The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1454364
B-2 Wednesday, Februar y 23, 2022 The Press-Dispatch COMMISSIONER Continued from page 1 Trucker arrested for OVWI By Sherri Sebella On Monday, February 14, Pike County dispatch received a call of a semi that was reck- lessly driving on State Road 56, entering Pike County from Dubois County. The caller stated that the truck continued west on State Road 56, but ran the stop sign/ caution light combo at the in- tersection of State Road 56 and State Road 257. While the caller was behind the semi, they stated that it was going left of center and at one point, the semi ran off the road. Indiana State Trooper C.J. Boeckman was able to lo- cate the semi on State Road 56, just west of Winslow Cato Road, traveling west. As po- lice followed the semi, it went left of center multiple times, and traveled down the mid- dle of both lanes. The semi then almost hit another vehi- cle head-on at a hill, while trav- eling well over left of center. Police stopped the semi for going left of center. A fter making contact with the driv- er, Richard L. Wallace, 44, of Campbell, Missouri, police noticed by Wallace's appear- ance, that something was not right with him. According to the probable cause affidavit, Wallace showed signs of being under the influence. His eyes were very red, glassy, and wa- tery, and his speech was slow and slurred. Wallace's pupils were dilated and he seemed to be very confused and dis- oriented, according affidavit. Wallace said he was just tired and looking for a place to pull over. Police asked Wal- lace to step out of the truck and walk back to the rear be- hind his trailer. Wallace had to pull himself from the truck and was slow with his move- ment. A fter asking Wallace to put out his cigarette, police saw his balance was unstable. Po- lice asked Wallace where he was coming from and he said he was in Ohio trying to get home, but since he was Indi- ana, his GPS messed up and it was taking him on back roads to get home. Wallace failed field sobri- ety testing, claiming he could not perform the tests right be- cause he was cold and need- ed his jacket. Wallace then agreed to a certified test. He was handcuffed and transport- ed by Boeckman to Daviess Community Hospital for a blood draw and urine sample. Pike County Deputy Jared Simmons and Indiana State Police unit Dustin Stein assist- ed. Simmons and Stein stayed with the semi and completed the inventory. Tests revealed Wallace had methamphetamine, amphet- amines, and marijuana in his system. He was transported to Pike County Jail charged with Op- erating a Vehicle While Intox- icated, with a Prior Offense, Level 6 Felony. Taking care of your health today, can help you see more tomorrows. Whether it's to see your kids graduate high school, walk your daughter down the aisle, or to hold your future grandson, these are the moments you live for. From routine visits with your primary care provider, mammograms, vascular screenings, colonoscopies and beyond, Good Samaritan offers multiple preventive health care options for you and your family. Visit gshvin.org/prevention and learn more about how you can take action now to better your health for the future. We want to thank our event sponsors: Pike Feud (Game Show Entertainment) Thursday, March 10 at 6pm located at GLEZEN REVIVAL CENTER 245 S. Glezen Center St, Petersburg Tickets are $25 for sale at Petersburg Hardware Food participants Calorita Jay C Mi Patio Village Inn Friends Beacon of Light Ambor Manor No. 423 Smokehouse Caddy Shack Moose The Pike County Chamber & Pike County Economic Development presents our annual dinner: More Info: chamber@pikecounty.in.gov, pikegrowth@pikeco.org or 812-354-8155 Taste 2022 of Pike COUNTY K-9 BLECK Continued from page 1 him at home, because he has so much energy," Seger said. "It's a lot of work, but very re- warding. It was a rejuvena- tion for my career when I got Bleck. He was a whole new set of challenges. I felt like a rook- ie cop again. I have back up with me every day when he is with me. Other officers often work alone and I have my part- ner with me at all times." Seger often sees people re- sisting arrest, until he shows up with Bleck. "People will resist arrest, but as soon as they see him, they give up," Seger said. "He is the first K- 9 in Pike County. It was a lot of pressure for him and I. Now that we've had, I don't think the county will ever be with- out a K-9 officer now." Bleck has made countless narcotic finds since he start- ed, according to Seger. "He had over 150 narcotic finds the first year as a K-9," Seger said. "People say there are no drugs, but when I come and ask, and tell them I'm going to release the dog, they say 'Yes,' real quick." According to Seger, once the Mexican cartel got in- volved in methamphetamine, they bury it in cars and that is harder for police to detect, un- less you have a K-9 like Bleck. "You almost have to have a dog to be able to pick up on drugs," Seger said. "I don't know why every department doesn't have a K-9." K-9 dogs could care less about the drugs they find. Ac- cording to Seger, they are on- ly interested in the reward once they find the drugs. "He doesn't think he's finding drugs," Seger said. "When training, he thinks it's the ball, then we incorporate the smell of illegal drugs with the ball. Once he learned that, we re- moved the ball, then after he finds the drugs, he's reward- ed with the ball. A fter he finds the drugs, he sits or lies down directed at the source and waits for his ball. He doesn't care about the drugs, he wants to find the odor so he can get his toy," Seger said. Bleck is even able to detect the residual odor of drugs days later, depending how much was there. Most K-9 dogs serve eight to nine years on the force, de- pending on circumstances. "When Bleck retires, he be- comes mine," Seger said. I take over his food and medi- cal. With larger frame dogs, their bodies begin to break down at eight to nine years. As far as Nationals go, Seger is confident of his K-9 partner. "I think he has the capability to get a top score," Seger said. "There isn't a doubt in my mind he can't win as top dog. There's always something to learn from. I've never seen