Putnam Scanner for Sept. 23, 2022

County Jail

Six people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently.

Wednesday

• At 7:57 p.m. Christopher L. Hutto, 44, Fillmore, was booked in for battery and theft.

Tuesday

• At 10:41 p.m. Patrick M. Kimes III, 24, Fillmore, was lodged at the jail on a warrant.

• At 6:26 p.m. Heather L. Heckart, 32, Brownsburg, was taken into custody on a warrant for residential entry.

• At 6 p.m. James G. Walls, 27, Martinsville, was housed at the jail for auto theft.

Monday

• At 8:44 p.m. Brandon M. Boles, 33 Greencastle, was booked in for possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance.

• At 6:46 p.m. Stormie E. Johnson, 27, Indianapolis, was lodged at the jail for possession of methamphetamine.

City Police

Two individuals were issued a summons in recent activity reported by Greencastle City Police officers:

• At 2:32 a.m. Tuesday, Kallie Pruitt, 29, Reelsville, was cited by Officer Chris Helmer.

Stopped at Wood and Tennessee streets, Pruitt was given a summons for driving with a suspended license with a prior offense.

• At 9:40 p.m. Monday, Logan Pizzo, 31, Greencastle, was issued a summons and a citation by Sgt. Brad Hiatt.

Stopped at Bloomington Street and Veterans Memorial Highway, Pizzo was given a summons for driving with a suspended license with a prior offense and citation for operating a motor vehicle without financial responsibility.

Sheriff’s Office

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

• At 12:21 p.m. on Wednesday, Ruth A. Rutenberg, 41, Greencastle, was northbound on Manhattan Road in a 2007 Dodge Charger. Johnie E. Bryan, 51, Brazil, was southbound in a 2007 Ford Taurus.

As she traveled through a curve, Rutenberg crossed the centerline and collided with Bryan’s vehicle. Rutenberg did not dispute that she was out of her lane of travel, but told Deputy Randy Patrick that she believed the other driver had reacted too soon.

There were no injuries, but Rutenberg’s vehicle had to be towed from the scene.

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

• At 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Carrie N. Bolen, 45, Coatesville, was southbound on County Road 775 East in a 2017 Honda Pilot when she hit a deer.

Deputy Joshua Clark estimated damage at $5,000-$10,000.

• At 10:18 a.m. on Tuesday, Betty L. Andrews, 65, Greencastle, was eastbound on U.S. 40 in a 2016 Jeep Wrangler when she drifted into the grass median and rolled the vehicle over.

Andrews and her four passengers were all transported to Terre Haute Union Hospital for treatment of their injuries.

The vehicle was towed. Cpl. Brian Helmer estimated damage at $25,000-$50,000.

• At 6:34 a.m. on Tuesday, Brittany N. McDaniel, 24, Terre Haute, was eastbound on County Road 75 South approaching a 90-degree turn onto County Road 725 West in a 2015 Chevrolet Impala.

McDaniel told Cpl. Helmer she did not see the curve due to foggy conditions. The vehicle left the road and hit a tree.

The car was towed. Helmer estimated damage at $10,000-$25,000.

• At 5:44 a.m. on Monday, Terri L. Lane, 61, Harmony, was eastbound on U.S. 40 near County Road 400 East in a 2021 Kia Seltos when she hit a deer.

Lane’s vehicle was towed due to heavy damage. Cpl. Helmer estimated damage at $25,000-$50,000.

• At 8:56 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15, James A. Komendo, 49, Russellville, was southbound County Road 750 West at the intersection with County Road 1300 North in a 2000 Jeep Cherokee.

The road makes a 90-degree turn, but Komendo continued straight, crashing into a pile of metal beams, sending several of them flying into a nearby pile of lumber. Witnesses told Deputy Robert Soilleux that the crash resulted in damage to the front end of the vehicle, to the beams and to some of the lumber.

Komendo told Soilleux that he decided to leave the scene because he didn’t think he damaged anything. He later pulled over after his tire went flat, a little more than two miles from the scene.

The property owner and witnesses said they heard the loud crash and came outside to see the vehicle fleeing. They gave chase and caught up to Komendo when his tire went flat. Once the tire went flat, they parked in front of and behind the Cherokee so Komendo could not flee.

Komendo was charged with misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident.

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

• At 4:32 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15, Cpl. Scott Ducker was working a property-damage accident on County Road 500 East. He had his marked sheriff’s office vehicle parked facing southbound in the northbound lane with the emergency lights activated. The location is about a quarter mile north of a hill crest.

Uriah B. Kortz, 40, Fillmore, was northbound at a high rate of speed as he crested the hill in a 2001 Cadillac DeVille.

Kortz locked up his brakes to avoid hitting Ducker’s patrol vehicle and lost control, traveling off the west side of the road, hitting a mailbox, phone box and fence.

Ducker’s dashcam was recording. Cpl. Helmer reported that all four wheels of Kortz’s car appeared to come off the ground at the top of the hill, after which Kortz locked up the brakes and lost control.

The car was towed. Helmer estimated damage at $25,000-$50,000.

City Fire

The Greencastle Fire Department responded to seven incidents since Monday evening:

• At 5:19 p.m. on Monday, GFD was dispatched for a tree in the roadway in the area of Dunbar Bridge. Firefighters found the tree at 5:28 and removed it. GFD went back into service at 5:34 p.m.

• At 7:13 p.m. on Monday, GFD was dispatched to the apartments at 330 Greenwood Ave. for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 7:19 and determined the alarm was due to a burnt potato. The property was ventilated and the alarm system was reset. GFD went back into service at 7:45 p.m.

• At 8 p.m. on Monday, GFD received a direct call for an outside fire to 232 Hillsdale Ave. Firefighters arrived at 8:12 and found the fire unattended and not in a burn pit. Police were called as those present were agitated when asked to extinguish the fire. After it was, GFD went back into service at 8:37 p.m.

• At 11:18 p.m. on Monday, GFD was dispatched to Mason Hall at DePauw University for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 11:22 and were advised that the alarm was due to incense. The alarm system was reset. GFD went back into service at 11:30 p.m.

• At 11:04 a.m. on Tuesday, GFD received a direct call for an oil spill at the intersection of South and Bloomington streets. Firefighters arrived soon after and cleaned up the oil with absorbent. GFD went back into service at 11:21 a.m.

• At 2:18 p.m. on Tuesday, GFD was dispatched to 25 Putnam Plaza for a hydraulic oil spill. Firefighters arrived at 2:25 and cleaned up the oil with absorbent. GFD went back into service at 2:43 p.m.

• At 3:49 a.m. on Wednesday, GFD was dispatched to 156 S. Bloomington St. for smoke in the residence. Firefighters arrived at 3:54 and determined the breakers overheated due to a malfunction with the furnace. The breakers were turned off and the property was ventilated. GFD went back into service at 4:25 a.m.

Additionally, GFD performed five medical assists and had one disregard during this timeframe.

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.