Putnam Scanner for March 31, 2023

County Jail

Two people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently:

Thursday

• At 2:05 a.m. Terry S. Harris-Lockhart, 29, Indianapolis, was lodged at the jail on a Lake County warrant.

Wednesday

At 9:29 p.m. Tonya L. Boggs, 45, Fillmore, was taken into custody on a local warrant.

City Police

Three individuals were arrested on multiple drug-related charges early Tuesday after Greencastle City Police officers were initially called to the Walmart Supercenter on reports of a man dropping his pants at the front entrance.

A vehicle occupied by Richard Toth, 31, Roachdale, and Daniel Smyser, 40, Greencastle, was stopped by Officer Chris Helmer on East Franklin Street at 1:57 a.m. after police unsuccessfully went to Walmart looking for Smyser as the pants-dropping offender.

In fleeing Walmart, however, Toth and Smyser reportedly left behind Jessica Neal, 42, Greencastle, as her handbag was discovered in the vehicle after the stop.

The suspects were lodged in the Putnam County Jail where an initial charge of trafficking was added for Toth and Neal after jail personnel discovered additional contraband on them.

Smyser is facing charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, dealing in methamphetamine and possession of a syringe. He was not charged in the pants incident reportedly because authorities did not witness it and had no video to examine.

Toth was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a syringe, dealing in methamphetamine and trafficking.

Neal is facing charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of a syringe, neglect of a dependent and trafficking.

One recent summons was issued by city officers:

• At 6:45 p.m. Monday, Angela Rader, 45, Greencastle, was cited by Officer Helmer.

Stopped in the parking lot at Taco Bell on Indianapolis Road, Rader was issued a summons for driving while suspended with a prior offense.

Sheriff’s Office

Putnam County sheriff’s deputies investigated the following recent crashes:

• At 1:28 a.m. on Thursday, Benjamin A. Purdy, 41, Indianapolis, was eastbound on U.S. 40 in a 2019 Jeep Cherokee when he hit a deer.

The vehicle was towed. Deputy Robert Soilleux estimated damage at $5,000-$10,000.

• At 7:05 a.m. on Wednesday, James R. Robinson, 38, Roachdale, was eastbound on State Road 236 in a 2019 Ford Transit when he hit a deer.

The vehicle was towed. Cpl. Brian Helmer estimated damage at $5,000-$10,000.

• At 6:50 p.m. on Tuesday, Dennis Dempsey, 30, New Boston, Mich., was traveling in the parking lot of the Cloverdale Super 8 Motel in a 2011 Ford F-550, registered to Oak Mountain Industries, Romulus, Mich., when he struck a pallet of tiles located outside the front door. Dempsey then drove away and parked in the lot.

The incident was recorded by the motel’s surveillance system, and a representative from the company provided information. Deputy Soilleux estimated damage under $100.

• At 2:51 a.m. on Monday, Travis A. Buggs, 32, Florissant, Mo., was eastbound on Interstate 70 in a 2010 Ford Fusion when he ran off the roadway and struck the median barrier. Buggs advised Deputy Soilleux that he lost control when the vehicle hydroplaned due to wet road conditions.

The vehicle was towed, while Buggs was not injured. Soilleux estimated damage at $10,000-$25,000.

• At 8:41 p.m. on Sunday, James B. Hacker, 82, Cloverdale, was eastbound on County Road 1000 South when he hit a deer.

Soilleux estimated damage at $5,000-$10,000.

• At 9:38 a.m. on Saturday, Balraj M. Singh, 24, Brampton, Ontario, Canada, was westbound on Interstate 70 when a large tree fell in front of the vehicle, and Singh drove over the tree. The vehicle’s engine oil pan was damaged in the incident.

Cpl. Scott Ducker estimated damage at $10,000-$25,000.

• At 8:12 a.m. on Monday, March 20, Crystal Pryor, 36, Coatesville, was eastbound on County Road 525 North in a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox when she impacted a stopped 2013 Chevrolet Captiva Sport driven by Matthew Ludlow, 45, also of Coatesville.

Ludlow stated to Cpl. Ducker that he pulled over onto the side of the road to retrieve his sunglasses due to the glaring sunlight, and also turned on his flashers. Pryor stated that she did not see Ludlow’s car due to the sunlight.

Both vehicles were towed. Ducker estimated damages at $10,000-$25,000.

• At 2:56 a.m. on Monday, March 20, Ronald Burton, 57, Greencastle, was westbound on State Road 240 in a 2012 Chevrolet Impala when a 2019 Peterbilt semi, driven by Zachary Ayers, 24, also of Greencastle, suddenly stopped in front of Burton’s vehicle.

Ayers stated to Cpl. Ducker that he swerved to avoid colliding with a dog running across the roadway and crossed the center line. Burton stated that he was attempting to pass Ayers’ vehicle when the incident occurred.

Burton’s vehicle was towed, while Ayers’ sustained damage to the driver’s-side rear. Ducker estimated damages at $10,000-$25,000.

City Fire

The Greencastle Fire Department responded to four incidents since Tuesday evening:

• At 5:18 p.m. on Tuesday, GFD was responded to a motor vehicle incident near West Central Veterinary Services. Firefighters arrived at 5:20 and cleaned up fluids. GFD went back into service at 5:40 p.m.

• At 1:05 p.m. on Wednesday, GFD was dispatched to Mansfield House at DePauw University for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 1:08 and determined the alarm was due to cooking. The alarm system was reset. GFD went back into service at 1:18 p.m.

• At 1:42 p.m. on Wednesday, GFD was dispatched to Chinda House at DePauw for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 1:45 and determined the alarm was due to cooking. The alarm system was reset. GFD went back into service at 1:49 p.m.

• At 11:31 a.m. on Thursday, GFD was dispatched to Kissinger House at DePauw for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 11:34 and determined the alarm was due to cooking. The alarm system was reset. GFD went back into service at 11:37 a.m.

Additionally, GFD responded to nine medical assists and found no incident on one run during this timeframe.