Man charged in string of car break-ins last fall
A 49-year-old Anderson man has been charged with three Level 6 felonies in Brown County after a police investigation showed he was responsible for breaking into three different vehicles and stealing belongings from them.
Donald Cates was formally charged on March 23 with three counts of theft. The charges stem from an investigation that began on Sept. 20 last year when Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Briles responded to a vehicle break-in at the Story Inn.
The victim discovered her car window had been broken and that her purse had been stolen at around 4:15 p.m. The victim then received text alerts that credit cards belonging to her were being used in Bartholomew County at 4:28 p.m., 4:40 p.m. and 4:41 p.m., a probable cause affidavit by Det. Paul Henderson states.
Henderson and Det. Brian Shrader were able to see a video from a Get Go gas station in Walesboro where the cards had been used. In the video was a red Dodge Durango parked at the gas pumps and a man later identified as Cates was seen going into the store with an unidentified woman. The woman went to the counter to try to purchase items with one of the cards while Cates tried to use the other cards at an ATM, the affidavit states.
The same day that break-in happened, the Nashville Police Department had taken a report of the same nature that occurred on North Jefferson Street. That victim reported the window to her truck had been smashed in and her purse was stolen.
That victim told police her cards had been used at the BP gas station in Nashville and the Speedway gas station across the street. Henderson watched video from the BP and reported seeing Cates and the same unidentified woman go into the BP to try to use the cards to purchase items there, the affidavit states.
Cates was also seen on video at Speedway using a card to purchase $17 worth of gas at the pump and then $138 worth of items in the gas station. The purchases at both gas stations occurred within minutes of each other.
On Sept. 30, Deputy Kyle Minor took a similar report at Brown County State Park. A couple had returned to their car after a hike and discovered the car window had been smashed in. A purse was stolen from that vehicle.
Shrader and Henderson then watched video from the Cork Liquor Store and the Exxon Mobil gas station on Jonathan Moore Pike in Columbus. They reported seeing Cates pull into the gas station parking lot in the same red Dodge Durango, then use the victim’s card to purchase items there. The detectives also reported seeing footage of Cates using a stolen card to purchase items at the liquor store.
The purchases on Sept. 30 were made about 45 minutes before the break-in was reported to police. Even though Cates had a face mask on, Henderson reported he was recognizable due to tattoos on his legs, arms and chest.
Cates also has several prior convictions for theft, including in Hancock County.
Traffic stop results in possession, dealing charges
Charges were filed against a 36-year-old Brown County man after police reported he had methamphetamine and a bottle of Xanax with no prescription.
On Dec. 28, Indiana State Police Trooper Matt Hatchett stopped a vehicle driven by Nicholas Hardin for a loud muffler that was consistent with being “leaky, altered or deteriorated,” a probable cause affidavit filed Feb. 26 states.
While speaking with Hardin, Hatchett reported seeing an unlabeled pill bottle with blue pills inside on the passenger seat. Hardin told Hatchett the pills were Xanax, but that they belonged to someone else who had a prescription. Because there was no label and the pills are a controlled substance, Hatchett explained Hardin could not possess the bottle.
When Hatchett asked Hardin to exit his vehicle, Hardin picked up a black beanie hat filled with electronics and cords to empty it out. He then quickly put the hat on when Hatchett asked to see inside of it. Hatchett took the hat from Hardin and found a small folded piece of paper that had suspected methamphetamine inside, his report said.
Hardin was placed in handcuffs and additional police units responded to the scene to assist. Hatchett searched Hardin and reported finding a cut straw with residue in it.
While the vehicle search was happening, Hatchett asked Hardin about the substance found in the piece of paper and he confirmed it was meth. Hatchett asked Hardin if there were any illegal items at his home where he had just left. Hardin said there was marijuana and paraphernalia at his house, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Hardin gave police consent to search his home. Police searched the kitchen, living room, bathroom, “man cave” and Hardin’s bedroom. Hardin at that time had two roommates, but their room was not searched and they were not home at the time.
During the search of the kitchen police reported finding, a metal container with marijuana inside, a marijuana pipe with residue, a plastic bag with marijuana inside, a smoking device, four cut straws and a broken methamphetamine pipe, the affidavit states.
