Scanner May 30

Thursday, May 30, 2013

County Jail

Several people were booked into the Putnam County Jail recently.

* At 4 p.m. on Tuesday Carole Butler, 32, Moro, Ill., was charged with nonsupport of a dependent and failure to appear.

* At 4 p.m. on Tuesday Natasha Mershon, 31, Terre Haute, was charged with two counts of identity deception.

* At 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday James Cody Sutherlin, 25, Fillmore was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and operating while intoxicated.

Sheriff's Department

* At 10:10 a.m. on Tuesday a two-vehicle accident occurred on U.S. 231 near Webster Street in Cloverdale.

Erik M. Rhoden, 22, Cloverdale was traveling southbound on U.S. 231 in a 1996 Chrysler Concorde when he approached April Connell, 46, Indianapolis who was driving a 2005 Dodge Caravan and was stopped in the roadway due to construction.

Rhoden told Chief Deputy Tom Helmer that he observed Connell stopped and as he approached Connell he applied his brakes, but the pedal went to the floor and failed to slow down. He advised that he attempted to apply the parking brake and swerve to the right to avoid the collision, but was unable to and struck the rear of Connell's vehicle.

Connell reported no injuries. However, Rhoden was transported to Putnam County Hospital via Operation Life with a laceration to the forehead and abrasions to his face. Rhoden also admitted to failure to use his seatbelt, but the airbags did deploy.

INDOT was in the area with flagmen in the construction zone and had restricted the road to one lane. Warning signs were placed at three different locations for a half-mile.

Damage was estimated at $5,001--$10,000.

Connell was also cited for operating without receiving a license.

Cloverdale Volunteer Fire Department assisted at the scene.

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.