Police crack down on stop-arm violations
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office wishes to remind motorists to stop for school buses.
Over the next couple of weeks, officers will be increasing patrols to prevent stop-arm violations, speeding and other forms of reckless driving around school buses and in school zones, according to a press release.
The department joined more than 200 police agencies across the state for the back-to-school Stop Arm Violation Enforcement campaign (SAVE).
According to the release, the overtime patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).
“Our two biggest concerns this time of year are drivers not paying attention to the road and speeding,” Sheriff Brad Stogsdill said in the release.
“Most of the stop-arm violations we encounter stem from those actions, and drivers need to be held accountable. Help us keep kids safe by slowing down, putting away the distractions and stopping for buses.”
The release stated that despite thousands of motorists being cited under the SAVE program, unsafe driving around school buses continues to be a concern, according to state officials.
In April, thousands of bus drivers who participated in a one-day observational survey counted 2,041 stop-arm violations in Indiana. That one-day total, when multiplied by the number of school days, adds up to a potential 367,380 violations throughout the school year, the release said.
The newly released data comes from the National School Bus Illegal Passing Driver Survey, which is managed by the Indiana Department of Education in the state. The survey has been conducted annually since 2011 but was put on hold for the past two years due to the pandemic.
This year, collection will take place on April 26, with 6,665 bus drivers participating from 195 school districts, according to the release.
“The fact that we still have people willing to put students and bus drivers at risk is the reason this campaign is necessary,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director in the release.
“Still, law enforcement can’t be everywhere, so drivers need to do the right thing and exercise caution around buses. Students’ lives depend on it.”
According to the release, to prevent unsafe driving, officers will be conducting high-visibility patrols in the morning and afternoon hours, as well as working to raise awareness about the importance of school bus safety and following the law.
Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop when the overhead lights on a school bus are flashing yellow. Once the lights turn red and the stop arm extends, drivers are required to stop on all roads with one exception. On highways divided by a physical barrier, such as a concrete wall or grassy median, only vehicles traveling in the same direction as the school bus are required to stop, the release said.
Motorists should also be mindful of posted speed limits, avoid distractions and watch for children in or near school and residential areas. Planning ahead and allowing for extra time during each commute will help keep all road users safe.
Disregarding a school bus stop arm is a Class A Infraction. Violators could pay a fine of up to $10,000, have their license suspended for up to 90 days for the first offense or up to one year for the second.
Local man faces battery, mischief charges
A Nashville man, 48-year-old John Douglas, faces a Class A misdemeanor for battery resulting in bodily injury and a Class B misdemeanor for criminal mischief following an event last month.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Feb. 27, Nashville Police Officer Heath Young was dispatched to a residence on South Jefferson Street regarding a disturbance.
When Young, along with NPD Lt. Mike Horn, arrived on scene, they were met by the victim and another individual. They told the officers that a man, later identified as Douglas, had come to the back of the residence and “beat on the door.”
When the victim answered the door, she said she tried to ask Douglas to leave and if he had a problem, to contact the property owner.
Douglas allegedly became agitated, started cursing at her and then grabbed her forearm. The victim told police that as she tried to pull away and close the door, Douglas struck her forearm with a swinging motion.
After she closed the door, the victim said Douglas threw a trash can on the porch and broke a vase.
The victim and the other individual said they did not know Douglas, but they saw him go into an apartment across the street. They also said that they were there to clean the residence and gave the owner’s information to the officers.
The officers then went to Douglas’ apartment. As they were approaching, Douglas stated from a window that he was upstairs and told the officers to “come on up,” according to the report.
As the officers reached the top of the stairs, Douglas opened his door and began stating why he went next door. According to the report, the officers noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from him when he spoke, and his eye were bloodshot.
Douglas said he went next door to tell them there is a sound ordinance, the report said. Douglas did tell police he hit the victim across the forearm when she asked him to leave, and added it was because he believed she touched him first.