In Hardin’s man cave police reported finding a plastic and glass meth smoking device and a metal tray with marijuana and tobacco on it in his bedroom, according to the affidavit.
Hardin told police the marijuana and large smoking device found in the kitchen belonged to a roommate.
After the search, Hardin gave police consent to search his phone. Hatchett reported seeing messages showing Hardin attempting to sell the Xanax. The last message on his phone was from the person Hardin was trying to sell to asking if he was on his way yet. That message came in after Hardin had been pulled over, Hatchett stated in the affidavit.
On Feb. 26, Hardin was charged with possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony; dealing in a Schedule IV controlled substance, a Class A misdemeanor; 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: Man hit woman in face, bloodied nose
Police responded to a report of a physical domestic disturbance on March 9 and arrested a man after evidence at the scene showed he had hit a woman in the face, giving her a bloody nose.
Police were told that 49-year-old Shawn Crapo had left the home, according to a probable cause affidavit by Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Kyle Minor. The victim was still on the phone with dispatch when Deputy Kyle Minor arrived on scene. Minor noted the victim was “very distraught” and he noticed dried blood under her nose. She told Minor that Crapo had hit her in the face and she could not remember if his fist was closed or if it was with an open palm. She said the two had an argument and that Crapo gets argumentative when he drinks.
When the victim went into the bathroom to clean up, Crapo punched a closet door repeatedly and she locked herself in the bathroom. Crapo then apologized for hitting her, she said.
Police found Crapo hiding in a barn attic on the property and he admitted to hitting the victim. He said he had drunk a pint of whiskey and apologized to police for everything, the report said.
The victim did not want fill out a witness statement and did not want to be checked out by EMS. Crapo was arrested. A portable breath test showed his blood-alcohol level to be 0.236, nearly three times the legal limit.
He was charged March 10 with domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor.
Driver had four times legal amount of alcohol
JACKSON TWP. — A 36-year-old Indianapolis man faces multiple misdemeanors after he crashed his vehicle in December and a blood test showed he had more than four times the legal limit of alcohol in his system.
Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Bowling responded to the crash in the 7500 block of Oak Ridge Road on Dec. 12. The driver was Lai Tin Hmung. Bowling reported smelling alcohol on Hmung. He noted there was a language barrier, but that officers were able to have limited communication with him.
On the side of the road were two plastic bags that Hmung and two other men with him said belonged to them. In one of the bags was a liter of vodka. A portable breath test showed Hmung blood-alcohol content to be 0.34, more than four times the legal limit of 0.08.
He was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for a blood draw and then to the Brown County jail to be booked in.
The blood test results showed his BAC to 0.37. He was formally charged March 9 with three misdemeanors for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Woman charged after traffic stop
HELMSBURG — A 59-year-old Brown County woman has been formally charged with two misdemeanors for operating a vehicle while intoxicated after she was stopped by police on Christmas Eve.
Just before noon Dec. 24, dispatch received an alert about Barbara Taylor driving in Brown County and that she was lost. Taylor was on the phone with dispatch in the area of Ford Ridge Road and dispatchers could not convince her to pull over and sit in a secure location on the side of the road, according to a probable cause affidavit by Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Acres.
Because of Taylor’s history with driving while intoxicated, police began searching for her. Acres eventually found her and tried to pull her vehicle over at the Lick Creek Road intersection on State Road 45. But Taylor ignored Acres and continued into Helmsburg where she stopped at on Second Street due to Capt. Mike Moore blocking the road there, the affidavit states.
Taylor told police she had been visiting her husband in a nursing home and that she may have a concussion after falling a couple days prior. Taylor told police she had been drinking at her home the night before. A portable breath test showed her blood-alcohol content to be 0.10, over the limit of 0.08.
She was taken by EMS to Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital for a check up.
She was formally charged on March 8.
Stop for speeding results in charge
A 21-year-old Columbus man has been charged with misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia after police reported finding pipes in his car during a traffic stop for speeding.
Kyle Reardon was stopped by Nashville Police Patrolman Billy Bryant on Feb. 8 after Bryant clocked him driving 61 mph in a 45 mph zone in the 600 block State Road 46 West, a probable cause affidavit states.
While Reardon was retrieving his license and registration, Bryant reported smelling marijuana. Reardon said he was on his way home from Ohio and had smoked marijuana before leaving there.
