Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department

May 18, 2012

Three North Manchester men are in custody after admitting to their involvement in an April gas station robbery in Kosciusko County.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department detectives solved an April gas station robbery near Silver Lake Thursday afternoon, as well as an auto theft fromNorth Manchesterthat occurred the same night.  Timothy Wayne Hackworth, 23, and Andrew Scott Asbury, 19,North Manchester, were arrested at the Kosciusko County Jail and preliminarily charged with felony strong armed robbery yesterday afternoon.  A third suspect, Harrison Henry Shepherd, 18, North Manchester, is also being charged with the robbery but is currently in the Wabash County Jail on other unrelated criminal charges.

According to detectives, Hackworth, Asbury, and Shepherd had stolen a Ford Mustang and a Chevy Camero from the Manchester Sales and Service car lot during the early hours of April 19^th.  The men had driven both vehicles to the area near the Silver Lake McClure Oil gas station at 1:30 a.m. leaving one car and one suspect approximately a mile away.  Two of the suspects entered into the gas station with their faces covered and robbed the business of cigarettes and an undisclosed amount of cash from the register.  The two left in the Ford Mustang returning to the “get away” vehicle location and then fled into Wabash County driving the Chevy Camero.  That vehicle was located later in the day near the community of Laketon in Wabash County.  The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office had not yet set bond early this morning on the alleged suspects.

The arrest of the three men was a concerted effort by the North Manchester Police Department, Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department.

May 8, 2012

An 8^th Grade Milford Student admits to several recent threats found written inside the school by officials.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Dalis Owens was contacted by Milford Elementary/Middle School officials yesterday in regards to information relative to the recent threats received at the school.  School personnel had examined a video tape obtained from inside the school identifying a student.  Deputy Owens, also the Wawasee School Resource Officer, contacted Milford Town Marshall Rich Miotto who has also been investigating the recent rash of threats to the school.  Permission was obtained by the parents of the male 8^th grader to interview the student who did admitted to writing a threat Monday, as well as two previous threats in a school bathroom.  Deputy Owens stated that information obtained yesterday will be forwarded to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor and Probation Offices for further review as well as the Wawasee School Corporation on policies and punishment.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Dept. signs on to use online investigations tool to solve property crimes

LeadsOnline, the nation’s largest online investigative tool, helps police instantly track and recover stolen property no matter where it is stolen or sold.

Kosciusko County, Indiana  – In an effort to further combat crime in Kosciusko County, the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department is now using LeadsOnline – an investigative system that enables detectives to search for suspects and stolen property across secondhand stores, scrap metal dealers, pawnshops, and internet (eBay) drop-off stores both locally and nationwide.

The system equips criminal investigators with the ability to instantly solve crimes and to return goods to their rightful owners. Property can be searched using serial numbers, suspect name, item descriptions, or other information. Most searches are completed within seconds. Often, these property crimes are associated with larger crimes such as homicides, arson, and fraud.

“This is the largest online investigative system of its kind nationwide. Our investigators are using it to solve crimes ranging from burglaries to homicides by instantly searching for missing items in the transaction records of businesses across the area and the country.  We appreciate the support of our local businesses as they work with us to serve our community,” says Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Captain Aaron Rovenstine.

Without LeadsOnline, investigators had to undertake a time-consuming process of visiting all the stores in the area, collecting paper tickets and computer diskettes, and manually filing the tickets into a database. Keeping up with the volume of information was costly and overwhelming, and detectives were limited to searching for stolen property within the city. With LeadsOnline, information is automatically collected from businesses each day. Kosciusko County businesses that accept merchandise from the public throughout the area are now reporting electronically via LeadsOnline. 

“More than 2,000 law enforcement agencies and businesses across the country are using the system to the benefit of countless victims of crime. We’re excited about the opportunity to serve Kosciusko County and are expecting great results,” says Dave Finley, CEO of LeadsOnline.

Here are a few success stories:

• A detective in aSeattlesuburb recovered electronic equipment, valued at $1.7 million, stolen from a telecommunications company. It was the largest property recovery recorded inWashingtonlaw enforcement history.
• Corpus Christi,Texas, police caught two murder suspects when items from the crime scene were pawned inSan Antonio, more than 150 miles away. 
• Fort Wayne,Indiana, police responded to a burglary call concerning a missing PlayStation. After interviewing the young man who was babysitting at the residence, the responding officer decided to run his name through LeadsOnline from his patrol car. Not only did he instantly find the missing PlayStation, he also found the young man had pawned his fiancées’ engagement ring that had been missing for two days.
• Bethany,Oklahomapolice solved a 4-month-old case within their first few weeks on the system.
• Jasper County,MissouriSheriff’s officers responded to a burglary of a home in which several guns and a four-wheeler were stolen. Six weeks later an investigator doing a regular check of LeadsOnline discovered two of the guns pawned in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, about 125 miles away.  The weapons were secured, the suspect was caught and made a full confession, and all of the other items were returned.  The victim had his property returned and the suspect went to jail.  Detectives say they may never have solved this case without LeadsOnline. 

For more information, contact Captain Aaron Rovenstine or visit www.leadsonline.com.

May 4, 2012

Kosciusko County Sheriff Rocky Goshert today announced the 33^rd Annual Indiana Sheriff’s Youth Leadership Camp will be held in June and July again this year.  There will be two camp sessions this year, the first session will be held June 13-15 at Pine Creek Camp in Pine Village, Indiana (WarrenCounty) serving the northern part of the state.  The second session will be held July 10-12 serving the southern part of the state at Waycross Episcopal Camp in Morgantown, Indiana (Brown County).