The officers asked Douglas to put his hands behind his back, and according to the report, he did not comply. The officers placed him under arrest and secured his handcuffs.
Douglas told the officers that he had been drinking.
An ambulance arrived to check the victim’s injury, and she refused transport to the hospital. The property owner then came to the property and said they wanted Douglas trespassed from the property.
After Douglas was placed into the patrol vehicle, Young spoke with the other individual who works with the victim, and she gave the same description of events and said she witnessed Douglas hit the victim, then she called 911.
Douglas was transported and booked into the Brown County Jail with misdemeanors for battery and criminal mischief. The probable cause affidavit was filed in the Brown County Prosecutor’s Office on Feb. 28.
Man faces felonies, misdemeanor after stop
JACKSON TWP. — A Hagerstown man, 68-year-old James Doyle, faces a felony and three misdemeanors following a traffic stop last month.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on March 19, Brown County Conservation Officer Brad Barker conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle after it failed to signal at Garrity Road and Lutheran Lake Road.
The vehicle was also bearing a tag that returned on a different vehicle, the report said.
Barker approached the driver’s side of the vehicle, identified himself and informed the driver the reason he conducted the stop.
The male driver, later identified as Doyle, allegedly stated that he didn’t have a drivers license nor any other form of identification on him. Barker reported that while speaking with Doyle, he observed the odor of marijuana coming from the car.
There were also two male passengers in the vehicle who gave their information to Barker.
Barker returned to his patrol vehicle and requested Conservation Officer Mike Southerland to assist with the stop, then requested dispatch to run the registered owner of the plate that was given.
The information from dispatch identified the driver as Doyle, as well as identifying the two passengers. According to the report, Doyle returned as suspended from driving.
Barker had Doyle exit the vehicle and come back to his patrol vehicle. He issued him a citation for driving while suspended.
According to the report, Barker noticed the odor of raw marijuana coming from Doyle’s person, so he asked if he had anything illegal or any weapons on him.
Doyle allegedly stated that he had a pocketknife in his pocket and nothing illegal nor any guns on him. Barker asked Doyle how much marijuana was on him or in the vehicle.
According to the report, Doyle said he had none because he smoked it earlier in the vehicle. Barker then told Doyle he was going to pat him down for weapons and Doyle told Barker he had a gun in his coat pocket.
Barker retrieved and secured the firearm, then asked Doyle why he didn’t disclose that he was carrying when he was first asked. Doyle reportedly stated that he did not know.
A bag with plant material was also located in his coat pocket, which Barker identified as marijuana. Doyle was placed into handcuffs, then Southerland arrived on scene to assist.
The officers approached the vehicle and once again observed the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
Both the passengers exited the vehicle and were placed into handcuffs, then patted down for weapons. No weapons were found, then Barker asked them what else was in the vehicle.
According to the report, one of them said he knew of nothing illegal inside the car, and the other told the officers where a wooden marijuana pipe was hidden in the car.
The individual said he had used the pipe to smoke marijuana earlier in the day, but he believed all the marijuana was used.
When Barker searched the car, he allegedly found a homemade pipe with burnt marijuana residue inside the center console, along with the wooden pipe the passenger had described.
The evidence was secured and a wrecker was called to tow the vehicle. Both passengers were taken out of handcuffs and the one who disclosed the information about the wooden pipe was given a criminal citation for the possession of marijuana, which he signed, according to the report.
Barker then transported Doyle to the Brown County Jail. On the way, he had dispatch run a criminal background check on Doyle, which came back showing Doyle to be a serious violent felon, the report said.
Doyle had a previous conviction for manslaughter in 1979 and previous convictions for possession of marijuana.
Doyle was booked into the Brown County Jail for the following charges: unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, Level 4 felony; driving while suspended, Class A misdemeanor, possession of marijuana, Class B misdemeanor; possession of paraphernalia, Class C misdemeanor.
The probable cause affidavit was filed on March 23.