Bryant reported finding two marijuana pipes with residue inside the car and a grinder with suspected marijuana, the affidavit states. Reardon admitted to using the pipes to smoke marijuana before he left Ohio. He was cited for speeding and received a summons for the possession of paraphernalia charge before being released from the scene.
Man charged after stop for light, muffler
A 35-year-old Bedford man faces two misdemeanors in Brown County after he was stopped on Feb. 11 for not having a license plate light and driving with an altered muffler.
Nashville Police Patrolman Billy Bryant conducted the stop on a vehicle driven by Jacob Garner on State Road 46 East near the Brown County State Park north entrance. Garner told Bryant he had a suspended driver’s license, but was driving because his passenger was too scared to drive due to the road conditions, a probable cause affidavit states.
Garner gave police consent to search his vehicle. Bryant reported finding a glass pipe with suspected marijuana residue in it.
Bryant also searched Garner and while removing his wallet, Bryant reported finding a cut straw that Garner said he used to snort pills for back pain.
He was issued a summons for driving with a suspended license and possession of paraphernalia before the vehicle was released to his passenger, who had a valid driver’s license.
Formal charges were filed against Garner on March 8.
Intoxicated driver report leads to arrest
A 45-year-old Brown County man has been charged with multiple felonies after police stopped his car on a report of a possible intoxicated driver.
Nashville Police Patrolman Cody Poynter and Capt. Mike Moore with the Brown County Sheriff’s Department stopped the reported vehicle in in the parking lot of the Brown County IGA on March 12. Poynter reported that the driver, Joseph Richardson, appeared to be “heavily intoxicated” and could barely stand.
A portable breath test showed his blood-alcohol content to be 0.20, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08, according to the affidavit.
Richardson was taken to the Brown County jail to do a certified breath test, but he became angry when asked to give a second breath for the test and refused to do so. Richardson then became “very irate” and began to resist officers in the jail. He was placed in a restraint chair and it took several officers to get him into the chair due to him resisting, Poynter reported.
Richardson was charged March 15 with three Level 6 felonies for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. His charges were elevated to felonies due to a prior conviction in the last seven years. He also was charged with resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor.
Charges filed against man after crash
GNAW BONE — Charges have been filed against a 45-year-old Brown County after he fled the scene of a crash and police reported finding more than 30 Xanax pills in his possession.
On Dec. 20, officers responded to a crash in the 6300 block of State Road 46 East where the driver had fled into the woods. The witness said the driver, Matthew Nowling, had asked for the cops to not be called and only a wrecker, then ran into the woods, according to an incident report by Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy William Pool.
The witness Pool which direction Nowling had ran and said he was wearing neon green with a reflective tape coat. Pool reported catching a glimpse of the reflective tape as it disappeared over a hill, the report states.
Pool found Nowling face-down in the dirt. While searching him, Pool reported finding a cigarette pack in the coat pocket with Xanax pills inside. Nowling said the coat did not belong to him. Pool searched Nowling further and reported finding a larger bag filled with around 34 Xanax pills and multiple broken pieces of Xanax.
Nowling told police he was fighting with his girlfriend and decided to take a drive. He said he was tired from fighting all night and must have dozed off while driving. His car hit a ditch before striking a culvert. He said he ran from the scene because he did not have a driver’s license, according to the report.
The vehicle was towed. Nowling was taken to the Brown County jail, but was not booked in due to COVID-19 protocols. He was issued a citation.
Nowling failed to show up for an initial hearing on March 16 and a warrant was issued for his arrest on March 18. The police narrative about his incident was released at that time.
Speeding stop results in felony drug charges
A stop for speeding on March 5 resulted in a 26-year-old Kentucky man being charged for possession of pills and paraphernalia.
Abdulrahman Bamedhan was stopped near the Brown County Inn after he was caught driving at a high rate of speed, according to a probable cause affidavit by Nashville Police Patrolman Billy Bryant. When Bryant arrived on scene, Nashville Patrolman Davis Huynh and Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Acres were already doing a probable cause search. Bryant reported smelling burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle, the affidavit states.
