Putnam Scanner for August 17, 2018

Thursday, August 16, 2018

County Jail

Six people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently.

Wednesday

• At 9:42 p.m. Joseph Martin Starnes, 52, Martinsville, was housed at the jail on a court order.

• At 7:56 p.m. Dax Kelly Comer, 27, Coatesville, was booked in for driving with a suspended license and driving while intoxicated.

• At 9:13 a.m. Michael Allen Kessler, 71, Greencastle, was lodged at the jail on three local warrants.

Tuesday

• At 10:29 p.m. Edward Thomas Misamore, 45, Roachdale, was taken into custody on a local warrant.

• At 6:15 p.m. Nicholas Eugene Wendell, 37, Greencastle, was housed at the jail on a local warrant.

• At 5:14 p.m. James Allen Lewis, 39, Covington, was booked in on a local warrant.

City Police

Five recent citations were issued by Greencastle City Police officers.

• At 6:46 p.m. Sunday, Nicholas Bennett, 27, Greencastle, was cited by Officer Brad Hiatt.

Stopped on U.S. 231 North, Bennett was cited for driving with a suspended license with a prior offense.

• At 10:25 a.m. Sunday, Matthew Hammel, 33, Quincy, was issued two citations by Officer Kyle Lee.

Hammel was stopped on Shadowlawn Avenue near Arlington Street for an infraction of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and for having an expired license plate (May 24, 2017)

• At 1:05 a.m. Saturday, Kristy Sparks, 39, Greencastle, was ticketed by Officer Zach Rhine.

Stopped on Manhattan Road near Phoenix Closures, Sparks was cited for operating a vehicle with a false license plate.

• At 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Lacy Witt, 25, Greencastle, was ticketed by Officer Hiatt.

Witt was stopped on Indianapolis Road for operating a vehicle without financial responsibility.

Sheriff’s Department

Putnam County sheriff’s deputies investigated three recent property-damage accidents.

• At 4:47 p.m. on Tuesday, Eric W. Pittsenbarger, 50, Greencastle, was westbound on County Road 75 South in a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer when he fell asleep.

Pittsenbarger told Deputy Brian Helmer he was southbound when he ran off the road, hitting a culvert and a county highway reflector sign.

Neither the driver nor passenger was injured.

The vehicle sustained a flat tire in the accident. Pittsenbarger told Helmer he would change the tire and then drive from the scene.

Damage was estimated at $1,000-$2,500.

• At 1:58 p.m. on Tuesday, Richard M. Grubaugh II, 31, Danville, was westbound on County Road 1100 South in a 2015 International Prostar semi, pulling a trailer.

Grubaugh told Deputy Helmer that a power line caught the top of the semi, which shattered the windshield of the semi tractor.

The impact snapped three utility poles, with at least one landing in the road. Power lines were also across the road.

Parke County REMC responded to the scene to work on the poles and lines.

Grubaugh told Helmer that his company, Greenwood Motor Lines, had a truck en route to remove his vehicle.

Damage was estimated at $25,000-$50,000.

• At 5:17 p.m. on Monday, Arick T. Gardner, 27, Reelsville, was sitting stationary on County Road 500 East at State Road 240 in a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. Larry E. Baxter, 68, Greencastle, was westbound on 240 approaching 500 East in a 2005 Honda CR-V.

Gardner attempted to enter westbound 240, telling Deputy Jeffery Freeman he did not see any westbound traffic. He said there was a large pickup obstructing his view.

As he entered the road, Gardner noticed Baxter’s vehicle approaching.

Baxter said he could not avoid the collision due to a steep ditch on the edge of the road.

Gardner’s vehicle sustained minor damage to the passenger side and was driven from the scene. Baxter’s vehicle sustained moderate front-end damage and had to be towed.

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

City Fire

The Greencastle Fire Department performed seven recent medical assists and had one disregard during this time.

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.