Putnam Scanner for Jan. 22, 2021

County Jail

Eight people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently.

Wednesday

• At 1:53 p.m. David L. Mitchell, 22, Poland, was housed at the jail for possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia.

• At 1:29 p.m. Jasmine L. Smith, 21, Greencastle, was booked in on a warrant and for unlawful possession of a syringe.

Tuesday

• At 9:04 p.m. Levi T. Stearley, 29, Brazil, was lodged at the jail on a local warrant.

• At 8:57 a.m. Ryan L. Beauchamp, 40, Greencastle, was taken into custody for invasion of privacy.

• At 4:17 a.m. Don L. Smith, 60, Greencastle, was housed at the jail on a local warrant.

Monday

• At 2 p.m. Shawn M. Passwater, 34, Elkhart, was booked in for driving with a suspended license with a prior conviction.

Friday, Jan. 15

• At 2:20 p.m. Justin M. Gardner, 22, Brazil, was lodged at the jail for sexual misconduct with a minor.

• At 12:54 p.m. Jason L. Jones, 41, Greencastle, was taken into custody for possession of a narcotic drug, unlawful possession of a syringe, possession of paraphernalia, false informing and driving with a suspended license with a prior conviction.

City Police

One recent arrest was reported by Greencastle City Police officers.

• At 10:35 p.m. Wednesday, Thomas E. Colantonio, 57, Greencastle, was arrested by Officer Angela Taylor.

Colantonio was taken into custody at a Castlebury Apartments residence on a Putnam County warrant for battery and disorderly conduct.

Three recent property-damage accidents were reported by city officers.

• At 10:37 a.m. Sunday, a one-vehicle mishap was investigated by Sgt. Ed Wilson.

Michael Houghton, 26, Greencastle, was eastbound on Indianapolis Road, driving a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, when at the last second, he reportedly decided to turn left to go to the Goodwill store.

The vehicle slid and struck a light pole with a concrete base, resulting in a estimated $2,500-$5,000.

• At 6:27 p.m. Saturday, a one-vehicle mishap was reported by Sgt. Wilson.

Kyle Alcorn, 30, Greencastle, was westbound on Veterans Memorial Highway near South Jackson Street, driving a 2016 Chevrolet Trail Blazer, when a deer ran into the roadway, striking the left side of the vehicle.

Damage was estimated at $1,000-$2,500.

• At 3:37 a.m. Saturday, a one-vehicle accident occurred on snow-covered Warren Drive near State Road 240.

Officer Luke Brown reported the Rachel Hinton, 48, Atmore, Ala., was southbound, driving a 2008 Dodge Durango when she lost control of the vehicle on the slick roadway. The vehicle left the road and struck a fire hydrant on the west side of Warren Drive with the passenger side, flattening a tire.

Damage was estimated at $1,000-$2,500.

• At 10:17 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, a two-vehicle accident at Indianapolis Road and Calbert Way was investigated by Officer Taylor.

Kortnee Sparks, 18, Fillmore, was eastbound on Indianapolis Road, driving a 2008 Ford Edge, when Christlynn Jones, 18, Greencastle, driving a 2004 Cadillac, reportedly turned left from Calbert Way in front of Sparks and a collision occurred. Jones told Officer Taylor that she thought she had the green light.

Both vehicles needed to be towed with damage estimated at $2,500-$5,000.

Sheriff’s Office

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

• At 8:46 p.m. on Saturday, Vincent J. Scherschel, 30, Roachdale, was traveling on County Road 500 East in a 2008 GMC Sierra.

Scherschel told Deputy Josh Deal he met another vehicle. The two vehicles passed each other, but Scherschel’s truck got too close to the shoulder and ran off into the ditch.

The truck was out of the ditch once Deal arrived.

The vehicle was towed. Deal estimated damage at $5,000-$10,000.

• At 3:55 a.m. on Saturday, Kaylea C. Newgent, 18, Greencastle, was southbound on County Road 400 East in a 2019 Nissan 210 Deluxe when she hit an icy patch on the road. The car slid into the ditch.

Newgent complained of neck pain and was transported to Putnam County Hospital for further evaluation.

The vehicle was towed. Deputy Deal estimated damage at $2,500-$5,000.

• At 7:04 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, Eric J. Price and Dawn R. Williams were sitting inside the residence at 3098 Van Bibber Lake Estates when they heard a loud bang outside.

Price and Williams told Deputy Deal they went to their window to see a 1999 Chevrolet pickup pulling away from the scene.

The driver, Brandon P. Rumley, 44, Greencastle, parked his truck and then walked back to the crash site, where he had sideswiped two parked vehicles, a 2000 Pontiac Firebird registered to Price and a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier registered to Williams.

Deal arrived and collected all relevant information, discovering that Rumley was neither insured nor licensed. He was taken into custody for Level 6 felony driving as a habitual traffic violator. He was booked in the Putnam County Jail at 8:21 p.m.

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

• At 4:53 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, Robert Carter, 35, Roachdale, was westbound on County Road 900 North in a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, traveling at what Reserve Deputy Ken Rozelle described as an extremely high rate of speed.

Carter crested a hill just east of County Road 700 East and due to his speed, the vehicle became airborne. When it regained contact with the roadway, it abruptly turned left and left the road.

The car then destroyed 120 feet of fence and traveled 225 feet, clearing 30 feet of creek and then flipping at least two times, before coming to a stop upright, another 69 feet from the creek.

The total distance traveled once leaving the road was 324 feet.

Carter was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle, coming to rest 25 feet from the car. He suffered multiple injuries and was transported to IU Methodist Hospital in serious condition.

Rozelle was assisted at the scene by Deputy Brian Helmer and Bainbridge Deputy Marshal Adam Logan.

The car was towed. Damage was estimated at $2,500-$5,000.

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.