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Indiana DNR Law Enforcement

Alec Harris, 18, of Fishers, Seriously Injured in Tubing Accident at Geist Reservoir

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Saturday, July 15, 2017, 10:21 AM

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating boat accident which occurred on Geist Reservoir Friday afternoon. At approximately 3:25 P.M. the Fishers Police Department received a 911 call from the 17-year old operator of the boat. When officers arrived at the scene, located on the northeast end of the reservoir in Hamilton County, they discovered the victim, Alec Harris of Fishers (age 18), with serious injuries to both feet. He was transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where he underwent surgery to repair deep lacerations, broken bones, and torn tendons and ligaments.

Upon further investigation, Indiana Conservation Officer Billy Doss determined that Harris’ injuries had been caused by a propeller strike. Harris had been tubing when the accident occurred. He had been thrown off the tube in a turn and the boat which was towing him came back around and ran over him. Neither of the 15-year old girls on board the boat who were observing saw Harris fall off the tube and the operator was unaware until it was too late.

Indiana Conservation Officers would like to remind boaters of the importance of proper observing during towing activities. Indiana law requires that observers give their “full attention” to persons being towed at all times.

Alcohol was not a factor in the accident, and no charges are expected to be filed.

Sent by Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 4

Ronnie M. Gore, 74, of Covington, Recovered from Raccoon Lake

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Friday, July 14, 2017, 9:03 PM

Rockville, IN – Indiana Conservation Officers responded to a call about a man swimming in Raccoon Lake who failed to resurface.

The incident took place around 4:38 p.m. this afternoon. Ronnie M. Gore, 74, of Covington, jumped off a boat to swim and appeared to be struggling briefly before disappearing underwater. Witness boating with Mr. Gore were able to give an approximate location of where the incident occurred. Indiana Conservation Officers used sonar technology to locate Mr. Gore’s body, which was recovered by the Indiana Conservation Officer Dive Team at 6:42 p.m.

Indiana Conservation Officers are currently investigating the incident, although no foul play is suspected at this time. An autopsy is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. tomorrow at Regional Hospital in Terre Haute.

Bellmore Volunteer Fire Department, Parke County EMS, and Parke County Sheriff’s Department assisted at the scene.

Sent by Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 5

Michelle Williams, 32, Dillsboro, Injured in Off-Road Vehicle Crash

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Sunday, July 9, 2017, 5:26 PM

Dearborn County – Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) crash that resulted in the operator being flown to the University of Cincinnati Hospital after sustaining a head injury.

At approximately 3:50 p.m. Sunday afternoon, Officers were contacted about an ORV crash on private property in Dillsboro, Dearborn County, where the operator sustained a head injury.

Michelle Williams, 32, Dillsboro, was flown to the University of Cincinnati Hospital for medical treatment of injuries sustained after crashing her ORV.

Michelle was operating her Polaris Razor ORV on private property in Dillsboro when she conducted unsafe movements and operations. The unsafe operations caused the ORV to be flipped onto its side.

A 10-year-old passenger from Lawrenceburg was uninjured in the ORV crash.

Neither Michelle nor the 10-year-old passenger was wearing a helmet or seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Indiana Conservation Officers, Dillsboro EMS, Dillsboro Fire Department, and Dearborn County Sherri’s Department were on the scene of the crash.

A toxicology report will be conducted to determine if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash.

A reminder that anyone under the age of 18 operating an ORV or being a passenger of an ORV is required by State Law to wear a DOT approved helmet on private and public property.

 

Sent by Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 9

Tammy Russell, 52, Killed in Parke County ORV Crash

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Sunday, July 9, 2017, 5:44 AM

Rockville, IN – Indiana Conservation Officers responded to a call of an off-road vehicle crash on a county roadway Sunday morning.

The incident took place around 1:13 a.m. Sunday morning along Marshall Road in Rockville.

Andrew Crouch, 41, was operating a Suzuki four-wheeler when he lost control in a shallow curve and crashed. Crouch was transported to Union Hospital and later airlifted to IU Health in Indianapolis for multiple serious injuries.

The passenger, Tammy Russell, 52, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Indiana Conservation Officers are currently investigating the incident, and an autopsy is scheduled for July 10, 2017 at Regional Hospital.

No helmets or protective gear were present at the scene. Alcohol is suspected of being a contributing factor of the crash.

Parke County Sheriff’s Department, Parke County Ambulance Service, and Rockville Police Department assisted at the scene.

 

Sent by Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 5

Paige Conover, 25, of Kailua, Hawaii, Injured in Noble County Off Road Vehicle Accident

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Thursday, July 6, 2017, 11:32 PM

Noble County – On July 5, 2017, at 1:23 pm, Indiana Conservation Officers investigated an ORV accident involving injury in a field near Avilla.

Dylan Stewart, 33, of Kailua, Hawaii, was operating his father’s 2015 Polaris RZR at a considerably slow speed in a hay field on his family’s property when he struck a limb hidden in the grass with the right front tire.

The limb entered the cab of the side by side ORV through the thin plastic fire wall behind the front tire and impaled the left thigh of the passenger Paige Conover, 25, also of Kailua, Hawaii. The limb then embedded itself into the driver’s seat.

Conover was flown to Parkview Regional Medical Center by Samaritan Helicopter with severe leg injuries.

Departments assisting on scene were Noble County Sheriff’s Department, Parkview Ambulance Service, and Parkview Samaritan Helicopter.

