The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department released details surrounding Sunday morning’s fatal accident.

According to the report, Jeremy Day, 39, was driving south on U.S. 35 south of County Road 250 S. in Pulaski County after 2 a.m. ET when he lost control of his vehicle, went off the roadway and struck a tree.  He was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Police believe roadway conditions, low tread on a tire, speed, and weather conditions contributed to the accident. 

Results are pending from toxicology tests, which is routine. 

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the scene by the Pulaski County Coroner’s Office, Winamac Police Department, Pulaski County EMS, Winamac Fire Department, Star City Fire Department and Murray’s Towing.

A group of juveniles who were caught vandalizing the Winamac Town Park will have to clean it up, according to the town’s park board president.

Chris Schramm, who’s also a detective with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, told the rest of the board Thursday that town police apprehended the juveniles for spray painting last weekend.

“Their parents came and picked them up,” Schramm explained. “They’re juveniles, so I can’t get into that. But I told them. I said, we’re going to have this cleaned up because we’re not going to tolerate this anymore.”

Park Manager Dave DeLorenzo told board members that he saw spray paint on a cornerstone marker near the big ball diamond. Schramm said he’d follow up to make sure the vandalism is cleaned.

The Indiana Department of Transportation was recently urged to memorialize fallen Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputy Shadron Kiley “Shad” Bassett by naming a stretch of State Road 39 in his honor.

Bassett, who started his law enforcement career as a reserve officer for the Burnettsville PD, served on the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department for two and a half years before he lost his life in a single-vehicle automobile accident in 2005 while responding to a 911 call in his patrol car.

Last week, District 5 State Senator Ed Charbonneau presented Concurrent Resolution No. 4 to the Homeland Security and Transportation Committee.

The resolution recognized that Deputy Bassett paid the ultimate price while protecting the people of Pulaski County and the State of Indiana. In order to honor his sacrifice and service, it called for one mile of SR 39 between Pulaski County Roads 300 North and 400 North to be named the “Deputy Shadron K. Bassett Memorial Mile”.

All members on the committee reportedly voted in favor of passing the resolution.

The resolution also notes that Deputy Bassett was born in Monticello but was a graduate of Knox High School. He was member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 123.

He is survived by three sisters, a brother and his parents as well as his wife and three daughters. Shad was know as a kindhearted person who was respected by his peers for his love of God, family, and community.

All information provided above was obtained from Concurrent Resolution No. 4 while the photo that appears at the top of the article was found on the Officer Down Memorial Page website.

Four suspects were detained in a traffic stop in Winamac on Friday, March 13 on suspicion of their involvement in an alleged armed robbery incident in Knox earlier that night.

The traffic stop was conducted in the area of Spring Street and Monticello Street at 10:15 p.m. ET.  According to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, the suspect’s vehicle was operating too close to another vehicle when the traffic stop was initiated.

Police say the adult driver had a permit violation and three juvenile occupants were from out of the county.  The officer reportedly saw evidence of other crimes inside the vehicle which gave the officer probable cause to search the vehicle.  The report also states that illegal contraband was found along with a large sum of cash, an air soft gun which was modified in appearance, and several other suspicious items. 

As the traffic stop was nearing conclusion, police say the deputy received information that suspects in armed robberies in Fulton County and Starke County were still at large.   After collecting descriptions and other significant details of the robberies, the deputy found probable cause to detain the four individuals from the traffic stop as he believed the four occupants to be the suspects in the auto part store robberies.

The four suspects were turned over to Fulton County, Rochester Police, Knox City Police and Starke County Sheriff’s Department for further investigation. 

No other details about the robbery incidents have been released as officers continue their investigations.    

The Pulaski County Coroner and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a fatal car accident that occurred on Monday, May 25, on 700 N. west of U.S. 35 in Pulaski County.  According to Coroner Jon Frain, the accident happened about a mile west of the intersection. 

The details of the accident and the name of the victim are not being released at this time pending further investigation.  The cause and manner of death are pending an autopsy and toxicology tests. 

Coroner Jon Frain and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department were assisted at the scene by the Winamac Fire Department, Bass Lake-California Township Fire Department, Pulaski County EMS, and the Indiana State Police. 

The identity of the victim in a fatal vehicle accident in Pulaski County on Monday, May 25 has been released.

Pulaski County Coroner Jon Frain said the victim was 18-year-old Tyler Thomas, of Winamac.  Frain noted that dental analysis was conducted on Thursday in order to make a positive identification.  He then notified the next of kin.

Frain and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department continue to investigate the accident that occurred Monday, May 25 on 700 N., about one mile west of U.S. 35 in Pulaski County. 

The details of the accident have not been released.  The cause and manner of death are pending the outcome of an autopsy and toxicology tests. 

The coroner and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department were assisted at the scene by the Winamac Fire Department, Bass Lake-California Township Fire Department, Pulaski County EMS, and the Indiana State Police.

Emergency responders were called to a house fire in Monterey Thursday evening. The Monterey Fire & Rescue Team Facebook page says firefighters were called to the scene just after 6:00 p.m. and remained on the scene for over three hours.

