A Southport man, 21-year-old Jaffet Saidh Jackson-Zelaya, faces four felonies and five misdemeanors following an event at the end of last month.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on the afternoon of April 29, Brown County Sgt. William Pool was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident with injury on State Road 135 South near Orchard Road. Deputy Chris Griggs, who was off-duty at the time, the report said, also responded to assist with the investigation.
Pool reported that while en route, dispatch advised that one driver was deceased and another was severely injured. Upon arrival, Pool observed two vehicles with “severe damage on or near the road,” the report said. According to the report, the allegedly at-fault vehicle was a white Chevrolet Camaro, and it was off the north side of the road, on its roof and on fire. The driver of the Camaro, Jackson-Zelaya, and his passenger were in a field north of the vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle was deceased and still inside the vehicle, which was still resting on the road in the proper lane of travel, according to the report.
According to Pool, preliminary investigation indicated the Camaro was travelling north/east on 135 South and the other vehicle was south/west bound. He also reported that evidence at the scene indicated the Camaro was travelling at a high rate of speed, as it approached a hillcrest and a slight curve. The Camaro appeared to have gone airborne, crossed the centerline and struck the other vehicle, the report said. Allegedly, the Camaro was traveling at such a high rate of speed, it took the top off the other vehicle, killing the driver instantly.
The Camaro traveled past the pickup truck, inverted onto its roof in the ditch and caught fire, the report said. Jackson-Zelaya was able to exit the Camaro and had to pull his passenger out prior to the fire getting out of control. According to the report, the passenger was unresponsive and was flown by medical helicopter to Indianapolis in critical condition. Jackson-Zelaya was treated and released by medics at the scene, the report said.
Pool reported that he spoke with Jackson-Zelaya after he was released by medics. According to the report, Pool asked if he was driving and he allegedly admitted to driving the Camaro. When asked what happened, Jackson-Zelaya allegedly said he wouldn’t lie and that he had “four shots of sex on the beach” at a restaurant in Nashville. While speaking with Jackson-Zelaya, Pool reported detecting the odor of an alcoholic beverage, redness in his eyes and unsteady balance. Jackson-Zelaya also allegedly said he thought he was travelling around 65 miles per hour and was unsure if he was left of center at the time of the crash, the report said.
Jackson-Zelaya allegedly agreed to submit to a chemical test and was transported to the Brown County Law Enforcement Center by Deputy Jacob Gibson. Once at the LEC, Jackson-Zelaya was reportedly unable to provide an adequate breath sample and was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for a blood draw.
While at the hospital, Gibson reportedly located a clear plastic baggie that contained a white powder on Jackson-Zelaya. According to the report, Jackson-Zelaya allegedly confirmed the powder to be cocaine and stated that he was holding it for a friend. Jackson-Zelaya also has a previous arrest out of Marion County for operating while never receiving a license, the report said, but that case was dismissed after completing the diversion program and Jackson-Zelaya had still never obtained a driver’s license, according to the report.
Pool also reported that a witness at the scene of the crash stated that he was working outside at a local farm on 135, and he had heard and observed the Camaro travelling at high rate of speed just prior to the crash.
Once released from the hospital, Jackson-Zelaya was transported to the Brown County Jail and booked for causing death when operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Level 4 felony; reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony; causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Level 5 felony; possession of cocaine, a Level 6 felony; operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor; reckless driving, a Class A misdemeanor (x2); operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor; and operating a motor vehicle without ever receiving a license, a Class C misdemeanor.
According to the report, once at the jail, Jackson-Zelaya allegedly stated that he was an illegal immigrant from Honduras and not a United States citizen. After being advised of his rights, Jackson-Zelaya requested an attorney, the report said.
The probable cause affidavit was filed on May 4.
Cloverdale man faces reckless driving charge
A Cloverdale man, 30-year-old Dillin Gray, faces a misdemeanor for allegedly driving his motorcycle recklessly last month.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on April 2, Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Edward Scales was running radar at State Road 135 North and Railroad Road when he reportedly noticed a couple motorcycles “fly past” him at “recklessly high” rates of speed, while also allegedly passing a vehicle in a no passing zone.
Scales reported that he activated his emergency lights and pursued the motorcycle south on 135 toward Nashville. During pursuit, he attempted to get descriptions of the motorcycles and riders to dispatch. According to the report, vehicle speeds exceeded 100 miles per hour during pursuit. Scales reported that he got behind one motorcycle and conducted a traffic stop just north of Nashville. According to the report, after following it for about a mile, it pulled over. Scales reported that this was not the motorcycle he was looking for, however he did write that motorcycle three citations, the report said.
From his radio, Scales reported that he heard Brown County Sgt. William Pool and Nashville Police units inform him that the motorcycles were heading toward town. According to the report, NPD Officer Heath Young and Lt. Mike Horn were able to block the motorcycles from continuing into Nashville, the two motorcycles turned around, the report said, and headed toward Scales. Sgt Pool was able to stop the motorcycles and officers began to conduct an investigation.
One of the drivers, Gray, allegedly informed Scales that he knew the officers were trying to catch up to him. He also allegedly admitted to trying to flee from the Nashville units as well. Gray was written a criminal summons for reckless driving, the report said, and his motorcycle was towed.
Gray faces a Class C misdemeanor for reckless driving. The probable cause affidavit was filed on May 3.
Columbus man faces domestic battery charge
A Columbus man, 64-year-old Mark Bokich, faces a misdemeanor for domestic battery following an event early this month.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a residence on Mt. Nebo Road in reference to a disturbance. The report said that dispatch initially received a call from Jackson County advising of a disturbance inside a vehicle. Jackson County dispatch advised that a female caller stated she and another individual, later identified as Bokich, were arguing and she requested law enforcement. While en route to the caller’s location, units were advised that the caller and Bokich had reached the residence on Mt. Nebo Road, so Brown County Sheriff’s Office responded to that location.
Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Joshua Stargell reported that, upon arriving at the residence, he made contact with the caller. She allegedly stated while she and Bokich were in their vehicle, he was yelling at her and pulling her hair. Stargell asked what the argument was about, and the caller allegedly told him it didn’t matter, then stated that Bokich has battered her before. She also said that he allegedly told her that if she called the cops, he would bring a gun out. The caller told Stargell that Bokich would not do that. Stargell noted in the report that firearms were located “all over” the living room of the residence. Stargell asked Bokich if he had been drinking, and the caller allegedly said he drinks “24/7,” and then voluntarily stated that she had been drinking too, according to the report.
Stargell then walked over to Bokich. According to the report, Bokich was sitting in a recliner, watching TV and drinking a 12-ounce beer when Stargell asked him what was going on. During their conversation, Bokich allegedly admitted to pulling the caller’s hair and said that the argument began when they were leaving Brownstown. He also allegedly said he was on his third beer of the day.
Stargell spoke further with the caller, who said that during their argument in the vehicle, Bokich slammed on the brakes, knocked her hat off, pulled her hair and told her to get out of the vehicle. Stargell asked the caller what she wanted to be done, according to the report, and she said she wanted Bokich to get help.
Deputy Zaccary Sheppard arrived on scene, and Stargell told Bokich that he was going to jail for domestic battery. According to the report, Bokich got up and dressed slowly before being transported to a police vehicle. Stargell reported that he administered a PBT, and after several unsuccessful attempts, the result was a blood-alcohol content of “.247 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath,” the report said.
Stargell collected Bokich’s prescriptions as he was transferred to Columbus Regional Health. Bokich faces a Class A misdemeanor for domestic battery and a Class B misdmeanor for disorderly conduct.
The probable cause affidavit was filed on May 2.
