Menu
Putnam Scanner for Jan. 16, 2024
County Jail
Four people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently.
Friday
At 3:55 a.m. Travis J. Duncan, 30, Indianapolis, was lodged at the jail on a local warrant.
At 1:27 a.m. Jeremy D. Devylder, 45, Bowling Green, was housed at the jail on a local warrant.
Thursday
At 11:58 a.m. Johnathan G. Hyde, 21, Franklin, was lodged at the jail for kidnapping, strangulation, domestic battery, criminal recklessness and invasion of privacy.
At 11:27 a.m. Gregory A. Schmidt Jr., 31, Eureka, Mo., was taken into custody for driving as a habitual traffic violator.
City Police
Two recent arrests were reported by Greencastle City Police officers:
At 2:18 a.m. Friday, Jack Wetoska, 18, Glenview, Ill., was arrested by Officer Damon Ludwig.
Taken into custody on West Franklin Street, Wetoska was lodged in the Putnam County Jail on charges of public intoxication, being a minor in consumption of alcohol and two counts of residential entry after reportedly trying to kick in a door at two residences.
Wetoska declined blood-alcohol testing via a portable breathalyzer, police said.
At 8:02 p.m. Thursday, Jeffrey Bright, 50, Greencastle, was arrested by Officer Billy DeWitt at Everest Mart, 605 Bloomington St., following a two-vehicle accident on Bloomington Street.
Bright was lodged in the Putnam County Jail on charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and operating while intoxicated-endangerment.
Bright was also cited for failure to provide proof of insurance after his 2002 Oldsmobile struck the rear of a 2020 Ford Escape driven by Renee Mullinix, 57, Indianapolis.
Mullinix said she was northbound on Bloomington Street when a vehicle in front of her stopped to turn left. She slowed initially and then came to a complete stop when her vehicle was struck from behind by the Bright car.
Bright said he was northbound when the vehicle in front of him came to an abrupt halt. His dog reacted by jumping from the back seat into the front seat of his car and distracted Bright as the collision occurred, police reported.
Putnam EMA was called to the scene but both drivers refused medical attention.
Total damage in the accident was estimated at $5,000-$10,000. The Bright car was towed from the scene.
City Fire
The Greencastle Fire Department responded to 14 incidents between Thursday and early Monday:
At 6:18 p.m. on Thursday, GFD responded to a motor vehicle incident with injuries near CountryMark on Bloomington Street. Firefighters arrived on the scene at 6:20 and cleaned up fluid and debris while EMS personnel provided patient care. GFD went back into service at 6:33 p.m.
At 3:35 p.m. on Friday, GFD was dispatched to assist the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department with a structure fire at 1055 Van Bibber Lake Estates. Firefighters arrived on the scene at 3:51 and assisted with extinguishment and overhaul. The Bainbridge and Russellville volunteer fire departments also responded. GFD went back into service at 5:18 a.m.
At 7:19 a.m. on Friday, GFD was dispatched to the intersection of Wood and Tennessee streets for a downed power line. Firefighters arrived at 7:28 and found a power line was tangled in a tree that fell. Duke Energy arrived and removed the power line, while firefighters removed the tree from the roadway. GFD went back into service at 8:11 a.m.
At 9:51 a.m. on Friday, GFD was dispatched to the intersection of county roads 25 East and 125 North for a downed power line. Firefighters arrived at 9:56 and found a tree had broken a power pole, but the power lines were out of the roadway. The tree was removed and Parke County REMC was contacted. GFD went back into service at 10:27 a.m.
At 1:22 p.m. on Friday, GFD was dispatched to Humbert Hall at DePauw University for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 1:28 and determined the alarm was due to a dirty detector head. The alarm system was reset. GFD went back into service at 1:40 p.m.
At 2:11 p.m. on Friday, GFD was dispatched to Greencastle Christian Church for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 2:18 and were advised that the alarm was due to construction and had been reset. GFD went back into service at 2:27 p.m.
At 8:27 p.m. on Friday, GFD was dispatched to 306 Shadowlawn Ave. for a downed power line. Firefighters arrived at 8:35 and found a large tree in a power line in the front yard. They spoke with the homeowner and Duke Energy was contacted. GFD went back into service at 8:56 p.m.
At 10:13 p.m. on Friday, GFD responded to a motor vehicle incident with injuries at 1009 Indianapolis Rd. Firefighters arrived on the scene at 10:15 and cleaned up debris after patients were assessed. GFD went back into service at 11:33 p.m.
At 10:17 p.m. on Friday, GFD was dispatched east of County Road 250 East for a tree in the roadway. Firefighters found the tree at 10:32 and removed it. GFD went back into service at 11 p.m.
At 7:03 a.m. on Saturday, GFD was dispatched to the Putnam County Public Library for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 7:04 and determined the alarm was due to an issue with the alarm panel. An employee was notified of the issue, and GFD went back into service at 7:35 a.m.
At 7:54 a.m. on Saturday, GFD was dispatched to the Greencastle McDonalds for a cooking fire. Firefighters arrived at 7:57 after the fire was extinguished by a fire suppression system. No extensions were found in the building, and GFD went back into service at 8:06 a.m.
At 10:01 a.m. on Saturday, GFD was dispatched to the Putnam County Public Library for another fire alarm. Firefighters arrived soon after and determined again that the alarm was due to an issue with the alarm panel. An employee advised the panel would be fixed, and GFD went back into service at 10:10 a.m.
At 2:25 p.m. on Sunday, GFD was dispatched to McClure Oil for smoke from a possible vehicle fire. Firefighters arrived at 2:28 and determined that the supposed smoke was steam from a coolant leak in the vehicle in question. GFD went back into service at 2:32 p.m.
At 11:47 p.m. on Sunday, GFD was dispatched to Humbert Hall at DePauw for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 11:50 and determined the alarm was due to cooking. The alarm system was reset. GFD went back into service at 12:11 a.m. Monday.
Additionally, GFD responded for nine medical assists and had two disregards 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 Sheriffs 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.