Pulaski County Sheriff Jeff Richwine asked the Pulaski County Council members for additional mental health sessions for his employees. 

He said his staff members can currently utilize five days, but he would like to double that as they benefit from those sessions.

Richwine commented, “That’s just a county policy.  It’s usually anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000.  They’re allowed to go for the mental health problems that some of them face in what they see and what they do day-to-day.  I at least want to increase that from five to 10.”

Pulaski County Councilwoman Kathi Thompson asked if it is in the budget, and Sheriff Richwine said that it is and the county pays for it. 

Councilman Brian Young said it is important for the Sheriff’s Department and gave support toward the request.

Council President Ken Boswell said more information needs to be gathered before formally voting on the request.  They will review the handbook and the policies and discuss it further in an upcoming meeting. 

An accident in Pulaski County claimed the life of a Plymouth man Saturday night.

The accident occurred around 7 p.m. ET when two vehicles collided in the area of 800 S. and U.S. 421, according to information released by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department and Pulaski County Coroner Jon Frain.  As a result, a vehicle driven by 55-year-old Johan Partee left the roadway. 

Partee was pronounced dead at the scene.  The cause and manner of death are pending further investigation.  The next of kin has been notified.

The driver of the other vehicle, who was not identified in a news release, was transported to a nearby hospital.

The crash remains under investigation by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department and the Pulaski County Coroner were assisted at the scene by Pulaski County Chief Deputy Coroner John Behny, Pulaski County EMS, Francesville Fire Department, Monon Police Department, D1 Towing, and Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Five people were arrested Thursday, March 30 as a result of an active timber theft investigation stemming from Pulaski County. 

Indiana Conservation Officers made the arrests after suspected stolen timber was observed during a traffic stop on Wednesday, March 29, according to the report.  Officers say information was gathered linking all subjects to a recent complaint of timber theft. 

The suspects arrested were 36-year-old Jeremiah Schwanke, 29-year-old Larissa Schwanke and 32-year-old Jonathan Petty from Wheatfield, and 31-year-old Richard Schwanke and 32-year-old Kristyn Hickman from San Pierre.  

Conservation officers worked closely with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department and the Medaryville Police Department in this investigation which remains ongoing. 

Anyone with information regarding this case, or other suspicious timber cutting in Northern Indiana, is asked to call DNR Law Enforcement Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536. 

DNR Law Enforcement recommends that landowners who are prospective timber sellers work only with licensed and bonded timber buyers and that they secure written contracts for all timber transactions. 

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

An 11-year-old child reported missing Monday night southwest of Francesville has been found and is safe.

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the call shortly after 6:30 p.m. ET including two K9 units.  According to the report, the child was reportedly missing for over a half hour so additional units were called to help in the search. 

The child was later located in the Francesville area.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the scene by the Francesville Fire Department, Medaryville Fire Department, Star City Fire Department, Monon Police, Medaryville Police Department, and Rensselaer Fire and Rescue for man power and drones. 

Awards and recognition will be given to employees with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Wednesday, May 25 at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Sheriff Jeff Richwine said there will be life saving awards given, along with awards for years of service. The Pulaski County Commissioners and Pulaski County Council will be in attendance to distribute awards and recognize the efforts of all of the employees at the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.

The event will be held at the Pulaski County Justice Center. 

Officers and dispatchers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department and the Corrections Division were honored with awards in a ceremony held at the Pulaski County Justice Center Wednesday morning.

“Most of the things we’re here about today involve responding to a situation in which someone’s life was seriously impacted as a result of someone simply doing their job. In most of these situations, the citizen of this county would not be with us today if it wasn’t for the actions of these men and women,” stated Deputy Seth Barton, who read each commendation aloud to each recipient and to all gathered for the ceremony.  

K9 Deputy Cody Foust was recognized for 10 years of service, along with Dispatcher Laura McIntosh, Assistant Jail Commander Danny Winters, and Sergeant Fred Rogers.

A Sheriff’s Commendation Award went to Deputy Aaron Himes for pulling Deputy Foust out of harm’s way when an out-of-control vehicle was approaching them during a traffic stop.  Correctional Officer Steven Sewell received a Sheriff’s Commendation Award for stopping the possible escape of a female inmate. Dispatchers Laura McIntosh and Deputy Matthew Pickens also received a Sheriff’s Commendation Award as they were instrumental in stopping a vehicle of armed robbery suspects out of Starke County by being aware of information happening in the surrounding community.  A Sheriff’s Commendation Award was also given to Correctional Officer Kaden Craig who maintained control of an out-of-control inmate. 

