Staff reports
Police: Man had drugs, gun without license
A disturbance at a home on State Road 135 North Dec. 15 resulted in a Brown County man being arrested for possession of drugs and carrying a gun without a concealed-carry license.
On Dec. 19, Noah Ford, 38, of Brown County, was charged with carrying a handgun without a license, a Level 5 felony; possession of a controlled substance, a Class A misdemeanor; possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.
Police were dispatched to a home in the 9100 block of 135 North on Dec. 15 after a caller reported hearing men screaming and two gunshots coming from a home north of them, reads a probable cause affidavit by Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Gibson.
While deputies were on their way, dispatch reported a man — later identified to be Ford — standing in the middle of the highway. Deputy Josh Stargell and Sgt. Chad Williams stopped and confirmed the man was Ford, the affidavit states.
Gibson reported seeing a door at the home that appeared to be damaged. The woman at the house said a friend had damaged the door. She later told police that Ford was upset about a stolen TV and that he had damaged the door. She said Ford had walked out the back door while arguing with someone on the phone, and then she reported hearing the front door being busted open, according to the affidavit.
She told police that nothing physical happened between her and Ford; he only took his anger out on the home. She denied hearing gunshots. She did not want to press charges for the damages, the report said.
Stargell reported that Ford had a handgun on him and that it was loaded. Ford told police he did not have a concealed-carry license, according to the affidavit.
Ford was arrested for carrying a handgun without a license. While searching him, Gibson reported finding a small bag of marijuana, two digital scales and a small bag with three-and-a-half Xanax inside. Ford did not have a prescription for the Xanax, the report said.
Man Charged for stealing vehicle
A 42-year-old Indianapolis man faces a felony in Brown County after police say he took a woman’s vehicle this summer and never returned.
On Dec. 18, Londell Jones was charged with auto theft, a Level 6 felony.
Police responded to a home in the 1400 block of Olsen Lane on Aug. 22 for a report of a stolen vehicle. A woman at the cabin told Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Colton Magner that Jones had taken her 2016 Chevrolet Suburban.
She said the two were visiting friends at the cabin in Brown County when Jones wanted to leave. The woman said she was not ready to leave and they began arguing. Jones had her car keys and took off in her vehicle and did not return, she told police.
While the officer was taking the report, Jones called the woman’s phone a couple of times. He said he was getting gas and then was going to bring the vehicle back. Magner waited to see if Jones brought the vehicle back, but he did not.
Magner wrote that he went to all four gas stations in Brown County, but was unable to find the Suburban.
RTV crash results in OWI charge
HAMBLEN TWP. — A man injured in an off-road vehicle crash on Sweetwater Trail in June has now been charged with three misdemeanors for operating a vehicle while intoxicated after an investigation by Indiana Conservation Officers.
The crash was reported just before 6:30 p.m. June 9 near the 9000 block. Richard Hogue, 58, of Nineveh, was driving the vehicle on private property in a wooded area when it occurred, according to a press release from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
The vehicle flipped and pinned Hogue underneath. While speaking with Hogue, police reported smelling alcohol on him, according to a probable cause affidavit by ICO David Moss filed Dec. 6.
Hogue was taken to Johnson Memorial Health Hospital by ambulance. He was treated for back and chest injuries. He was not wearing a helmet or any other safety equipment.
He told police he had drunk nine beers that day. He said he was riding the off-road vehicle up a hill when it flipped over backward on top of him. He was able to flip the vehicle back over and ride it back to his house, according to the affidavit.
A search warrant was obtained for Hogue’s blood. The toxicology report said his blood-alcohol content was 0.10, over the legal limit for a driver.
OWI charges filed in RTV accident
HAMBLEN TWP. — A 24-year-old Seymour man faces three misdemeanor charges for operating a vehicle while intoxicated after he flipped an off-road vehicle onto himself in August.
The accident occurred at about 3 a.m. Aug. 11 near the 7000 block of Bean Blossom Road in Morgantown. Tracy Luckey, 24, of Nineveh, was driving the ORV on private property in a wooded area. It flipped over, pinning Luckey underneath and leaving him unconscious, according to a news release from Indiana Conservation Officers at the time, who investigated the incident.
Luckey refused medical treatment at the scene, but was taken into custody by ICO Rob Klakamp and remanded to the Brown County jail on preliminary charges of operating while intoxicated.
A witness told police that Luckey had been drinking and Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Stargell reported smelling alcohol on him, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by Klakamp.
Stargell also reported that Luckey had red and watery eyes along with slurred speech and an unsteady balance after the crash. A search warrant was issued for his blood the same day.
Luckey was not wearing a helmet or proper safety equipment, ICOs reported.
Driver report results in OWI arrest
A 33-year-old Bloomington man has been charged with two misdemeanors for driving while intoxicated after he was stopped by police on State Road 46 in March.
