Putnam Scanner for Dec. 15, 2023

County Jail

Nine people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently.

Wednesday

• At 8:36 p.m. Tracey W. Burk, 54, Reelsville, was taken into custody on a local warrant.

• At 4:56 a.m. Carey L. Borszem, 34, Indianapolis, was housed at the jail for driving while intoxicated and resisting law enforcement.

• At 1:01 a.m. Thomas E. Schulteis, 57, Cloverdale, was booked in on a pair of local warrants.

Tuesday

• At 8:51 p.m. Sharon S. Blueher, 48, Brazil, was lodged at the jail for theft and forgery.

• At 7:43 p.m. Ronetta E. Pilant, 42, Terre Haute, was taken into custody for theft and forgery.

• At 6:51 p.m. Tyler P. Kuras, 33, Russellville, was housed at the jail for probation violation.

• At 10:50 a.m. Robert J. Strickland, 36, Greencastle, was booked in for probation violation.

• At 5:06 a.m. Herschell E. Burris, 52, Brazil, was lodged at the jail for possession of methamphetamine and on a Clay County warrant.

Monday

• At 3:45 p.m. Angela J. Rader, 46, Greencastle, was taken into custody on a warrant.

City Police

One arrest and one summons resulted from the same recent traffic stop by Greencastle City Police officers.

• At 12:44 a.m. Thursday, Susan J. Winkler, 54, Knighstville, was arrested by Officer Billy DeWitt following a stop on South Jackson Street.

Lodged in the Putnam County Jail, Winkler faces a charge of possession of methamphetamine.

At the same time in the same vehicle, Pamela Smith, 58, Brazil, was issued a summons into court by Officer DeWitt on a charge of possession of paraphernalia.

Sheriff’s Office

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

• At 4:38 p.m. on Monday, Caroline I. Hodge, 17, Greencastle, was stopped northbound on County Road 550 East, waiting to turn left onto U.S. 40 in a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. Glen L. Birt, 59, Greencastle, was eastbound on U.S. 40 approaching the intersection in a 2018 GMC Sierra.

Hodge told Deputy Josh Clark she was waiting at the intersection for approximately 45 seconds for traffic to clear. She said she saw Birt’s truck slowing down with its right turn signal activated, so she proceeded into the intersection. At that point, she realized that the pickup was not turning right onto 550 East, and her SUV was struck by the pickup.

Birt told Clark that he was heading home, just past 550 East, and had activated his turn signal early because people speed through the area.

While both vehicles sustained damage, Birt was able to pull his pickup into his driveway. Hodge’s vehicle had to be towed.

Clark estimated damage at $10,000-$25,000.

• At 6:27 p.m. on Sunday, Kevin Mitchell, 31, Greencastle, was eastbound on County Road 800 South at the intersection of U.S. 231 in a 1992 Chevrolet Camaro.

Mitchell told Deputy Todd Hopkins he was leaving work on his break and must have fallen asleep while driving.

A witness said he was the vehicle sitting at the intersection and that it traveled eastbound across the intersection, crossing in front of a semi and nearly causing a wreck. The witness observed the vehicle in a ditch and turned around to check on the driver.

Mitchell was transported to Putnam County Hospital for further evaluation.

The car was towed, and Hopkins estimated damage at $2,500-$5,000.

• At 2:14 p.m. on Saturday, Ralph M. Allen, 74, Reelsville, had been westbound on U.S. 40 when he performed a U-turn onto westbound 40 in a 2005 Ford F-250. Mary Jean L. Meadows, 54, Terre Haute, was eastbound on U.S. 40 in a 2021 Nissa Rogue Sport.

Meadows told Deputy Kyle Lee she observed Allen perform the U-turn, after which he entered the right lane of westbound 40. However, he then attempted to move into the left lane, where Meadows was driving, striking the right front bumper area of her vehicle and causing extensive damage.

Meadows’ vehicle was towed. Lee estimated damage at $10,000-$25,000.

City Fire

The Greencastle Fire Department responded to five incidents between Monday and Wednesday:

• At 9:17 a.m. on Monday, GFD was dispatched to 307 Wood St. for a gas leak. Firefighters arrived at 9:23 after a main was struck by a backhoe. CenterPoint Energy and Duke Energy were contacted, while gas was not detected in housing around the site. Crews arrived to repair the leak, and GFD went back into service at 10:53 a.m.

• At 10:22 a.m. on Tuesday, GFD was dispatched to Alvord House at DePauw University for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 10:23 and determined the alarm was due to cooking. The alarm system was reset. GFD went back into service at 10:27 a.m.

• At 10:27 a.m. on Tuesday, GFD was dispatched to Beyond Homeless for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 10:29 and determined the alarm was due to work on the furnace. The alarm system was reset. GFD went back into service at 10:35 a.m.

• At 9:28 a.m. on Wednesday, GFD was dispatched to Headley Hardware for a fire alarm. Firefighters arrived at 9:32 and determined there was an issue with the alarm system. The owner advised they would contact the alarm company to repair the system. GFD went back into service at 9:49 a.m.

• At 4:57 p.m. on Wednesday, GFD was dispatched for cleanup from a motor vehicle incident at the intersection of Bloomington Street and Veterans Memorial Highway. Firefighters arrived on the scene at 5:01 p.m. and cleared debris. GFD went back into service at 5:08 p.m.

Additionally, GFD responded for one medical assist and had one disregard during this timeframe.

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.