Deputy Matthew Scott, Dispatcher Shelby Pickens and Dispatcher Austin Townsend were given a Distinguished Service award for rescuing a 71-year-old man in an extreme winter conditions. 

Life Saving Awards were given to Deputy Aaron Zimmerman, Deputy Matthew Scott, Deputy Cody Foust, Deputy Matthew Pickens, Deputy Alec Berger, and Sergeant Fred Rogers who saved residents who were victims of an opioid overdose. 

A Meritorious Conduct Award went to Sergeant Fred Rogers.

All of the award winners were treated to food and cake following the ceremony.

A Pulaski County Correctional Officer was arrested Sunday, September 11 after an investigation into her possible relationship with an inmate in the Pulaski County Jail. 

Officials with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office received information Friday, September 9 that a correctional officer was in a possible relationship with an inmate.  An investigation began Sunday, September 11 where a deputy conducted several interviews and reviewed jail camera footage and audio recordings between the correctional officer and the inmate.  As a result, police say allegations of a possible relationship between the inmate and the correctional officer were accurate.

When the correctional officer arrived for her evening shift that night, she was questioned by the deputy.  During the interview, it was discovered that she brought controlled substances into the Pulaski County Jail and they were given to the inmate, according to the report.  She also allegedly confirmed the relationship between herself and the inmate.

The officer, Stacy R. Small, was booked into the Pulaski County Jail on preliminary charges of trafficking with an inmate as a Level 5 Felony and official misconduct as a Level 6 Felony.  She was later transported to the White County Jail.

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

A Kewanna man was arrested Monday, September 12 after a search warrant was conducted at his residence.

Two Pulaski County deputies assisted a Pulaski County probation officer in conducting a search warrant at the home in rural Kewanna in Fulton County.  The officers arrived at the home when police say the suspect, 34-year-old Drew Allen, attempted to evade police on foot, but he was quickly apprehended. 

The execution of the search warrant reportedly uncovered a substantial amount of narcotics, methamphetamine, and more evidence related to the distribution of narcotics.

Allen was arrested and taken to the Fulton County Jail where he was booked on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement, dealing and possession of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a felon.  

The Pulaski County Probation Department and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the scene by the Kewanna Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, and the Indiana State Police. 

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

Officers with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department are looking for two suspects involved in a pursuit incident in the overnight hours Tuesday, November 29.

A Starke County Sheriff’s Department deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the area of Range Road and Toto Road at 1:43 a.m. CT, but the driver in the dark-colored Chevrolet Impala failed to stop, according to the report.

Police say the vehicle fled westbound on Toto Road into the English Lake area, and then went southbound into the San Pierre area.  The suspect reportedly continued to flee at a high rate of speed.  The vehicle turned west on 900 S. from U.S. 421 and continued into Jasper County until the vehicle crashed.

Two individuals inside the vehicle fled after the crash, according to the report. K9s from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and the La Porte County Sheriff’s Department were utilized in the search, but the individuals were not located following an extensive search.

The incident remains under investigation. 

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Starke County Sheriff’s Department at 574-772-3771. 

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by the North Judson Police Department, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, and La Porte County Sheriff’s Department.  

A suspect is in custody after Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a call of an alleged masked man inside a woman’s home.

Deputies say they were notified of the incident January 24 and learned the suspect fled from the home with some of the homeowner’s possessions in a red pickup truck.  The truck was later located and deputies attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect fled the scene, according to the report. Police say a pursuit led the suspect and police through the Winamac area.

The pursuit ended at the Braun Corporation factory where the suspect allegedly got out of the vehicle and fled on foot, but he was eventually apprehended. 

The suspect’s name has not yet been released by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. 

The incident remains under investigation.

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

This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week! It is a time to recognize the unsung heroes of public safety who work at Dispatch Centers and answer your call in a time of emergency or other public safety need. 

Telecommunicators, or dispatchers, operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These are the men and women who collect the initial information and pass it along to the first responders in the field. Often, they are able to give immediate lifesaving directions to the caller during medical emergencies or can be the calming voice to reassure the victim of a violent crime that help is on the way.

Chief Dispatcher Stacy Noonan from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office describes the duties of a dispatcher.