The Culver-Union Township Fire Department, Culver-Union Township EMS, and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department were all called to assist. The Facebook post says everyone made it out of the building, and no firefighters were injured.

Two people died in a motorcycle accident three miles west of the area of Pulaski Sunday evening.

Pulaski County Coroner Jon Frain says 63-year-old Paulette Joslyn of Sebring, Florida, and her sibling 59-year-old Daniel Colombo of Monticello, Indiana were traveling westbound on County Road 550 S. when the trike they were riding left the road for an unknown reason.  Colombo was believed to be operating the trike at the time of the incident. 

The next of kin has been notified. 

The cause and manner of death are pending an autopsy and toxicology results. 

The Pulaski County Coroner was assisted at the scene by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, Winamac Police Department, Pulaski County EMS, Star City Fire Department, Pulaski County REACT, and Murray’s Towing. 

A Winamac teen died of blunt force trauma to his head and abdomen in a single-vehicle accident in Winamac on Memorial Day, according to Pulaski County Coroner Jon Frain, who confirmed that determination after an analysis of an autopsy and toxicology test results.

A Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department report says 18-year-old Tyler Thomas was eastbound on 700 N. near 100 W. in Winamac around 2:20 p.m. ET on Monday, May 25 when his truck left the roadway for an unknown reason.  Police say the truck hit a tree. The impact reportedly caused the truck to burst into flames.

The coroner and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department were assisted at the scene by the Winamac Fire Department, Bass Lake-California Township Fire Department, Pulaski County EMS, and the Indiana State Police.

A stretch of State Road 39 will officially be dedicated in memory of a fallen Pulaski County sheriff’s deputy tomorrow. Shadron K. Bassett was killed in a single-vehicle crash on State Road 39 near Pulaski County Road 300 North while responding to a call on October 7, 2005.

Now, the Indiana Department of Transportation is naming the section between 300 and 400 North the “Deputy Shadron K. Bassett Memorial Mile.” The Indiana General Assembly recommended the change in a joint resolution authored by State Senator Ed Charbonneau.

Tomorrow, Senator Charbonneau, INDOT representatives, and Bassett’s family members will gather at INDOT’s Medaryville Maintenance Unit for a memorial ceremony at 3:00 p.m., where the commemorative sign will be unveiled.

A Silver Alert for a missing Winamac man has been canceled. Pulaski County dispatchers say Morton Goble, 70, has been located.

He had been reported missing on Thursday.

High winds led to some hazardous driving conditions in Pulaski County Thursday afternoon. The Sheriff’s Department says a large dust storm was reported on State Road 14 between county roads 1100 and 1175 West. Near zero visibility was reported.

Officers say that if you encounter a dust storm, you should use the same rules as driving in the fog. Don’t stop in the road because cars coming behind you may not see you in time to stop. If possible, pull off the side of the road and wait until it’s safe to resume driving. If traffic prevents you from pulling over, follow the white lines on the pavement and drive very slowly. It should only take a few minutes for the dust to pass.

A Wind Advisory remains in effect until 5:00 EST/4:00 CST Thursday afternoon.

A Medaryville man was arrested January 4 following a lengthy sexual assault investigation in Ohio.

Following an Ohio Grand Jury indictment in November 2020, an arrest warrant was issued for 21-year-old Kirkland Bushong, of Medaryville, who is accused of rape as a Level 1 Felony, according to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. 

Officers from the Sylvania Police Department in Ohio contacted the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department for assistance in locating Bushong.  Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Fred Rogers reportedly found that Bushong was living and working in Lafayette, Indiana.  Police say the Street Crimes Team in Lafayette was able to assist in serving the warrant and took Bushong into custody.  He is currently in the Tippecanoe County Jail awaiting extradition. 

This investigation is ongoing.  If anyone has any additional information involving Bushong, contact the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department or any local law enforcement agency to report it.   

Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Winamac Police Department will soon be adding two new officers. The town council voted last week to offer the two vacant full-time positions to Andrew Speer and Aaron J. Zimmerman.

Both of them currently work as jailers at the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, according to Winamac Police Chief Mike Buchanan. “All full-time members of the department were present and we conducted interviews, and of those six interviews, we came down to two subjects out of those six interviews that we felt would be an asset to the Winamac Police Department,” Buchanan told council members.

Buchanan said neither has been through the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, but one has completed the 40-hour pre-basic course and serves as a Sheriff’s Department reserve. Both of them currently live outside of the county but are willing to move to Winamac.

The Winamac Town Council also continues working to find a permanent police chief. Buchanan came out of retirement last year, and while he’s willing to stay for a few more months, he doesn’t want the job permanently.

The fact that the council members chose to fill both full-time vacancies indicates that they plan to promote one of the town’s current officers. Buchanan told the council he’d be comfortable with that. The town council hopes to schedule interviews later this month.

A Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department detective has been suspended, after discrepancies were reportedly found in the accounting of cash in the Justice Center evidence room.

