraint seats, and two more of her children in the rear seat without child restraint seats.
Skeens and Jordan were arguing when Jordan punched Skeens and grabbed the steering wheel, causing her to lose control of the van. The vehicle left the right side of the roadway rolling over into the ditch, coming to rest on its wheels.
Skeens 6-year-old daughter, Taelyn Woodson, a back seat passenger, was partially ejected out of a window and succumbed to her injuries. The other three children were transported to I.U. Health’s Ball Memorial Hospital for the treatment of minor injuries.
Jessica Skeens was transported from the scene for treatment of a broken arm. Nathaniel Jordan, who was treated for minor injuries and released, was arrested by troopers for Neglect of a Dependent Causing Death, Level 1 Felony, along with Felony Criminal Recklessness and Domestic Battery. He was lodged in the Delaware County Jail.
The crash remains under investigation, with further charges possible pending toxicology reports and further investigation into the crash. It is believed that alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash and that no or improper use of child restraints and seatbelts contributed to injuries in the crash.
All Suspects Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law
SOURCE: Indiana State Police
Indiana Department of Corrections Employee, Taylor Hardesty, 23, Arrested for Trafficking
Tuesday, May 9, 2017, 11:49 PM
Pendleton – A Correctional Officer with the Indiana Department of Corrections (IDOC) was arrested Tuesday afternoon as the result of a joint investigation between Department of Corrections Internal Affairs Officers and the Indiana State Police.
The events started earlier today when IDOC investigators contacted Detective Bob May at the Pendleton Post a little after 8 a.m. Investigators advised May they had discovered over 100 cell phones concealed in an employee’s car that was inside of the Pendleton Correctional Facility. The car had been driven into the prison, with permission, and dropped off by off-duty Correctional Officer Taylor Hardesty, age 23 of Indianapolis, to have the brakes repaired.
Hardesty was to return later to pick up his repaired car. Further investigation by Indiana State Police Detective Bob May led to Hardesty being located at the home of an acquaintance on the south side of Indianapolis this afternoon. Detective May arrested Hardesty and brought back to Madison County where he was lodged for Trafficking with an Inmate, Level 5 Felony, and Bribery, Level 5 Felony.
All Suspects Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law
SOURCE: Indiana State Police – Pendleton District 51
John Levi Bird, 16, of Pekin, Ind., shot by another juvenile
Tuesday, May 9, 2017, 9:41 PM
Washington County – Tuesday in the early afternoon hours, John Levi Bird, 16, from Pekin, IN, was shot by another juvenile. The shooting took place in a barn located near 10825 Honey Run Road in Washington County near Pekin.
The preliminary investigation has revealed the two juveniles were in a barn near the above mentioned location when one of the juveniles picked up a weapon that was located in the barn. When the juvenile picked up the weapon, he pulled the trigger, firing the weapon while it was pointed towards the victim, John Levi Bird. After John Levi Bird was shot he was transported by personal vehicle to the St. Vincent Hospital in Salem, IN. He was later transported by air ambulance to the University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville, KY with life-threatening injuries from the gunshot wound.
The shooter, a teenage male from the Pekin, IN area, was taken into custody by a detective from the Indiana State Police and transported to the Jackson County Juvenile Detention Center on the charge of Juvenile Delinquency.
Officers from the New Pekin Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department assisted Indiana State Police Detectives and Indiana State Police Crime Scene Technicians.
This investigation is continuing. No further information can or will be released at this time.
SOURCE: Indiana State Police – Sellersburg District 45
David Lee Burchett, 32, of Cloverdale, Arrested for Armed Robbery
Monday, May 8, 2017, 8:50 PM
Putnam County – A joint investigation involving Cloverdale Police Department, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, and the Indiana State Police, has resulted in the arrest of an armed robbery suspect.
Arrested: David Lee Burchett, age 32, of Cloverdale, IN.
Charges: (1) Count of Robbery; (1) Count of Pointing a Firearm; (1) Count of Intimidation
Incarcerated in the Putnam County Jail
On Thursday, April 6, 2017, at approximately 12:19 a.m., Putnam County 911 received a call from the Casey’s gas station at 355 North Main Street in Cloverdale, reporting an armed robbery. The suspect was a white male 5-08 to 6-00 tall, wearing a black bandanna over his face, black baseball style cap, and dark clothing. The suspect brandished a black revolver style handgun and demanded money and cigarettes, in which he received approximately $300 and approximately 14 cartons of cigarettes. The suspect then fled north from the store. Over the next several minutes, officers from the three agencies searched the area but were not able to locate the man.