“As dispatchers, we receive calls and obtain information from people in need of assistance and we dispatch the appropriate units,” explained Noonan.  “Here at the Sheriff’s Office we are considered Central Dispatch and we dispatch for police, fire and EMS. We enter any kind of warrants and answer any non-emergency phone calls as well. I would consider us problem solvers or puzzle solvers.  Callers are sometimes unsure how much information is necessary or they don’t know how to relay it in a crisis.  As a dispatcher, we have to be able to read between the lines or ask specific questions to get the answers needed to dispatch the correct agency.”

She noted that a dispatcher’s work is highly demanding.

Currently at the Starke County Sheriff’s Office, there are 10 full-time dispatchers, including Noonan, with a combined total of 79 years of experience.  One dispatcher has worked with the Starke County Dispatch Center for 34 years.

Noonan noted that there will be games throughout the week for the dispatchers. Several local businesses donated items for prizes.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is also celebrating this week.  Sheriff Chris Schramm invites all to visit the Sheriff’s Department Facebook page to meet all of the dispatchers that take your important call during your time of need.

A Virginia man was arrested in Pulaski County Wednesday, May 3 on felony arrest warrants for first degree kidnapping.

Police say a request for assistance was called into the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department from Rockingham, North Carolina where the agency informed officials that 52-year-old Douglas Scholtz fled North Carolina to evade capture, and he was believed to be armed and dangerous and possibly in Pulaski County, according to the report. 

Pulaski County, Jasper County, and Starke County deputies responding to the area of U.S. 421 to attempt to locate the suspect in his vehicle. Pulaski County officers were able to locate the vehicle and conduct a high risk traffic stop.  Scholtz was taken into custody without incident. 

Police say a search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a firearm allegedly used in the criminal act in North Carolina.  Scholtz was placed into the custody of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.  He will be in the Pulaski County Jail without bond awaiting extradition back to North Carolina. 

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

A Monterey man was arrested Monday, July 3 after the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call that a man shot a vehicle with a handgun while a person was inside the vehicle.  A few minutes later another 911 call was received saying that a man was pointing a handgun at residents in the area in Monterey. 

Police say officers arrived at the scene and determined that no one was injured during the shooting of the occupied vehicle.  The second caller had identified the suspect as Kenneth Ketcham of Monterey so officers went to his residence.  Upon getting to the residence, Ketcham went outside and allegedly refused officer commands.  Ketcham continued walking to his truck where several rifles were laid out, according to the report. 

Prior to his arrival at the truck, police say officers deployed a taser resulting in Ketcham’s incapacitation.  He was then placed into restraints and secured in a police vehicle. 

A search warrant was obtained for Ketcham’s residence where officers located the handgun allegedly used in the crime. 

Ketcham was arrested and booked into the Pulaski County Justice Center on preliminary felony charges of criminal recklessness with a handgun, intimidation with a deadly weapon, and pointing a firearm.

Formal charges will be determined by the Pulaski County Prosecutor’s Office. 

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

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department responded to a serious crash involving two vehicles in the area of State Road 14 and County Road 500 East in Winamac last Friday.

In a press release from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, it was determined one of the vehicles had crossed the center-line resulting in a head-on collision. As a result of the crash, a 16 year old juvenile male was transported to Pulaski Memorial Hospital for his injuries. The juvenile was then transported by helicopter to the South Bend Memorial trauma center to be treated.

The second driver involved was identified as Corey Sanders, 25, from Rensselaer. It is reported he had succumbed to injuries sustained from the accident. He was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office with support from the Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team have been investigating the details of the crash. At this time, it was clear one party was wearing a seat belt while the other party was not. It has been reported by an eye witness, the vehicle had crossed the center-line into oncoming traffic. This resulted in the reported head-on collision between the vehicle being driven by the juvenile male and the other vehicle driven by Corey Sanders.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was contacted by South Bend Memorial and the Saint Joseph County Coroner’s Office. After two days on life support equipment, the juvenile driver of the second vehicle has succumbed to his injuries.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department has said they are unclear as to what caused the vehicle to cross the center-line. Contributing factors have not been determined at this time.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a report of a stolen vehicle from the parking lot at the Dodge car dealership in Winamac. 

Police say the vehicle was stolen Saturday, August 26 at approximately at 1 a.m. ET.  A Town of Winamac Police Department officer located the vehicle almost immediately after the theft and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.  The suspect reportedly led the officer on a pursuit into southern Pulaski County.

Deputies from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department responded to assist in the pursuit.  The Winamac officer lost sight of the vehicle briefly in the area of County Road 900 South. At that time, the suspect pulled the vehicle off the roadway and the occupants fled into the fields, according to the report. 

