Police: Driver could not see oncoming traffic
HAMBLEN TWP. — Police say undergrowth and trees near the edge of a road limited a driver’s view who reported not seeing another vehicle before a crash on Peoga Road July 10.
Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Greg Duke responded to the crash and reported making contact with Sean Wells, 18, of Martinsville. Wells told Duke that he was leaving a church parking lot when he stopped to check the road for oncoming traffic. He said he did not see any vehicle approaching and turned left, an accident report states.
According to the report, Wells then pulled into the lane of travel of a vehicle driving west on Peoga Road, driven by 19-year-old McKenzie McCulley from Nashville.
McCulley complained of shoulder and upper arm pain but was not transported by EMS. The vehicle she was driving was towed from the scene due to disabling damage.
Duke noted in his report that the area of the crash was between two hill crests and in a curve. He reported that the trees and undergrowth near the edge of the road was “extensive” and that the distance to see oncoming traffic was limited.
Man charged with residential entry
A man from Indianapolis has been charged with a Level 6 felony for residential entry after reportedly breaking into a home in May.
On May 19, Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Joshua Stargell and Nashville Patrolman Jessica Bolin responded to the 1200 block of Yellowwood Road for a report of an unknown man inside of a home.
The caller told dispatch that the man appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Upon arrival, dispatch advised responding officers that the man left the home, ran down the driveway and was possibly hiding in the woods.
Stargell located the man, later identified as 42-year-old Chad Galford from Indianapolis, hiding behind a tree.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Stargell called for Galford twice and Galford reportedly walked away from Stargell. He was able to catch up to Galford and placed him in handcuffs. Galford reportedly gave Stargell a false name and birthday.
The homeowner reportedly told police they heard rustling and cursing outside on the side deck, but was not sure what it was. The homeowner then found Galford in the living room.
According to the affidavit, it was later determined that Galford walked up the stairs on the side deck, broke the screen in the screen door on the porch and entered the living room through the unlocked door on the porch area.
The homeowner told Galford he needed to leave, at which point Galford went outside and started messing with the homeowner’s vehicle. The homeowner locked the door behind Galford.
Galford told police that he was in Brown County trying to help someone move a car through AAA to Fishers. He did not know where the car was, according to the affidavit.
Stargell asked Galford why he entered the home without permission and Galford reportedly became “irate.” He said that he knocked on the door and the homeowner welcomed him into the home.
A portable breath test showed Galford’s blood alcohol content to be 0.24, which is three times the legal limit.
Galford was transported to the Brown County jail where it was determined he had presented a false identity and had a warrant out of Marion County.
He was also charged with two Class A misdemeanors for criminal trespass and false identity statement on May 20.
Man injured in bike crash during police pursuit
JACKSON TWP. — A 33-year-old Brown County man was injured in a sports bike crash and faces a Level 6 felony for resisting law enforcement after fleeing police.
On May 31, Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy William Pool was traveling southbound on State Road 135 North when he reported seeing a sports bike at the intersection of Three Story Hill Road waiting to turn onto the state highway.
He recognized the driver as Jacob Payne from previous instances. Payne failed to use a turn signal when turning onto State Road 135 North, according to the probable cause affidavit. Pool had checked Payne’s driving status earlier in the day and discovered it was suspended prior.
Payne turned north onto 135 North and Pool turned around to initiate a pursuit. Payne reportedly looked behind him to see Pool’s vehicle with emergency lights on, but did not stop.
Pool lost sight of Payne as he passed Hornettown Road. As he was driving north, Pool reported seeing a cloud of dust at Old Haggard Road in Morgan County. Pool continued north on 135 North then turned around when he could no longer see Payne.
According to the probable cause affidavit, when Pool approached the intersection of 135 North and Old Haggard Road, a woman flagged him down and he could see the sports bike laying on the ground.
The woman told Pool she heard an accident and then saw a man stand up, but that he left the scene. She did not know which way he had gone.
During the crash a green phone box and water meter were damaged, according to the affidavit.
Deputy Austin Schonfeld arrived on scene and advised Pool that he was going to stop a vehicle that was traveling south on Old Haggard Road. Payne was reportedly a passenger in that vehicle.
During the high-risk traffic stop, Pool called Payne out of the vehicle and asked him what was going on, to which he told police “You already know.”
Payne said that he had called the driver to come pick him up and the driver said he did not know that the law was after Payne, he thought that he was going to give him a ride back to his house and bandage his injuries sustained in the crash, the affidavit states.
Payne was transported to Morgan County Hospital by Morgan County EMS then released into police custody.
Payne was also charged with a Class A misdemeanor for driving while suspended and a Class B misdemeanor for leaving the scene of an accident.