Hours later at approximately 8:50 a.m., Putnam County 911 received a domestic battery call from 250 South Lafayette Street, Apartment 1. Officers responded and noticed the domestic battery suspect appeared to match the description of the earlier armed robbery suspect. Officers arrested David L. Burchett for domestic battery and continued their investigation into the armed robbery.
Over the next few days, surveillance footage was reviewed, search warrants on the apartment and Burchett’s vehicle were executed, and several interviews were conducted. All leading to the Putnam County arrest warrant for David L. Burchett.
The Putnam County arrest warrant was issued this morning, and Cloverdale Police Officer David Brown spotted David Burchett around 4:20 this afternoon, operating his vehicle westbound from Cloverdale on State Road 42. A traffic stop was initiated and Burchett was taken into custody without incident by Cloverdale Officer David Brown, Marshal Steve Hibler, and Master Trooper DuJuan Presley-McFadden.
The lead investigating officer on this case was Cloverdale Police Officer David Brown. Assisting were Cloverdale Town Marshal Steve Hibler; ISP Putnamville Detectives Sergeant Sam Stearley and Troy Cobb, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, and the Office of Putnam County Prosecutor Timothy Bookwalter.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
SOURCE: Indiana State Police – Putnamville District 53
Kevin Brown, 25, of Swayzee, Arrested for Child Molestation in Miami County
Monday, May 8, 2017, 4:52 PM
Miami County – Sunday, a criminal investigation by Indiana State Police Detective Michelle Jumper resulted in the arrest of Kevin Brown, 25, Swayzee, IN, for a felony charge of child molestation.
Detective Jumper started an investigation after receiving information, from the Miami County Division of the Indiana Department of Child Services, that a Miami County girl had possibly been molested. Detective Jumper’s investigation revealed that Brown had allegedly committed a sexual act on a then 12-year-old girl. The alleged crime occurred at a Miami County home between August 1, 2015 and January 31, 2016.
Yesterday, Brown surrendered to deputies at the Miami County Jail. He was then served a Miami Circuit Court arrest warrant alleging a single charge for child molestation.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
SOURCE: Indiana State Police – Peru District 16
Putnamville 2017 Cinco de Mayo DUI Patrol Tally
Saturday, May 6, 2017, 8:20 AM
Putnamville — Troopers from the Putnamville Post conducted a designated DUI (Driving Under the Influence) patrol Friday evening into the early morning hours of today. During the enforcement effort, troopers compiled the following:
Traffic citations…………………..32
Moving citations…………………..11
Traffic warnings…………………..99
Seatbelt citations…………………..4
Child Restraints citations…………..1
DUI arrests…………………………2
Minor Consuming arrests………….22
Criminal arrests……………………25 (mostly minor drug/alcohol violations)
The Indiana State Police Putnamville District will continue throughout the year to conduct random DUI patrols targeting dangerous and impaired driving. Drive sober or use alternate transportation. To report a suspected impaired driver dial 911.
SOURCE: Indiana State Police – Putnamville District 53
Three Arrested in New Castle on Felony Drug Charges
Thursday, May 4, 2017, 3:35 PM
New Castle – A New Castle man and two women were arrested last evening as the result of an ongoing drug investigation involving a Meth Suppression Trooper and State Parole Officers. Last evening around 6 p.m. troopers went to the residence at 811 South 17th St. to serve a search warrant as part of the ongoing investigation.
During their search troopers found Methamphetamine and personnel from the Department of Child Services had to remove two children from the home under the age of 5. Arrested was the children’s mother, Savannah Dorris, age 21, charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Syringe, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Neglect of a Dependent, all Level 6 Felony charges.
Also arrested was Savannah Dorris’s mother, Ty Dorris, age 50, charged with the same Level 6 charges. Dusty Kidd, age 36, was charged with a felony Parole Violation Warrant, Possession of Methamphetamine and Maintaining a Common Nuisance, all Level 6 Felony Charges.
Henry County Animal Control also had to be called to the residence to remove several dogs. Meth Suppression was assisted by State Parole, New Castle Police Department, Department of Child Services Henry County Department of Animal Control and Henry County Prosecutor Joe Bergacs.
All Suspects Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law