a dog as much of a stud on narcotics as this one. I hear it from all the other train- ers too, so it's not just because he is my partner. This dog is special." Once Bleck finds the source (drugs) he sits or lies down, directed at the source. In this case, one gram of meth was hid- den in a drawer and it took him less than one minute to find it. "He doesn't care about the drugs, Pike County Sheriff Deputy Buck Seger, said, he just wants to find the odor so he can get his toy." Man arrested on multiple traffic charges By Sherri Sebella According to a Probable Cause A ffidavit filed with the Pike County Circuit Court, on Friday, February 11, In- diana State Police Trooper James Manning, observed a red 1997 Ford F-150 traveling southbound on State Road 61, turn into Petersburg Hard- ware Store parking lot. As the vehicle was turning into the parking lot, Police checked the license, which was issued in Kentucky. Police then con- tacted Petersburg City Police Chief Kyle Mills and told him about the vehicle with the fic- titious plate. Later, Mills observed the vehicle leaving the store's parking lot and followed it in- to Petersburg and stopped it White River Avenue. Indiana State Trooper Man- ning traveled to the traffic stop and Petersburg Reserve Officer Ryan Benner was also on scene. Mills told police the driver had no documentation for the vehicle and no operator's li- cense in his possession. Mills said he believed the driver gave him a fake name of Tyler Morgan and had given him two different birth years, October 2, 1982 and 1984. Mills stated that originally the driver said 1982 as his birth year, but then said 1984. A fter warning the driver that giving police a false name would be a misdemeanor, the driver again stated that his name was Tyler Morgan. Police were unable to get a return on that information and the driver continued to deny having any other name. The driver said he recently bought the truck and the plate was on there when he bought it. He also said the title and insurance card to the truck were at his house. Police ex- plained that since the license plate was false and fictitious, and he had no proof of insur- ance, the vehicle would have to be towed. Police asked the driver if he had someone he could call to pick up him and his dog, and the driver stated he would call his girlfriend. While the driver was call- ing his girlfriend, he agreed to allow police to talk to her. She told police her boyfriend's name was Aaron. A fter speak- ing to the girlfriend, police handcuffed Aaron Morgan, 38, who later admitted that the name he had given was his brother's name and that he was scared because he had a suspended license. Po- lice then checked Morgan's true name and found that he was suspended prior. Morgan was transported to Pike County Jail by Mills and his girlfriend took possession of the dog, along with some other things Morgan request- ed she take. The vehicle was then towed. Morgan is charged with Driving While Suspended: Knowing Violation and Prior Conviction within 10 Years, and False Informing. above, shall submit their claim on State Form 49890 and filed with the Pike County Audi- tor's Office. An additional appropriation in the amount of $13,800 from the Pike County Highway De- partment was approved unani- mously for Fund 1176 MVH in- to the Machinery and Equip- ment Fund. A transfer of $1,350 of funds was also re- quested by the Pike County Highway Department for the final invoice for Bridge 150 Re- hab, which was also approved unanimously by the Commis- sioners. Pike County Highway Su- pervisor Josh Byrd also gave a report to Commissioners and stated that it is a mess on coun- ty roads. "With the ice, snow and heavy rain, we have had a lot of call-In's," Byrd said. "We have trucks working on the roads, and we just keep haul- ing rock to get the roads back in shape." Commissioners unanimous- ly approved to advertise for mowing and trimming bids for the 2022 year of Old Town Cemetery in Petersburg, two times, in April through Octo- ber and mowing and trimming of Coleman Cemetery, locat- ed in Monroe Township to be scheduled one time in April, two times each month in May and June, and one time in July, August, September and Octo- ber. If any locations require ad- ditional mowing during these months, it must be approved by the Commissioner's office. Sealed bids will be accepted through March 21, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. local time. Bids will be opened at the commission- ers meeting held on March 21, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. Ryan Benner, EMA/Dis- patch Director gave his re- port to the Commissioners and stated that one of the part-time dispatch- ers moved up to the full-time empty po- sition, and another part-time person was hired, but that the dispatch is still short-staffed by three people. Commission- ers approved the hiring of an additional full-time employee for 911 dispatch. Commissioners heard con- cerns from Chris Young, Emergency Medical Services Director, who gave his report and stated that they are still having issues with an ambu- lance that was being worked on, and getting help from oth- er counties has also been an is- sue, as the other counties are short-staffed also. "We have had more runs this year, than last, at this time," Young said. "This year we had 355 runs so far and last year, we had 235 runs at this time." The next meeting is sched- uled for Monday, March 7, at the Pike County Courthouse, Sunday crash leads to arrest A Tell City woman was arrested Sunday after she was involved in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of CR200N, 1000E and Highway 257 in Otwell. Pike County Deputy Sheriff Cody Jones said Kurt Bromm, 21, of Otwell, driv- ing a Chevrolet pickup and Haley Goffinet, 22, of Tell City were driving in oppo- site directions on Highway 257. As they both attempted to turn on CR1000E and CR200N Bromm's truck hit Goffinett in the passenger side. Deputy Jones said Goffinet was conscious originally but lost consciousness at the scene. She was taken to Memorial Hospital, where she tested 0.22 percent for blood alcohol and was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. The accident happened at about 3 p.m.