Putnam Scanner 8-27-16

County Jail

Three people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently.

Thursday

* At 2:54 p.m. Samantha Jo Mitchell, 31, Greencastle, was housed at the jail on a warrant.

* At 10:52 a.m. Brett Kent Kemper, 51, Cloverdale, was taken into custody on a warrant for probation violation.

* At 1:01 a.m. James Lossan Jones, 24, Greencastle, was housed at the jail for driving while intoxicated.

Sheriff's Department

Putnam County sheriff's deputies responded to seven recent property-damage crashes.

* At 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Grace E. Church, 59, Coatesville, was southbound on Heritage Drive near County Road 300 North in a 2013 Ford Fusion. Cindy L. Phipps, 55, Reelsville, was northbound in a 2013 Hyundai Tucson.

Reserve Deputy Kent Rozelle said that as the vehicles were approaching each other in a slight curve, Phipps took an abrupt left turn for an unknown reason. The two vehicles collided head-on.

Phipps did not believe she had passed out but told officers she was not aware of what happened.

Both drivers suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Rozelle was assisted by Capt. Tom Helmer and Deputy Scott Ducker.

Damage was estimated at $10,001-$25,000.

* At 9:59 a.m. on Tuesday, Jason Vermillion, 43, Greencastle, was southbound on U.S. 231 near County Road 100 south in a 1998 Dodge Dakota pulling a trailer. He told Deputy Virgil Lanning a vehicle had crossed left of center and hit his trailer, continuing northbound after impact.

Lanning located a 2007 Buick Lucerne parked on the shoulder about 300 yards north of the scene. The vehicle matched the description Vermillion gave for the care that hit him and had damage consistent with the impact.

The second driver, Jimmy B. Gregory, 65, Greencastle, claimed he did not hit anything and that the damage was already there when he bought the car.

Gregory said he pulled over because the battery was completely dead. However, Lanning noticed Gregory still using the key fob to lock and unlock the doors as well as using the power windows.

Coming over to look at Gregory's vehicle, Vermillion identified it as the car that had hit him. However, Gregory continued to deny he had hit the other vehicle and said his insurance company had photos that he could bring to court to prove it.

Lanning did not report issuing a citation.

Because Gregory said his battery was completely dead, Lanning asked if he would like a jump-start from a police vehicle. Gregory refused to answer.

Damage was estimated at $2,501-$5,000.

* At 7:37 a.m. on Tuesday, Brenda Monnett Mowery, 56, Cloverdale, was eastbound on Market Street in Cloverdale, crossing U.S. 231 on a green light in a 2007 Dodge Caliber.

Bruce F. Zink, 38, Spencer, was southbound on 231 in a 2004 Chevrolet Blazer. Zink told Deputy Lanning he was distracted and did not see the light change to red.

Zink entered the intersection and hit the driver's side of Mowery's vehicle.

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

* At 6:40 a.m. on Thursday, Joseph G. Lamon, 19, Greencastle, was eastbound on Indiana 240 in the area of County Road 650 East in a 2004 Ford F250. Michael F. Heidelberger, 63, Martinsville, was westbound in a 2012 Ford E350.

Both drivers told Deputy Matt Biggs they were meeting when they heard a collision. Neither believed he was left of center, but Lamon's driver door window was broken, as was Heidelberger's window and driver's side mirror.

Lamon suffered minor bleeding to his noce but did not require medical attention.

Both trucks were driven from the scene. Damage was estimated at $1,001-$2,500.

* At 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Carol A. Smith, 66, Terre Haute, was westbound on U.S. 40 near County Road 850 East in a 2013 Cadillac ATS.

Smith told Deputy Mike Downing she hit a large pothole and it felt like one of her tires went flat. She said the vehicle began to shake but she was able to safely pull off the road and call for assistance.

Downing noticed the pothole across both westbound lanes of U.S. 40. He said it appeared the state highway had removed a culvert and temporarily patched the road with gravel. However, recent heavy rains have apparently eroded the patch, leaving the large pothole.

The incident damaged three of four rims and tires on Smith's Cadillac, as well as the undercarriage. The car was towed.

Damage was estimated at $1,001-$2,500.

* At 8:21 a.m. on Tuesday, Kadie L. Baker, 18, Quincy, was southbound on County Road 375 West in a 2005 Dodge Magnum when he veered left of center.

The vehicle crossed the northbound lane and left the road, traveling down an embankment and approximately 75 feet through a field.

Maj. Dwight Simmons reported that the driver was found passed out at the wheel and woken up by police officers. Baker was extremely lethargic, could not maintain her balance and displayed extremely slurred speech.

Baker was taken to Putnam County Hospital for evaluation although she had no apparent injuries.

Deputy Virgil Lanning as well as the Reelsville Volunteer Fire Department assisted at the scene.

Damage was estimated at less than $1,000.

* At 7:40 a.m. Sunday, Gregory A. Glassburn, 45, Greencastle, was southbound on County Road 25 West near the intersection of County Road 400 South in a 2008 Dodge Nitro when he hit a deer.

Deputy Scott Ducker estimated damage at $1,001-$2,500.

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.