Huynh reported finding a glass pipe in the middle console with burnt residue in it along with a digital scale. Bryant reported finding several prescription bottles in Bamedhan’s backpack in the backseat. The bottles did have Bamedhan’s name on them. Acres reported finding 28 blue pills that were later identified as sertraline hyrdochloride, which requires a prescription, scattered in the middle console.
Bamedhan told police he had last smoked marijuana about an hour before the stop using the pipe police found. He said he used the scale for weighing marijuana when he purchases it, according to the affidavit. When asked about the pills in the console, Bamedhan said he had a prescription, but that it was no longer active, and had thrown them in there after losing the bottle.
Bryant allowed Bamedhan to search his phone to find documentation on the prescription, but Bamedhan was unable to provide any, the affidavit states.
Bamedhan was cited for speeding and issued a summons before being released from the scene. He was charged on March 24 with unlawful possession or use of a legend drug, a Level 6 felony, and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.
Evicted siblings face charges for drugs, parapheranlia
JACKSON TWP. — Two people face criminal charges after police assisted with evicting them from a home, then reported finding drugs and paraphernalia.
Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Austin Schonfeld assisted Cpt. Mike Moore with an eviction on Old Settlers Road. After meeting the property owners and not being able to get anyone to come to the home’s door, police escorted the owners into the home.
When the homeowner opened the door, Terry Haines, 38, of Martinsville, walked out of a bedroom on the left side of a hallway. Haines began collecting some belongings.
While Schonfeld was clearing the home to make sure no one else was home, he entered the bedroom Haines had walked out of and reported seeing a glass smoking device on top of a dresser. He also reported finding a plastic baggie with a white substance Schonfeld believed to be methamphetamine in the top dresser drawer, an incident report states.
Schonfeld noted both items were in plain view. He also noted there was a photo of Haines and a young woman sitting on top of the dresser along with mailed addressed to Haines in the open top drawer, according to the report.
Haines told Schonfeld that the bedroom was his sister Cherie Lawson’s. Schonfeld also reported finding Haines’ cell phone in the bedroom, but Haines said he did not know how the phone got into Lawson’s room. Haines said he and Lawson were in the process of switching rooms, but Schonfeld reported there were no signs they were in the process of changing rooms. Schonfeld reported finding men’s clothing in the bedroom and a prescription belonging to Haines in the closet.
In the other bedroom, Schonfeld reported finding a marijuana roach next to a marijuana grinder in plain view. He also reported finding a tube used to ingest drugs through the nose. There was also marijuana shake in an ash tray, Schonfeld stated in the report.
Schonfeld was able to get a search warrant for the rest of the home. In one bedroom, Schonfeld reported finding a smoking device with marijuana, digital scale with white powdery residue on it and a bag with marijuana in it. He reported photographing documents with Lawson’s name on them in that room.
On March 23, Lawson was charged with possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor. Haines was charged with possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.
Police conducting school bus safety patrols
This spring officers with the Brown County Sheriff’s Department and Nashville Police Department will be out monitoring school bus routes for stop arm violations and other unsafe driving behavior.
The overtime patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Stop Arm Violation Enforcement program. The program was developed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute in 2019, according to a press release from the sheriff’s department.
“Disregarding a school bus stop arm is a very dangerous and serious offense,” Sheriff Scott Southerland said.
“We want students to arrive to school and return home safely, which is why we’re asking all motorists to drive cautiously around buses or face the consequences.”
More than 200 departments around the state will participate in the school bus safety campaign. High-visibility patrols will be done in the mornings and afternoons along routes that will be identified by bus drivers and the school transportation department.
Officers will also be looking out for speeding and distracted driving.
It is against the law in Indiana to pass a bus that is stopped with red lights flashing and a stop arm extended. The only exception is if a person is driving on a highway that is divided by a barrier, like a grassy median, and is traveling the opposite direction of a bus, the release states.
The sheriff’s department also recently announced that a month of overtime patrols looking out for dangerous and impaired driving resulted in 28 tickets and 10 arrests in Brown County.
“Driving impaired or dangerously has consequences,” Southerland said in the March 31 press release.
“You could get arrested or, worse, be involved in a traffic crash that causes serious injury or death. Don’t wait until it’s too late to change your behavior. Roadway safety is every driver’s responsibility.”
The sheriff’s department joined more than 200 departments across Indiana for the March enforcement campaign also funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the ICJI.