Police say officers were not able to locate the suspect or suspects that night.  The suspects have not yet been identified, but the vehicle is being processed for evidence, including DNA. 

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police Crime Scene Technicians are working to investigate this incident to bring it to a resolution.

Any information about the incident can be directed to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department 574-946-6655.

A Knox man was arrested Tuesday, September 19 after an investigation into an overdose March 16 in the area of 700 N. and U.S. 35 in Winamac. 

According to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, on March 16, 2023, it was determined the victim was overcome by a high level of fentanyl and was unable to be revived. The victim was later pronounced deceased after several attempts to revive the victim were unsuccessful, according to the report.

Officers continued to pursue a criminal investigation in attempt to hold the alleged illicit drug dealer accountable for his involvement in this death.

After months of investigation and with the assistance of Starke County Prosecutor Leslie Baker, a formal charge was filed in Starke County on a Level 1 Felony count of dealing in a schedule I, II, or III controlled substance resulting in death.

The suspect, Henry Ruiz, 38, of Knox, was arrested and booked into the Starke County Justice Center on that felony charge Tuesday, September 19.  He is being held on a $50,000 cash bond. 

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

Four people were arrested Wednesday, January 10 after officers from the Pulaski County Probation Department assisted the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office in the act of a random check on a probationer.

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence in Medaryville to assist the Probation Department in a check of 43-year-old Maxi Schultz.

Police say terms of probation allow officers to conduct a search. Officers reportedly found drug paraphernalia and illegal narcotics in the home.

An individual was also located in the residence who was allegedly hiding from Jasper County’s Work Release Center.

Several arrests were made at the scene and the suspects were identified as Maxi Shultz, 20-year-old Jadon Gratner, 27-year-old Rodney Oliver, and 21-year-old Damian Harrell. Police say charges range from maintaining and visiting a common nuisance, possession of a schedule I and schedule II drug and paraphernalia, as well as failing to return to lawful detention.

Formal charges will be determined by the Pulaski County Prosecutor’s Office.

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

A vehicle fire in the area of County Road 200 South and County Road 400 West in Pulaski County resulted in an arrest.

According to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy who responded to the incident found a book bag in a field near the vehicle. The book bag reportedly contained a large amount of controlled substances.

Police say a surveillance detail was initiated and a man returned to the scene, seemingly looking for the book bag.

The man was taken into custody and identified as 34-year-old Robert Breeden of Winamac.

Police recovered 74 grams of suspected methamphetamine, according to the report.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the scene by the Winamac Fire Department and Pulaski County EMS.

Formal charges will be determined by the Pulaski County Prosecutor’s Office.

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

An Elkhart man was arrested Thursday, May 2 after a vehicle pursuit in Pulaski County.

Police say a traffic stop was conducted in Winamac and when K9 Bobby alerted to the presence of controlled substances in the vehicle, the driver fled the scene.

A pursuit was initiated through Winamac, and then eastbound into Fulton County. Fulton County deputies were able to deploy stop sticks and disable the vehicle’s tires.

The driver left the roadway and began fleeing through the field, according to the report. The pursuit continued until the vehicle was blocked in by a Pulaski County Deputy’s truck. The driver, 39-year-old Zachary Adams, 39, of Elkhart, then surrendered and was taken into custody.

For an unknown reason, officers say the suspect vehicle’s engine compartment became engulfed in flames. The Kewanna Fire Department arrived on scene and put the fire out.

The incident remains under investigation.

Formal charges will be determined by the Pulaski County Prosecutor’s Office.

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

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department investigated a fatality accident in the area of 550 South west of 400 W. in Winamac Thursday, May 2.

Police say it was determined that the driver, 43-year-old Carmen Dowsett Corral, of Joliet, Illinois, was westbound when she apparently over-corrected and lost control of the vehicle. Three other passengers were in the vehicle including Luis Hernandez Godoy, Juan Dowsett and Carmen Dowsett Corral Valdez.

As a result, the driver and Juan Dowsett were ejected from the vehicle. Luis Hernandez Godoy and Carmen Dowsett Corral were transported from the scene to an area hospital. Juan Dowsett was transported by helicopter to a regional hospital due to the nature of his injuries.

Carmen Dowsett Corral Valdez, 78, of Joliet, Illinois, succumbed to her injuries sustained at the scene, according to the report.

The family has been notified.

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

The crash is still under investigation by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. Anyone with additional information is asked to call 574-946-6655.