Sent by Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 2

6 Year-old girl Lifelined to Riley Hospital after ATV crash July 4th

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Tuesday, July 4, 2017, 6:28 PM

Rosedale, Ind. – Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an ATV crash involving a six year-old girl. She suffered serious chest injuries and was taken by ambulance to Union Hospital in Terre Haute. She was later flown to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

The girl was operating a 3 wheel ATV when she failed to negotiate a turn and drove the ATV over a steep embankment, approximately 20 feet down, into a creek. The girl was pinned under the ATV for a short time until her mother lifted it and removed her. The girl was wearing a helmet which was slightly damaged.

The 911 call was placed to the Vigo County Central Dispatch Center at 2:01 p.m. The crash occurred on Valley View Lane near Rosedale, Indiana.

The machine was a 1985, red, Honda, 80cc, 3 wheel ATV.

Responding agencies: Vigo County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, Otter Creek Fire Department, and Trans-Care Ambulance service and Indiana Conservation Officers.

Sent by Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 5

Miguel A. Perez-Murillo, 34, Drowns in Eagle Creek Reservoir

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Friday June 30, 2017, 11:51 PM

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a possible drowning that occurred Friday afternoon at Eagle Creek Reservoir in northwest Marion County.

Friday afternoon at approximately 4:43 p.m., authorities were dispatched to 4000 block of Dandy Trail for a person in the water. Multiple witnesses observed a Hispanic male go under the surface of the water and not re-surface.

Divers with the Indianapolis Fire Department deployed and were able to recover the victim at 5:23 p.m. The victim was then transported to IU Methodist Hospital.

Despite the quick response and recovery, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at 5:53 p.m. The victim has been identified as Miguel A. Perez-Murillo, 34, of Indianapolis. The family has been notified and have made a positive identification.

The investigation is underway into the events leading up to and the reason for Perez-Murillo to end up in the water.

An autopsy will be conducted tomorrow morning to determine the cause of death.

Indiana Conservation Officers were assisted on the scene by IFD, IMPD and Pike Township Fire Department.

SOURCE: Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 6

Man Recovered from Wabash River on Monday

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Tuesday, June 13, 2017, 10:43 AM

Terre Haute, IN – Indiana Conservation Officers responded to a call about a man struggling in the water near Fairbanks Park.

The incident took place around 2:15 p.m. Monday afternoon when witnesses reported a man struggling in the Wabash River before disappearing under the water. Indiana Conservation Officers used sonar technology to locate and recover the body of a male victim.

Based on the clothing description of the victim in witness accounts conflicting with that worn by the recovered victim and a review sonar data, Indiana Conservation Officers initially believed there was a possibility of a second individual in the water and extended their search area. No other victims were located. The search area extension located the belongings of the original victim along the shoreline and a nearby campsite on city property containing possible evidence of a violent crime scene. Terre Haute City Police Department detectives were contacted to investigate the campsite, which was determined to not be related to the water recovery.

Indiana Conservation Officers are currently investigating the incident, and an autopsy is being completed this morning. The identity of the victim is being withheld until relatives can be located and notified.

Sugar Creek Fire Department and Terre Haute City Fire Department both assisted at the scene.

SOURCE: Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 5

Body of Anthony Pinner Jr., 39, of Indianapolis, Recovered in Saxony Lake

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Sunday, June 11, 2017, 9:46 PM

Fishers – Indiana Conservation Officers along with the Fishers Police Department and Fishers Fire Department responded to a call of a missing paddle boarder Sunday at Saxony Lake in Fishers.

At approximately 3:23 p.m. Sunday afternoon, agencies were dispatched to the 13000 block of Pennington Road in Fishers in reference to a paddle boarder the fell into the water and began to struggle before going under.

A witness entered the water in attempt to render aid, but was unsuccessful making it to the victim. Upon arrival, Fishers Police and Fire divers entered the water in attempt to locate the victim.

Indiana Conservation Officers arrived with sonar and were able to locate the victim and place divers in the direct vicinity. At 7:51 p.m. An Indiana Conservation Officer diver and a Fishers Police Department Diver recovered the victim.

The victim has been identified as Anthony Pinner Jr., 39, of Indianapolis. Investigators have learned through interviews, that Pinner could swim, but the exact cause of the incident is still under investigation.

An autopsy will be conducted tomorrow morning to determine the cause of death.

A life jacket was located attached to the paddle board but was not in use at the time of the incident. Indiana Conservation Officers would like to remind the public to always wear your life jacket.

SOURCE: Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 6

Eddie Vance, 57, of Muncie, Arrested for Fleeing, Drug Possession, DUI, Battery on an Officer, and 9 Warrants

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Delaware County – Indiana Conservation Officers arrested Eddie Vance, 57, of Muncie, yesterday on multiple charges after he attempted to flee when officers initiated a traffic stop.

Conservation Officers Jordan Brand and Rhett Braun observed Vance operating a moped with no license plate in the area of Jackson St. and Ohio Ave. in Muncie. When the officers turned on their emergency lights and siren to initiate the stop, Vance crashed the moped and fled on foot.

When the officers caught Vance, he fought with them, biting one of the officers. A taser was used twice with no effect. Two anonymous citizens stepped in to help the officers subdue Vance. Vance was found to be in possession of cocaine and heroin.

Vance had received only minor scrapes, but was transported to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital to be checked for injuries and for a blood draw, before being booked into the Delaware County Jail.

Preliminary charges include driving under the influence of drugs, resisting law enforcement, battery on law enforcement, possession of cocaine, and possession of heroin. Vance also had 9 active warrants.

Indiana Conservation Officers wish to thank the anonymous citizens who came to their aid during the struggle.

 

SOURCE: Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 4