Putnam Scanner for February 8, 2019

Nine people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently.

Thursday

• At 6:30 a.m. Timothy Gene Arnold, 29, Greencastle, was booked in for battery on a child.

• At 2:07 a.m. Tiffany Diane Targett, 33, Brazil, was lodged at the jail on a local warrant.

• At 12:01 a.m. Kermit Lee Mullins, 57, Mooresville, was taken into custody for disorderly conduct and public intoxication.

Wednesday

• At 4:43 p.m. Brittany Marie Saul, 22, Cloverdale, was housed at the jail for possession of marijuana and possession of a lookalike substance.

• At 2:58 p.m. Mindy Ann Wilson, 35, Mount Vernon, Ill., was booked in on a court order.

• At 3:43 a.m. Ryan James Dallman, 22, Mooresville, was lodged at the jail on a local warrant.

Tuesday

• At 6:27 p.m. David Eugene Tinsley, 64, Monrovia, was taken into custody for driving with a BAC of .08 or more.

• At 3:35 p.m. Michael Ray Burton, 35, Linden, was housed at the jail on a court order.

• At 10:26 a.m. Kameron Ethan Hayes, 20, Greencastle, was booked in on a court order.

Sheriff’s Department

Putnam County sheriff’s deputies investigated four recent property-damage accidents.

• At 11:23 p.m. on Tuesday, Cory M. Robinette, 29, Indianapolis, was eastbound on State Road 240 at County Road 525 East when his 1996 Dodge Ram ran off the road, hitting a culvert and then a power pole.

The driver was checked by medical personnel and signed a statement of release.

Deputy Randy Patrick estimated damage at $5,000-$10,000. The vehicle was towed.

• At 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday, John R. Powell, 65, Reelsville, was northbound on U.S. 231 at U.S. 40 in a 2000 GMC Sierra. Michael W. Powell, 49, Indianapolis, was eastbound on U.S. 40, approaching the intersection in a 2007 Chevrolet HHR.

John Powell initially told Deputy Patrick that he had a red light that turned green as he approached and he proceeded into the intersection.

However, Michael Powell also said he had a green light and that when he entered the intersection, he struck John Powell’s truck.

A witness to the incident told Patrick he was eastbound on U.S. 40 behind Michael Powell’s vehicle and that the northbound pickup driven by John Powell had disregarded the traffic signal.

John Powell later changed his statement to Patrick, saying he had a dash camera that showed he disregarded the signal, causing the incident.

Both Michael Powell and his wife, Sonya L. Powell, 43, Indianapolis, complained of body pain and were taken to Terre Haute Regional Hospital for immediate care. John Powell was checked out by medical personnel and signed a statement of release.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene. Patrick estimated damage at $10,000-$25,000.

• At 12:28 a.m. on Tuesday, Michael D. Irish, 59, Spencer, was westbound on Interstate 70 in the slow lane in a 1996 Jeep Cherokee.

Irish told Deputy Robert Soilleux his SUV began having mechanical issues, which caused him to drive approximately 45-55 mph with hazard lights on.

Irish said he saw headlights approaching from behind him at a high rate of speed. He attempted to pull onto the shoulder, but was struck from behind. The collision caused Irish’s vehicle to cross both westbound lanes of I-70 before it came to rest in the median, against a tree, facing eastbound.

Paul G. Howerton, 69, Herrin, Ill., told Soilleux he had been westbound in the fast lane in a 2016 Chrysler 200, attempting to pass a semi tractor-trailer when the semi changed lanes and ran him off the road into the median.

Howerton said he did not remember anything else because he was knocked unconscious and remained that way until he was awakened by another responding police officer.

Soilleux reported no evidence of the involvement of a third vehicle, and Irish said he saw no semi.

Soilleux said it appeared that Howerton’s vehicle had hit Irish’s, causing both to cross the westbound lanes and enter the median. Howerton’s vehicle came to rest approximately 100 feet farther west than Irish’s.

A cell phone was found inside Howerton’s vehicle, turned on and lighted up. Howerton immediately and repeatedly denied using it.

A Vigo County jail deputy was the first person to arrive on the scene, saying he happened upon it just after it occurred. The jail deputy said he did not see any other vehicles fleeing the scene. However, he did confirm that Howerton was unconscious upon his arrival.

Howerton was unable to provide any documentation on his vehicle.

He was taken from the scene with complaints of pain and shortness of breath. Irish did not have any injuries requiring immediate attention.

Both vehicles were towed. Soilleux estimated damage at $25,000-$50,000.

• At 7:04 p.m. on Monday, Michael A. Williams, 56, Reelsville, was northbound on County Road 400 West in a 2009 Ford Flex when he hit a tree that had fallen and was blocking the entire road.

Deputy Soilleux reported that it was extremely foggy with reduced visibility of only four to five car lengths.

Williams said he was not injured and his car was able to be driven from the scene.

Soilleux estimated damage at $5,000-$10,000.

City Fire

The Greencastle Fire Department responded to four recent dispatches:

• At 5:25 a.m. on Wednesday, GFD was dispatched to a public service call at 1126 Avenue B. GFD arrived at 5:37 and found that water was flooding into the residence. GFD notified the Department of Public Works of the flooding, and left the scene at 5:46 a.m.

• At 5:46 a.m. on Wednesday, GFD was dispatched to another public service call at 1047 Avenue C. GFD arrived at 5:48 and also found flooding into that home. GFD in turn notified Public Works, and went back into service at 5:56 a.m.

• At 9:39 p.m. on Wednesday, GFD was dispatched to 1306 S. Bloomington St. for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 9:45 but could not determine the cause of the alarm, which was reset before GFD arrived. GFD left at 9:55 p.m.

• At 12:19 a.m. on Thursday, GFD was called to a motor vehicle accident at 3583 S. County Rd. 200 W. GFD arrived on the scene at 12:25 to find that the car had struck a pole and had downed power lines. Duke Energy was called to address the damage and the road was closed. GFD went back into service at 2:13 a.m.

Additionally, GFD performed three medical assists and had one disregard during this time.

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.