Fatal motorcycle crash on State Road 135
JACKSON TWP. – On Sept. 15, Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Gibson responded to a crash on State Road 135 at the intersection of Redbud Lane.
According to the report, 19-year Christian Huddleston was driving a black Kawasaki EX5 at an unsafe speed when he ran off the road and struck a tree. The caller who reported the accident stated he had passed her at a high rate of speed before the crash. When Gibson arrived on the scene, Huddleston was deceased as a result of injuries he sustained.
Huddleston’s accident marks the first fatal crash of 2024, with the last fatal motor vehicle accident being in November 2023 and the last fatal motorcycle crash being in September 2023.
Columbus man charged with stealing firearm
COLUMBUS – A 55-year old Columbus man John Wilkerson has been charged with a level 5 felony for theft.
On Aug. 27 Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Gibson responded to a house in the 1000 block of Nelson Ridge Road for a possible firearm theft.
According to the report, Gibson spoke with Wilkerson’s mother over the phone who told him that when she realized her son was arrested in Brown County and had a warrant related to a firearm, she checked her guns to find a 9mm handgun missing. She was able to provide a serial number and the original receipt. By looking at the probable cause affidavit, Gibson was able to confirm that the gun that was seized when Wilkerson was arrested matched the serial number of the missing firearm.
According to the report, Wilkerson stated he was spending time with bad people and took the gun from his mother for protection. He said that he knew he was not supposed to have the gun, but only had it for protection and did not use or fire it.
Altercation in jail leaves two officers injured
NASHVILLE – A 36-year old Columbus man Brandon Grindstaff has been charged with two level 5 felonies for two counts of battery resulting in bodily injury to a public safety official and a level 6 felony for resisting law enforcement.
On Sept. 10, Detective Josh Stargell received a phone call from Brown County Jail Control about a physical altercation taking place in a padded cell between a current inmate and jail staff. Stargell noticed clothing and food items on the floor outside of the padded cell area and when he entered the cell he found Jail Commander Andrew Reed, Jailer Lane Rice and Chief Deputy Paul Henderson restraining Grindstaff with handcuffs.
Grindstaff had previously been arrested for resisting law enforcement with a vehicle hours before. He had also been involved in an incident with Bartholomew County prior to that. According to the report, Grindstaff was out of control and appeared to be under the influence of an illegal substance.
Stargell was requested to obtain a safe restraint system that protects subjects and staff by reducing the possibility of injury and death.
Grindstaff was placed in the restraint system by the officers and continued resisting throughout the process. Brown County Sheriff Brad Stogsdill and Sheriff’s Deputies Greg Duke and Jacob Gibson arrived to assist the officers.
According to the report, the altercation started because Grindstaff broke his jail issued cup into pieces and Rice went into the cell to remove the pieces. Grindstaff allegedly moved to stand between Rice and the padded cell door, attempting to block and grab him. Rice pushed Grindstaff away and asked Reed for assistance. According to the report, Reed attempted to push Grindstaff back so Rice could retrieve the broken cup. Grindstaff allegedly moved Reed across the padded cell and Reed placed Grindstaff into a headlock while Rice attempted to control his legs and they took him to the ground. He was then placed into handcuffs.
Rice’s watch was broken and he sustained a large number of scratches and redness on his forearm from the incident. Reed sustained an injury to his left eye and cheek bone area where Grindstaff had headbutted him, the area was red and he complained of pain.