Jason Woodruff, the officer in charge of the evidence room, was questioned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Wednesday, according to a press release sent by County Attorney Kevin Tankersley on behalf of the Sheriff’s Department.

It says Sheriff Jeff Richwine was notified of the discrepancies following an independent audit by a separate officer, and he asked the FBI to help investigate. Tankersley says Woodruff was released, and it will be up to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to decide whether there will be an arrest or any charges. Woodruff’s employment with the Sheriff’s Department will be determined after a Merit Board hearing.

Sheriff Richwine had no additional comment when contacted by WKVI News.

The complete press release can be found below:

Press Release

The Pulaski County Sheriff Department has suspended Detective Jason Woodruff pending a review by the Merit Board. His future with the Department will be determined after the Merit Board hearing.  This is a required process under Indiana law.   Woodruff was the officer in charge of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department evidence room.  This is a locked facility within the Sheriff’s Department at the Pulaski County Justice Center.  An independent audit of the evidence room and its contents by a separate officer alerted Sheriff Jeff Richwine to some discrepancies in the accounting of cash being held for various investigations.  Given the nature of the possible criminal activity and the possibility of Detective Woodruff being involved with the missing currency, the Sheriff contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigations.  The FBI assigned some field agents to the matter and have begun an investigation.  Detective Woodruff was questioned by the FBI on February 24^th and released without incident.  The decision of what action will be taken regarding the matter including whether there will be an arrest or charges filed lies completely within the jurisdiction of the FBI and the South Bend office of the United States Attorney.  The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is not authorized to provide any additional information at this time.  This is a pending investigation and will not become public record unless or until criminal charges are filed with the proper court.

A Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department detective who’s under investigation for evidence room cash discrepancies has resigned. Sergeant Jason Woodruff’s resignation has been accepted by the Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Jeff Richwine says the FBI continues to investigate, and more information will be released when the investigation is complete. Woodruff had been suspended, after another officer reportedly noticed “discrepancies in the accounting of cash being held” in the evidence room that Woodruff oversaw.

A Winamac man is dead, after a crash on State Road 14 in Pulaski County Tuesday morning. The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department says it happened around 4:45 a.m. at County Road 200 West.

Deputies believe a northbound 2002 Ford F250 pulled out in front of an eastbound semi tractor-trailer. The driver the pickup truck, Kevin Gayheart, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Jon Frain. The driver of the semi was uninjured.

An Indiana State Police Motor Carrier Division inspector was on scene to examine the semi. The Winamac Police Department, Winamac Fire Department, Pulaski County EMS, and the Pulaski County Emergency Management Agency also assisted.

The Sheriff’s Department says the investigation is ongoing, and the coroner says the cause and manner of death are pending autopsy and toxicology results.

Pulaski County Sheriff Jeff Richwine continued pleading his case for higher wages last week. “Our people are the lowest paid in every category with dispatch, jail, and the deputies, except the jail staff and our dispatchers make more than Cass County,” Richwine told the county council. “The deputies are at the bottom. The dispatch and the jailers are next to the bottom.”

He showed council members a series of videos, including deputies helping to perform CPR on an overdose victim and jail staff responding to a number of disruptive inmates. Richwine said the jail remains understaffed, and a number of the inmates are individuals dealing with mental illness who don’t necessarily belong in jail.

“If you’re not aware, there’s a crisis in this country with mentally-ill people, and they wind up in jail,” he said. “It’s a shame that they’re there. It’s not the judges’ fault. It’s not our fault. It’s not anybody’s fault, other than, I think, state government and the federal government, whoever shut all these mental hospitals down.”

But he said the hardest employees to find are dispatchers, who are essential not only for police to do their jobs, but also firefighters and EMS.

Richwine didn’t have a specific request for pay increases but said he would have one eventually. “You know, you give the medical people a raise. I’m not going to just stand by the sidelines and not be up here asking, too, because I think my people deserve it just as much,” he said.

The sheriff acknowledged that some of his employees have left for jobs closer to home, but others have left for more money.

The Pulaski County Coroner’s Office and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred Wednesday, August 11.

Pulaski County Chief Deputy Coroner John Behny responded to the scene at the intersection of U.S. 421 and State Road 114 south of Francesville just after 2:30 a.m. ET.  Jacob A. Gutwein, 25, of Rensselaer, was pronounced dead at the scene.  The cause and manner of death are pending the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests. 

The Pulaski County Coroner’s Office and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department were assisted at the scene by the Francesville Fire Department and Pulaski County EMS. 

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department released information concerning a fatal accident that occurred Wednesday, August 11.

Police say 25-year-old Jacob Gutwein of Rensselaer was traveling eastbound on State Road 114 south of Francesville in a 2000 Chevy pickup just after 2:30 a.m. ET when the vehicle left the road for an unknown reason, crossed U.S. 421 and struck a ditch embankment.  Gutwein was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department and the Pulaski County Coroner’s Office were assisted at the scene by the Francesville Fire Department and Pulaski County EMS. 

As previously reported, the cause and manner of death are pending an autopsy and toxicology tests. 

The accident remains under investigation with the Pulaski County Coroner’s Office and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.