Putnam Scanner for Jan. 6, 2018

Friday, January 5, 2018

County Jail

Three people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently.

Friday

• At 2:17 a.m. Frank Adam Roche, 27, Fillmore, was lodged at the jail on a local warrant.

Thursday

• At 5:28 p.m. William Aton Grogan, 41, Greencastle, was taken into custody on an out-of-county warrant.

• At 4:52 p.m. Jared Lee Hornaday, 28, Terre Haute, was booked in for possession of methamphetamine, illegal possession of a syringe, possession of paraphernalia with a prior conviction and on a local warrant.

City Police

One recent property-damage accident was blamed on an out-of-town driver’s unfamiliarity with a local intersection, Greencastle City police reported.

The mishap occurred at 6:03 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of South Jackson and West Hanna streets as Emily Chew, 42, Reelsville was southbound, driving a 2011 Nissan Sentra.

At the same time, Samuel Paddock, 19, Indianapolis, was westbound on Hanna Street in a 2006 Buick Lacrosse and failed to yield the right of way to Chew, Capt. Charles Inman reported, as Paddock believed the intersection to be a four-way stop.

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

Three recent traffic citations were issued by Greencastle police officers.

• At 12:22 a.m. Friday, Todd Yeagley, 39, Greencastle, was cited by Officer Zach Rhine.

Stopped at Washington and Wood streets, Yeagley was ticketed for an infraction of driving with a suspended license.

• At 3:51 p.m. Thursday, Chad Herzog, 28, Coal City, was cited by Capt. Chris Jones.

Stopped on Hillsdale Avenue, Herzog was ticketed for driving with a suspended license with a prior offense.

• At 4:29 a.m. Thursday, Staci Rule, 48, Bainbridge, was cited by Officer Brad Hiatt.

Stopped eastbound on Indianapolis Road, Rule was ticketed for an infraction of driving with a suspended license.

Sheriff’s Department

Putnam County sheriff’s deputies investigated a pair of recent property-damage crashes.

• At 6:25 a.m. on Thursday, Valerie M. MacDonald, 62, Coatesville, had just pulled into the median of U.S. 40 from County Road 200 South in a 2017 Ford Escape. Brandon W. Dean, 32, Fillmore, was following MacDonald in a 1990 Honda Accord.

Dean told Deputy Matt Biggs he thought MacDonald began to pull into eastbound 40 so he proceeded into the median. When he looked back up, MacDonald’s vehicle was stationary in the median and he could not stop in time to avoid a rear-end collision.

Dean’s vehicle was towed. Damage was estimated at $5,001-$10,000.

• A Crawfordsville man was hospitalized and later charged with several crimes following an early-morning crash on New Year’s Day.

At 1:05 a.m. on Monday, Deputy Robert Soilleux was dispatched to South County Road 500 West just north of County Road 950 South for a single-vehicle crash.

Upon arrival, Soilleux found a 2003 Mazda MPV minivan with heavy front-end damage, sideways in the roadway, totally blocking the southbound lane and partially blocking the northbound lane. Tire tracks indicated the van had traveled off the east side of the road, stayed that way for a few hundred feet and then returned to the road and crossed over to the west side, where it made heavy front-end impact with a tree.

The apparently bounced back off the tree about 10 feet and came to rest sideways in the road.

Three different witnesses who happened upon the crash before Soilleux’s arrival, indicating they had made contact with the driver, who seemed to be intoxicated.

Upon reaching the vehicle, Soilleux found the driver, Donald R. O’Conner, 50, Crawfordsville, half in the driver’s seat and lying awkwardly on the deployed passenger side airbag. The deputy noted that O’Conner’s legs were partially pinned.

Soilleux said O’Conner’s eyes were bloodshot and had a “far off” stare. He also observed blood on his nose, forehead, lip and cheek, as well as what appeared to be vomit in the vehicle and evidence of alcoholic beverages.

O’Conner was initially cooperative, though groggy, as Soilleux questioned him. He later became agitated and refused to answer more questions.

He did tell Soilleux he was a cement finisher on his way home from work, working in Crawfordsville. When the deputy asked how he came to be in Putnam County, he responsed “Where am I? How did I get here?”

The Reelsville Fire Department and Putnam County Operation Life arrived to provide medical aid. He was removed from the vehicle and taken to Terre Haute Regional Hospital.

The results of a blood test were pending as the report was filed.

Initial charges against him included driving while intoxicated, driving as a habitual violator, driving with a suspended license, speed greater than reasonable under conditions, driving left of center and driving without proof of financial responsibility.

The vehicle was towed. Damage was estimated at $10,001-$25,000.

City Fire Dept.

Greencastle city firefighters have made 18 runs already in the new year, including six medical runs and one lift assist.

• At 2:09 a.m. Thursday, firefighters responded to 415-1/2 E. Walnut St., where a bad battery in a smoke detector prompted the call. They returned to station at 2:17 a.m.

• At 11:12 a.m. Wednesday, firefighters responded to a structure fire at Lot 80, Ottawa Park (see front page of Friday Banner Graphic). They returned to station at 4:37 a.m. Thursday.

• At 7:25 p.m. Wednesday, firefighters responded to a fire alarm at 402 Anderson St., a DePauw University dormitory, where burning incense was the cause. The alarm was reset and the unit returned to station at 7:40 p.m.

• At 9:35 a.m. Wednesday, a fire unit responded to The Waters, 1601 Hospital Drive, for a possible gas leak. Firefighters returned to station at 9:51 a.m.

• At 12:50 a.m. Wednesday, firefighters went to 315 E. Hanna St. when a sprinkler activated at a DePauw dorm. A broken sprinkler line was the cause. Firefighters returned to station at 1:42 a.m.

• At 2:54 p.m. Tuesday, firefighters were called to Phoenix Closures, 2000 S. Jackson St., due to a faulty detector in an air duct. They returned to station at 3:13 p.m.

• At 12:52 p.m. Tuesday, a fire alarm sent firefighters to College Street Hall, 800 S. College Ave. A dirty detector was the cause. The unit returned to station at 1:01 p.m.

• At 12:50 p.m. Tuesday, a hot smell that ended up as a bad light ballast sent firefighters to Abstract and Title, 50 N. Jackson St. They returned to station at 1:27 p.m.

• At 12:34 p.m. Tuesday, firefighters responded to a small structure fire that was out upon arrival at 3767 U.S. 231. Damage was reported as minimal and firefighters returned to station at 12:46 p.m.

• At 8:05 a.m. Tuesday, a fire alarm at 506 E. Hanna St., summoned firefighters. The result was a possible bad detector and the unit returned to station at 8:25 a.m.

• At 7:32 a.m. Tuesday, a gas odor sent firefighters to 1449 S. CR 275 East. Nothing was found and the unit returned to station at 8:05 a.m.

• At 9:54 a.m. Tuesday, a fire alarm at 800 S. College Ave. sent firefighters to the scene. Nothing was found. They returned to station at 10:13 a.m.

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.