Couple faces drug charges
UNIONVILLE — A couple was arrested at a Unionville home after officers attempted to serve a warrant there in August.
Brown County Sheriff’s Deputies William Pool and Austin Schonfeld attempted to serve the warrant in the 6600 block of State Road 45 on Aug. 15.
The warrant was for Bryant Picou, 37, of Unionville, and deputies knew it was possible that his girlfriend, Megan Lane, of Springville, 32, was at the residence. She had three outstanding warrants out of Hendricks, Lawrence and Owen counties, according to the probable cause affidavit.
When they arrived at the residence, deputies observed a vehicle parked in the driveway that returned to a woman from Indianapolis. The front door to the home was open.
As they approached the front door, they found that the living room light was on and the room was “in disarray,” according to the affidavit. They did not know if anyone was inside.
They heard shuffling inside and drew their firearms due to the unknown situation, the affidavit states.
After walking around the outside of the residence, they went back to their patrol vehicles and gave commands for anyone to come outside. Picou came out of the front door.
He told police he had just woken up and called his dad to tell him he was going to jail. He said there was no one else in the house.
They asked who the vehicle belonged to and he told police he just bought it.
Deputies entered the residence and found Lane hiding in a bedroom. Police reported seeing two syringes and a glass smoking device consistent with methamphetamine use on bedside tables in the room.
Lane told police she had heard them say to come out, but was scared because she had warrants out for her arrest. She told police the vehicle outside was hers. Lane had asked Pool to get her wallet for her and while doing so he found a syringe inside, according to the affidavit.
Methamphetamine was also found in a purse wallet in the home that Lane had picked up while officers were inside.
Picou and Lane were transported to the Brown County jail.
After getting a search warrant, police continued their search of the home and two vehicles on the property. In that search, they found over 100 used syringes, a spoon with burn marks, smoking pipes, marijuana and methamphetamine, the affidavit states.
Picou was charged with maintaining a common nuisance — controlled substances, a Level 6 Felony; possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony; unlawful possession of syringe, a Level 6 Felony; possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.
Lane was charged with a visiting a common nuisance — controlled substances, a Level 6 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony; unlawful possession of syringe, a Level 6 felony; possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.
Nashville woman charged with felony
A Nashville woman has been charged with a Level 6 Felony after she failed to return to a treatment center.
On Oct. 10, Cherie Lawson, 43, left a treatment center with permission for a shopping trip with two other residents of the facility in a van owned by the center. They were given instructions to return after visiting three specific locations.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Lawson failed to return to herself or the van to the center.
She was gone from the center past 10 p.m., which was the time of lockdown for treatment residents. Staff then reported to the Noblesville Police Department that Lawson and another resident were still missing from the center.
The van was reported stolen on Oct. 11. Treatment center staff contacted Brown County Probation Pre-Trial Release Officer Brittany Leerkamp and advised her that Lawson was disciplinary discharged from the treatment program.
Information was received at the treatment center from Lawson’s relative on Oct. 15, saying that Lawson had gone to another relative’s house on Oct. 14.
Lawson had allegedly gone to get drugs while on the shopping trip on Oct. 10 and had left the van at a gas station in Bargersville.
Lawson’s relative said she was going to take Lawson to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office to turn herself into the jail and Lawson agreed.
Conditions for Lawson’s release from jail to the treatment center states that she was supposed to report back immediately to the Brown County jail if she was unsuccessfully discharged from the treatment center or if she left the center before completing treatment she would be charged with the Level 6 felony for failing to return to lawful detention.
Lawson was booked into the jail on Oct. 15. The van was recovered by the Bargersville Police Department.
Local man charged accused of battery
A Nashville man has been charged with a Class A Misdemeanor for domestic battery after police responded to a call at a home on Treetop Lane on Oct. 11.
Nashville Police Officer Billy Bruant, Officer Davis Huynh, Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Gibson and Deputy Josh Stargell responded to a report of a battery in progress.
The caller said there were no weapons involved, but the victim was bleeding from the mouth.
Police made contact with the victim at the residence and asked where the suspect was. The suspect was later identified as Brandon Payne, 42, of Nashville.
Officers interviewed Payne, who told them he was not sure what happened. He said they had been watching a football game when he and the victim began arguing.
According to the probable cause affidavit, officers smelled alcohol on Payne’s person.
The victim told them Payne had never touched her previously.
The victim also told police she did not know exactly what happened. She said she and Payne had been drinking.
Payne told police that everything “happened fast,” according to the affidavit. He said that the victim was more upset than he was. He said he was defensive and put his hands up in defense to keep her back.
Police showed Payne images of her wounds and he told them again he had too much to drink.
He was arrested for domestic battery and transported to the Brown County jail. A breath test indicated his blood alcohol level was at 0.230 percent, which is nearly three times the legal limit.
Bloomington trooper thwarts phone scam in real-time
Greene County- Last night, Indiana State Police Senior Trooper Richard Klun, was dispatched to conduct a welfare check on a female in Bloomfield after she had left her home in Southern Indiana and was traveling to Fort Wayne. The investigation revealed that the female received a phone call from two men who identified themselves as law enforcement officers. The men falsely asserted criminal legal action towards the female unless she traveled to Fort Wayne to exchange monetary funds for her fine.
During the interaction with the female, S/Trp. Klun observed that she was on the phone with the men for several hours and that the female was in possession of gift cards and cash. S/Trp. Klun spoke to the two men on the phone and identified himself as a Trooper with ISP. The men continued to attempt the scam as one of the men identified himself as a law enforcement officer with a police department in Allen County. The other man identified himself as a federal agent and then threatened to arrest S/Trp. Klun for impeding their investigation. But S/Trp. Klun knew that something was amiss and requested other identifying answers from the men. At the same time ISP Dispatchers were in communication with the above-mentioned police department and confirmed that the man was not who he claimed to be. Ultimately, S/Trp. Klun was able to get the men to admit to the scam before they abruptly ended the phone call. It was confirmed that the female did not have an active warrant and she was released. S/Trp. Klun is continuing his investigation and communication with officials in the Ft. Wayne area to attempt to identify the suspects.
Indiana State Police Bloomington District would like to remind everyone that this incident serves as a warning to the general public to be cognizant when you receive unsolicited phone calls. Scammers continue new tricks and have recently been impersonating members of law enforcement while using software that shows the incoming call is from a police department. Their sole purpose is attempting to extort individuals by claiming that subpoenas and warrants have been issued against them or that their loved one is in jail and money is needed to settle the matter.
If you happen to receive unsolicited phone calls similar in nature: Don’t give in to pressure to take immediate action.
Don’t engage in any conversation, as scammers may record your response.
Don’t provide your credit card number, bank account information, or other personal information to a caller.
Don’t send money if a caller tells you to wire money or pay with a prepaid debit card or gift card.
Don’t travel to any location the caller asked you to go to.
Hang up, and call the police
Lt. Paul Bucher, Commander of the Bloomington Post states, “Our troopers are trained to detect criminal behavior during their interactions with the public and thankfully, S/Trp. Klun quickly recognized that last night” he continued, “Let this be a reminder that criminals are ever-increasing the ways to defraud the public and asks that everyone remain vigilant against fraud.”