On Dec. 12, Christopher Stockey was charged with two Class C misdemeanors for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 or more.
On March 16, he was pulled over by Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Cecil Martin after a 911 caller reported a reckless driver who was possibly intoxicated. The vehicle description matched Stockey’s, according to Martin’s probable cause affidavit.
Martin reported that Stockey smelled of alcohol, that his speech was slow and slurred and that his eyes were bloodshot. A portable breath test showed his BAC to be 0.16, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08, the police report said.
Woman charged with public intoxication
A public intoxication charge has been filed against a Brown County woman after police found her unresponsive in the women’s restroom at the Brown County Fairgrounds.
Debra Voils, 44, of Salmeron Road, was found in the restroom during the fair on July 29, according to a probable cause affidavit by Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Acres. A portable breath test was administered and showed Voils’ blood-alcohol content to be 0.23, nearly three times the legal limit.
Voils was formally charged with a Class B misdemeanor on Dec. 9.
Speeding stop results in arrest
Police stopped a vehicle for speeding on Nov. 27 and ended up arresting the driver after reportedly finding he had multiple bags of sealed marijuana.
Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Chad Williams was running radar on State Road 46 East at Bailey’s Bait and Tackle when he clocked a vehicle driving 71 MPH in a 55 MPH zone, according to an incident narrative.
While speaking with the driver, Michael E. Leggins, 27, of Oak Run, Williams reported smelling fresh marijuana. Williams and Sgt. Scott Bowling had Leggins exit the vehicle and asked him about the smell.
Williams told Leggins that if he was honest with him and retrieved the marijuana, he would issue him a ticket and send him on his way. But if he didn’t retrieve it and a search of his vehicle yielded marijuana, then he would be taken to jail.
Leggins told the officer he had smoked a joint in the car and that’s what the smell was, but Williams told him he smelled marijuana that had not been burned yet. Leggins opened the trunk and there was an unzipped backpack that had a couple of bags of marijuana protruding from it, the report said.
Leggins told Williams that was all of the marijuana he had. Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Bowling reported finding two more bags of marijuana in the car, the report said.
In total, 10 bags of marijuana were found in the vehicle weighing almost one pound, the report states. Police also found four boxes of vape tanks that had THC inside.
Leggins told Williams he does not sell marijuana; it was for his personal use.
While searching the vehicle, Bowling reported finding cash wads stashed in various locations. Leggins said he was going to use the money to pay a relative back. The money totaled $6,100.
Leggins’ passenger had a suspended license, so a wrecker was called to the scene. Leggins was arrested and taken to the Brown County jail.
Williams seized the money and Leggins’ cellphone.
On Dec. 5, Leggins was charged with possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor.
Passenger cited for possession
A 21-year-old Frankfort, Kentucky man was cited for possession of marijuana after a vehicle he was riding in was stopped for speeding.
Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Nicholson Briles was parked in a driveway in the 200 block of State Road 46 West on Nov. 17 when he clocked a vehicle driving 69 MPH in a 40 MPH zone, his report said.
Nashville Police Officer Keith Lawson reported smelling marijuana in the vehicle. The driver denied that there was in the vehicle, according to the probable cause affidavit.
When Lawson asked the front seat passenger, Robert Jules, if there was marijuana inside the vehicle, Jules stated that there was, the affidavit states.
While looking through a bag that belonged to Jules, officers reported finding small baggies, an empty pack of rolling papers and a jar with five grams of marijuana inside.
The marijuana was confiscated and placed into evidence. Everyone was released from the scene. The driver received a warning for speeding and Jules received a citation for possession. Jules was charged Dec. 12 with a Class B misdemeanor.
Speeding results in drug charges
A traffic stop for speeding in Brown County State Park resulted in a 21-year-old Franklin man being charged with two misdemeanors for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.
Indiana Conservation Officer Brent Bohbrink stopped the vehicle for driving 52 MPH in a 30 MPH zone on Aug. 24. While speaking with the driver, Bohbrink reported smelling marijuana. When he returned to the vehicle to give the driver a citation, he smelled the odor again.
The passenger, Justin Kinney, told Bohbrink he had a “one-hitter” pipe in his pocket and he also handed Bohbrink a grinder. Kinney denied there being any other marijuana in the vehicle, according to the probable cause affidavit.
When Bohbrink opened the passenger door, he reported seeing a clear plastic bag with marijuana in the door’s storage compartment. Both people exited the vehicle and Bohbrink conducted a search.
He reported finding a glass smoking pipe with burnt marijuana residue inside under the passenger seat and a clear plastic “dugout” box with marijuana in it in the center console, the affidavit states.
Kinney told Bohbrink the marijuana and paraphernalia belonged to him. He was issued two summonses. The driver was issued a speeding citation.
On Dec. 6, Kinney was charged with Class B and Class C misdemeanors.
