Putnam Scanner for January 7, 2020

Three people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently.

Saturday

• At 7:17 p.m. Kory L. Kennedy, 25, Bainbridge, was lodged at the jail for driving without ever receiving a license.

• At 1:29 p.m. Roy A. Mitchell, 30, Poland, was housed at the jail on a writ of body attachment.

Friday

• At 2:40 p.m. Marcos B. Hernandez, 42, Indianapolis, was booked in for driving while intoxicated.

City Police

Two recent arrests were reported by the Greencastle Police Department.

-- At 2:35 p.m. Saturday, Ashlee Nelson, 38, Greencastle, was arrested at the Greencastle Police Station by Officer Darrel Bunten.

Nelson is facing charges of possession of paraphernalia, resisting law enforcement and battery on law enforcement.

Nelson reportedly resisted when officers tried to handcuff her.

She was lodged in the Putnam County Jail.

-- At 8:06 p.m. Friday, Janice McCullough, 40, Greenwood, was arrested by Officer Luke Brown for criminal trespassing at the Greencastle Walmart store.

Already banned from another Walmart, McCullough tried to enter the Greencastle store and was arrested.

She was lodged in the Putnam County Jail.

Sheriff’s Department

Putnam County sheriff’s deputies investigated two recent property-damage crashes.

• At 8 p.m. on Saturday, Joseph R. Pilkin, 25, Greencastle, was delivering food for his work in a 2005 Ford F-150.

Pilkin told Deputy Jeffery Freeman he pulled into the wrong driveway at 4684 S. U.S. 231. He then turned around in the driveway, going into the grass and running over a gas man sticking 10-12 inches out of the ground.

The gas main, owned by Vectren, broke and began leaking gas. The leak was later fixed.

The impact caused minor damage to the fender well of the truck.

Freeman estimated damage at $2,500-$5,000.

• At 2:45 a.m. on Saturday, Taylor B. Strange, 30, Fillmore, was southbound on County Road 300 East south of County Road 500 North in a 2005 Dodge Ram.

The truck left the road and entered the ditch, where it struck a large power pole, breaking it in half from the impact and causing power outages in the area.

Strange left the scene without notifying law enforcement of the crash. Parke County REMC contacted law enforcement when the vehicle was discovered.

Strange was back on the scene when police arrived.

Strange told Deputy Freeman she felt something break in the front end, causing the vehicle to drive off the roadway. However, Freeman found no evidence of anything broken or displaced in the drive train.

The truck was towed. Freeman estimated damage at $10,000-$25,000.

City Fire

The Greencastle Fire Department responded to six recent dispatches:

• At 12:29 a.m. on Friday, GFD responded to a smoke scare at 10 Frazier St. Firefighters arrived at 12:33 and found the homeowner burning a wood stove through a chimney. GFD went back into service at 12:43 a.m.

• At 7:15 p.m. on Friday, GFD responded to an electrical scare at 1853 S. Glen Browning Dr. Firefighters arrived at 7:21 to find that a stove had malfunctioned and burned the wall behind it. The power and breaker were turned off, and the stove was disconnected. GFD advised the homeowner to consult an electrician, and then went back into service at 7:27 p.m.

• At 3:20 p.m. on Saturday, GFD was called to 125 W. Berry St. for a reported unauthorized burn. Units arrived at 3:23 and found the homeowner burning boxes of paper and sticks. The fire was extinguished, and the homeowner was advised of the city burn ordinance. GFD went back into service soon after the fire was put out.

• At 6:08 p.m. on Saturday, GFD was called to the area of Bloomington Street and Westlane Road for a reported unauthorized burn. Units arrived at 6:16 to find the homeowner burning down a shed. While the fire was under control, the homeowner was advised of the city burn ordinance. GFD went back into service at 6:33 p.m.

• At 8:33 p.m. on Saturday, GFD was alerted to a potential vehicle fire at 700 E. Walnut St. Firefighters found the vehicle at 8:37 and saw that it was steaming, but confirmed that it was not on fire. The cause was found to be from leaking antifreeze. GFD went back into service at 8:52 p.m.

• At 8:40 p.m. on Sunday, GFD was dispatched to 106 S. Spring St. for a smoke alarm. Firefighters arrived at 8:41 and determined the alarm was due to cooking. The alarm was then reset. GFD left at 8:47 p.m.

Additionally, GFD performed eight medical assists and had two disregards 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.