Putnam Scanner for Nov. 9, 2021

County Jail

Five people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently.

Monday

• At 1:24 a.m. Roger T. Hines, 39, Indianapolis, was lodged at the jail on a local warrant.

Sunday

• At 8:47 p.m. Joniqua S. Simmons, 28, Indianapolis, was taken into custody for battery.

• At 12:55 p.m. Timothy C. Day, 59, Cloverdale, was housed at the jail on a Clay County warrant.

• At 12:15 a.m. Earl C. Nicholson, 33, Cloverdale, was booked in on a writ.

Saturday

• At 7:16 p.m. Orlando P. Fonzeca, 25, Indianapolis, was lodged at the jail for driving while intoxicated and driving without ever receiving a license.

City Police

One recent arrest was reported by Greencastle City Police.

• At 11:22 a.m. Monday, Matthew Brackin, 36, Greencastle, was arrested at an Avenue C residence by Chief Tom Sutherlin.

Taken into custody on a Putnam County warrant with an original charge of auto theft, Brackin was lodged in the Putnam County Jail.

Sheriff’s Office

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

• At 3:07 p.m. on Saturday, Kelli R. Warren, 40, Greencastle, was westbound on U.S. 36 in a 2016 Jeep Patriot. Paul E. Hayes, 69, Indianapolis, was also westbound in a 2022 Dodge Ram.

Warren, who is a United States Postal Service rural carrier, told Deputy Scott Ducker she was trying to make a left turn into a driveway at 4692 West U.S. 36 when Hayes’ vehicle struck the left side of her vehicle. The impact pushed the Jeep off the road and into a road construction sign.

Hayes told Ducker he was attempting to pass Warren’s vehicle when she turned into his path. However, Warren said she had activated her turn signal and failed to see Hayes approaching.

Ducker noted that Warren’s vehicle had an operating amber light on its roof and a flag attached indicating it was a mail carrier, as well as a sign above the rear window stating “frequent stops.”

Warren complained of pain to her face, neck and back and was transported to Putnam County Hospital. However, with the vehicle set up for postal delivery, Warren was seated on the right side, thus avoiding serious injury, as the left side door took the brunt of the impact.

Warren’s vehicle was towed. Ducker estimated damage at $25,000-$50,000.

• At 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, Steve D. Elzy, 53, Monrovia, was southbound on U.S. 231 in a 2015 GMC Yukon when he hit a deer.

Reserve Deputy Tom Helmer estimated damage at $2,500-$5,000.

• At 4:42 p.m. on Friday, Shawn A. Whitton, 24, Martinsville, was westbound on 2nd Street approaching the intersection with McKinley Street in Russellville in a 201 Chevrolet van. Martha L. Mandleco, 78, Russellville, was northbound on McKinley Street in a 2001 Cadillac Eldorado.

The north-south traffic on McKinley has the right-of-way. However, Cpl. Brian Helmer reported that the sign is faded almost completely white and cannot be easily seen. Whitton could not see the sign until it was too late to avoid a collision with Mandleco.

Neither driver was injured and both vehicles were driven from the scene.

Whitton told Helmer that his company, Principle Merchants, would be contacting the town about replacing the sign. Mandleco, who is the Russellville clerk-treasurer, said she would make sure the sign was replaced.

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

City Fire

The Greencastle Fire Department responded to nine recent incidents:

• At 2:49 a.m. on Friday, GFD was dispatched to Delta Tau Delta on the DePauw University campus for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 2:54 and did not determine a cause for the alarm. The alarm was reset. GFD went back into service at 2:59 a.m.

• At 12:44 p.m. on Friday, GFD responded to a motor vehicle accident with injuries near 1991 N. CR 675 East. Firefighters arrived on the scene at 12:57 and assisted the Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department with extrication and patient care. GFD went back into service at 1:50 p.m.

• At 7:24 p.m. on Friday, GFD was dispatched to Delta Tau Delta for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 7:26 determined the alarm was due to a dirty detector head. The detector was cleaned and the alarm was reset. GFD went back into service at 7:32 p.m.

• At 11:22 p.m. on Friday, GFD was dispatched to 11 N. Indiana St. for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 11:23 and did not determine a cause for the alarm. The alarm was reset. GFD went back into service at 11:34 p.m.

• At 4:12 a.m. on Saturday, GFD was dispatched to 106 S. Spring St. for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 4:13 and did not determine a cause for the alarm. The alarm was reset. GFD went back into service at 4:17 a.m.

• At 11:40 p.m. on Saturday, GFD was dispatched to Delta Tau Delta for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 11:41 and determined the alarm was due to smoking. The alarm was reset. GFD went back into service at 11:46 p.m.

• At 10:24 a.m. on Sunday, GFD was dispatched to 106 S. Spring St. for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 10:29 and determined the alarm was due to steam from a shower. The alarm was reset. GFD went back into service at 10:36 a.m.

• At 12:13 a.m. on Monday, GFD responded to a motor vehicle accident with injuries at County Road 250 North and County Road 375 West. Firefighters arrived on the scene at 12:21 and assisted the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department with patient care. GFD went back into service at 12:42 a.m.

• At 8:29 a.m. on Monday, GFD was dispatched to Aldi for an odor of smoke. Firefighters arrived at 8:33 and determined that compressors by a backroom freezer had overheated. Power to the compressors was isolated and maintenance was advised. GFD went back into service at 8:54 a.m.

Additionally, GFD recently performed six medical assists and had three disregards.

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.