Scanner for 03-04-15

Sheriff's Department

* A 48-year-old Greencastle man was recently cited for leaving the scene of a property damage accident following a suspicious crash on County Road 500 East.

At 7:05 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, sheriff's department Capt. Tom Helmer was dispatched to the crash. He arrived to find a a 2000 Ford F-150, but no driver or passengers on the scene.

The truck had been southbound and left the road on the east side, hitting a highway sign before continuing about 90 feet, hitting a utility pole and fracturing it in numerous spots.

The truck continued another 70 feet after impact with the pole.

A witness, Phillip Dooley of Greencastle, told Helmer he had picked up two young males from the scene of the accident and took them to Castlebury Apartments in Greencastle. Dooley said neither young man was injured.

Officers from the sheriff's department and Greencastle Police Department attempted to locate the two young men, but could not.

Nearly an hour after Helmer's arrival on the scene, 48-year-old James K. McNew arrived on the scene, telling Helmer he had been the driver. McNew said he hit a deer, which caused him to lose control.

Upon being told this account, Helmer searched the area for deer tracks, but could find none.

Helmer furthermore told McNew that the witness had said the crash involved two younger men.

McNew continued to claim he was driving the vehicle, which belonged to his mother.

The deputy cited McNew for leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

McNew was uninjured. Damage was estimated at $10,001-$25,000.

The Fillmore Fire Department assisted with debris clean-up due to the extensive damage to the pole.

* At 5:50 a.m. on Friday, Daniel A. Wade, 46, Bainbridge, was westbound on U.S. 36 in a 2013 Ford Fusion.

Wade told Helmer he was going about 50 mph when he hit a deer with the right front of his car. Following the crash, Wade drove to the Groveland BP to report the accident.

No injuries were reported.

Damages were estimated at $2,501-$5,000.

County Jail

Four people were booked into the Putnam County Jail recently.

* At 4 a.m. on Saturday, Joshua Allen Vanover, 27, Greencastle, was arrested as a habitual traffic violator.

At 6:27 a.m., Crystal Amber Thomas, 26, Greencastle, was housed at the jail for operating while intoxicated.

* At 4:23 p.m. Monday, Kevin Wesley Davis, 33, Greencastle, was charged with battery on a child.

At 6:14 p.m., Richard Anthony Sandlin, 48, Wilmington, N.C., was booked in for driving while intoxicated.

City Police

Three recent arrests were reported by Greencastle City Police officers.

* At 4:50 p.m. Monday, Michael Anderson, 21, listed as homeless but from Greencastle, was arrested at the Putnam County Public Library.

Picked up on a Putnam County warrant for theft and criminal trespassing, Anderson was arrested by Officer Darrel Bunten and lodged in the Putnam County Jail.

* At 6:24 a.m. Sunday, Daniel Jewell, 33, Clayton, was arrested by Officer Nick Eastham for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

Stopped at the McClure station on South Jackson Street, Jewell was lodged in the Putnam County Jail after registering a blood-alcohol content level of .097 percent under portable breathalyzer testing.

* At 5:30 p.m. Friday, Brittney Thompson, 24, Greencastle, was arrested by Officer Kyle Lee at the TSC Store in Putnam Plaza.

Picked up on a warrant for parole violation, Thompson was lodged in the Putnam County Jail.

Meanwhile, as the result of another traffic stop at 3 a.m. Sunday, a 23-year-old Greencastle man is facing a charge of reckless possession of paraphernalia.

Andrew McGranahan will be summoned into court after he was cited by Officer Matt Huffman following a traffic stop at Bloomington and Martinsville streets.

One recent property-damage accident was investigated by city officers.

The two-vehicle mishap occurred at 3:15 p.m. Monday on South Locust Street near Berry Street. Vickie Moore, 63, Greencastle, was eastbound on Berry Street, approaching the stopsign at Locust Street in a 2015 Jeep Cherokee.

Meanwhile, Rachel Gutish, 18, Terre Haute, was turning right onto Berry Street in a 2009 Ford F-150 when she reportedly made a wide turn and her truck struck the driver's side of the Moore vehicle, Officer Bunten noted.

The 2015 Jeep was damaged along the entire length of the vehicle, police said, while the Gutish vehicle sustained only minor damage.

Total damage was estimated at $2,500-$5,000.

City Fire

The Greencastle Fire Department has performed one lift assist and responded to numerous dispatches recently.

* At 9:56 a.m. Saturday, GFD was called to 1601 Hospital Dr. for a fire alarm due to cooking.

* At 12:31 p.m. Saturday, GFD was dispatched to a fire alarm at 413 S. Locust St. that had been triggered due to a smoke from an stove top.

* At 11:42 p.m. Sunday, GFD responded to fire alarm at 107 W. Hanna St. although no determination was made as to what triggered the alarm.

* At 11:27 a.m. Monday, GFD was called to a fire alarm at 208 E. Olive St. GFD arrived to a strong smell of hairspray and determined the alarm was triggered from excessive use of hair products.

Information included in the Putnam Scanner is taken from reports provided to the Banner Graphic by the Greencastle Police, the Greencastle Fire and the Putnam County Sheriff's departments.

Individuals listed in the blotter have been arrested on probable cause and have not been formally charged. Charging information may change after an initial arrest.

Questions about listed charging information should be directed to the arresting agency.