Putnam Scanner for 12-31-15

County Jail

Three people were booked into the Putnam County Jail recently.

* At 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Michael Geirrard Davis, 36, Crawfordsville, was lodged at the jail for nonsupport of a dependent.

At 8:12 p.m. Erica Kay Thompson, 38, Greencastle, was taken into custody for probation violation.

* At 1:55 a.m. on Wednesday, Jon Hall, 39, Greencastle, was booked in for probation violation.

City Police

Several recent accidents were investigated by Greencastle City Police officers.

* At 6:22 p.m. Saturday, a two-vehicle accident was reported on Indianapolis Road near Warren Drive.

William Johnson III, 34, Greencastle, was westbound on Indianapolis Road when his 2007 GMC Sierra was struck by a 1999 Saturn driven by Thomas Franklin, 22, Greencastle.

Franklin was exiting the Buffalo Wild Wings parking lot, Officer Matt Huffman reported, and did not see the Johnson vehicle because his windows were fogged up.

Total damage was listed at $1,000-$2,500.

Johnson was ticketed for operating without financial responsibility.

* At 10:52 p.m. Friday, Jason Spurrier, 33, Greencastle, was eastbound on County Road 300 South when a deer came out of a north side field and he could not avoid striking the animal.

Damage to his 1998 Dodge Dakota was estimated at $1,000-$2,500 by Capt. Charles Inman.

* At 7:45 p.m. Dec. 24, a one-vehicle mishap occurred on a parking lot at 313 S. Locust St.

Assistant Chief Brian Hopkins reported that a 2010 Toyota Highlander, driven by Michael Moore, 63, Greencastle, and owned by DePauw University, struck a handicapped sign and post in the lot. Moore said his attention was diverted when he thought he saw an open door on a nearby building.

Damage was listed at $2,500-$5,000.

* At 2:28 p.m. Dec. 23, U.S. 231 North, near County Road 25 South, was the scene of a two-vehicle accident.

Christine Klinger, 46, Greencastle, was northbound, driving a 2012 Hyundai Sonata, when two vehicles in front of her slowed for a car to turn into Don's Garage on the west side of the highway.

With Klinger forced to make a sudden stop, her vehicle was struck from behind by a 2006 Lexus, driven by Alexandra Newlin, 18, Greencastle, Capt. Chris Jones reported.

Newlin had crested a small hill and was unable to stop in time on the wet pavement in rainy conditions.

Total damage was estimated at $5,000-$10,000.

* At 1:17 p.m. Dec. 22, a minor accident was investigated by Sgt. Ed Wilson in the parking lot at 1222 Bloomington St.

He reported that Vicki Crouch, 60, Greencastle, was backing a 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser when she struck an unoccupied 2011 Chevrolet Impala, registered to Putnam County Comprehensive Services. Crouch was reportedly unable to see the PCCS vehicle because it was parked behind a small bus.

Total damage was estimated at $2,500-$5,000.

* At 12:46 p.m. Dec. 22, a two-vehicle mishap occurred at the entrance to the Speedway gas station at Indianapolis and Round Barn roads.

Officer Darrel Bunten reported that Shirley Hayes, 63, Fillmore, was turning her 2011 GMC Terrain into the station entrance after going around stopped eastbound vehicles backed up at the Indianapolis Road light.

A collision occurred as Paige Griswold, 17, Coatesville, pulled out of the station driveway in a 1996 Saturn to go left onto Indianapolis Road after another motorist motioned her out to proceed east.

Total damage was estimated at $2,500-$5,000.

* At 9:47 p.m. Dec. 21, Reserve Officer Cameron Paul investigated a two-vehicle accident on Indianapolis Road near Calbert Way.

Jill Muns, 60, Poland, was eastbound, driving a 2002 Ford F-250 truck, when her vehicle was struck from the rear by a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix, driven by Nikki Hamilton, 24, Greenwood.

Hamilton told police the Muns vehicle appeared to accelerate through the light and then abruptly slow down.

Total damage was estimated at $5,000-$10,000.

* At 12:12 p.m. Dec. 21, four vehicles were reportedly involved in a chain-reaction accident on Indianapolis Road at Percy Julian Drive.

With vehicles in front of him stopped for the light, Paul Johnson, 31, Indianapolis, was unable to get his 1999 Dodge Ram stopped when his brakes locked up, causing the truck to slide and start a chain-reaction accident by striking a 2002 Jeep Wrangler, driven by John Duncan, 43, Greencastle.

The Duncan vehicle was pushed into the rear of a 2013 Ford F-150, driven by Jared Fordice, 23, Greencastle, which in turn was shoved into the back of a 2015 Mazda, operated by Angela Thompson, 46, Roachdale.

Total damage in the mishap was estimated by Officer Bunten at $5,000-$10,000.

One citation was issued recently by city officers.

* At 6 a.m. Christmas Day, Robert Bell Sr., 69, Greencastle, was cited by Officer Matt Huffman.

Stopped at Percy Julian Drive and Avenue E, Bell was cited for an infraction of driving with a suspended license.

Sheriff's Department

Putnam County sheriff's deputies responded to a pair of recent property-damage accidents.

* At 5:25 p.m. on Monday, Cassondra J. Palmer, 33, Poland, was northbound on State Road 243 in a 2005 Pontiac Grand Am. The road was wet from rain.

Palmer told Reserve Deputy Rick Lambert she entered a sweeping downhill curve and lost control. The car spun 180 degrees, crossing a bridge and hitting a guardrail north of the bridge.

Palmer was able to drive the car from the scene. Damage was estimated at $2,501-$5,000.

* At 10:48 p.m. on Tuesday, Jordan B. Freeman, 19, Rising Fawn, Ga., was southbound on U.S. 231 near Putnam County Hospital in a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. He told Deputy Anthony Brown he looked left and when he looked back, he noticed a vehicle in his lane with no lights on.

Freeman said he could not stop in time, striking the rear end of a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox driven by Audrey G. Beaman, 19, Greencastle.

Beaman told Brown she was stopped with her turn signal on, waiting for northbound traffic to clear before she made a left turn.

Freeman was not wearing his seatbelt and struck the windshield. He complained of head and left arm pain, and was taken to the hospital by Operation Life.

Beaman complained of shoulder pain from the seat belt, but signed a statement of release with Operation Life.

Both vehicles were towed. Damage was estimated at $5,001-$10,000.

City Fire

The Greencastle Fire Department recently responded to three dispatches.

* At 5:22 p.m. on Wednesday, GFD responded to an outdoor fire at 1230 N. Jackson St. GFD extinguished the fire.

* At 11:33 p.m. on Wednesday, GFD assisted Floyd Township Fire Department with a structure fire located at 6484 East CR 600 N (see story, Page 1).

* At 12:50 p.m. on Thursday, GFD responded to an unauthorized burn at 10 Frazier St. GFD investigated and extinguished the burn. The resident was advised of further burns.

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.