The Sheriff’s Youth Leadership Camp is a program provided by the Indiana Sheriff’s Association for boys and girls who are currently in the 7^th or 8^th grade of school and are interested in learning more about a possible career in law enforcement.  The camp provides a very meaningful experience and relationship with other campers from throughout the state and sheriff officers who serve as counselors and instructors.

Any boy or girl in the 7^th or 8^th grade of school interested in attending the camp should contact the Sheriff’s Department or your school counselor for an application and additional information.  Sheriff Goshert stated that arrangements can possibly be made to provide the camp registration fee through a local business or civic organization for anyone interested.

May 2, 2012

A Warsaw man was arrested yesterday after allegedly selling cocaine to an undercover drug task force officer.

Warsaw city officers along with Kosciusko County Drug Task Force officers initiated a traffic stop on Ernesto Martin Macias, 28, Warsaw, near the intersection of Harrison and Center Streets yesterday on the east side of Warsaw.  Macias was taken into custody by W.P.D. officers without incident at approximately 3:15 p.m. after allegedly selling cocaine to an undercover Kosciusko County Drug Task Force officer.  D.T.F. officers had been investigating Macias for some time after receiving anonymous tips.  Macias was arrested and preliminarily charged with felony dealing cocaine.  Further investigation at the Kosciusko County Jail revealed that Macias is an illegal alien in the country according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office is currently assisting in the investigation.

April 30, 2012

Meth related incidents in both Whitley and Kosciusko Counties result in the arrest of five individuals over the weekend.

Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputies responded Friday at 2:08 p.m. to the area of State Road 5 near the intersection of Old Trail Road outside of Larwill regarding a vehicle on fire.  Prior to the officers arrival two male subjects had fled the area which was just north of the Whitko Middle School.  According toWhitleyCountyofficers, a portable methamphetamine lab had exploded inside the vehicle as the occupants were driving.  The suspects then removed personal clothing that was on fire and discarded into an adjoining field that eventually also caught fire.

The first suspect, later identified as Jason Foster Sizemore, 24,Warsaw, was picked-up and transported toKosciuskoCommunityHospitalfor treatment, but eventually fled from the emergency room as officers were summoned.  He was eventually located and taken into custody by Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputies at his mother’s residence onRunkle Drive, near the town ofLeesburg.  Sizemore was transported to the Whitley County Jail where he is being held on a $50,000 bond for charges of dealing methamphetamine, possession of precursors, and visiting a common nuisance.

Kosciusko County Drug Task Force officers received a tip last evening on the location of a possible meth lab at the address of411 North Parker Street,Warsaw.  Responding officers from the D.T.F. and Warsaw Police Department located four individuals along with one-pot method methamphetamine labs and finished methamphetamine.  Officers also located the other alleged suspect fromWhitleyCounty, Trever R. Hanlon, 36, Claypool.  Also located at the residence was Hanlon’s wife, Marisa Yvonne Hanlon, 39, Claypool, James Douglas Cable, 40, North Webster, and Gary William Golday, 44,Warsaw.  All four have been preliminarily charged with manufacturing methamphetamine with Golday also being charged with maintaining a common nuisance.  The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office has not yet set bond on the individuals as of this morning.  Kosciusko County Drug Task Force and Whitley County Sheriff’s Department members stated that more charges are possible after prosecutors in both counties review the incidents. 

Assisting in both investigations were members of the Whitley and Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office, Larwill Fire Department, Warsaw Police Department, Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, and Whitley and Kosciusko County Drug Task Force Units.

April 19, 2012

Area police are investigating an early morning robbery and auto thefts that occurred in Kosciusko and Wabash Counties overnight.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the McClure Oil gas station, 9311 South State Road15, Silver Lake, this morning at 1:30 a.m. after receiving a 9-1-1 report of a possible robbery.  As officers were enroute to the location, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Kevin Gelbaugh located an unoccupied black 1997 Ford Mustang in the area of County Road 950 South and County Road 200 West.  Information was relayed to officers at the McClure Oil location and it was determined that this vehicle had apparently fled the robbery scene with two males suspects.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s detectives investigating the robbery were informed that two Caucasian males had entered the business wearing black hooded sweatshirts with their faces covered.  The suspects, estimated to be in their late 20’s, took an undetermined amount of cash from the register as well as numerous cigarettes.  Detectives also discovered that the Ford Mustang had been stolen from a North Manchester car lot overnight, along with a black 1995 Chevy Camero.

This morning, Kosciusko County detectives were contacted by Wabash County Sheriff’s Department deputies that the stolen 1995 Chevy Camero had been recovered in their county.  North Manchester,Wabashand Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Departments are currently working together at this time on information related to the investigation. Citizens that might have information related to the overnight crimes are encouraged to call any of the three law enforcement agencies.

April 19, 2012

A Syracuse man is in custody after Kosciusko County officers arrested him Wednesday with over $50,000 worth of stolen items.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputies were asked Wednesday afternoon to assist an Indiana Department of Corrections Enforcement Division Officer on a home inspection of a possible parole violator.  During the interview, officers located a large amount of alledged marijuana at the8772 E. Koher Road,Syracuse, residence.  Kosciusko County Sheriff’s detectives obtained a search warrant and located numerous stolen items which included:  five stolen firearms, two safes and lock boxes, multiple electronics, various prescription medications, jewelry, collectable coins and artifacts.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s detectives arrested Ronald Charles Bohn, 57,Syracuse, and preliminarily charged him with felony theft/possession of stolen items as well as felony possession of marijuana.  Detectives stated that items recovered yesterday are correlated to the various daytime burglaries that have been committed in the past several months in the northern lakes area ofKosciuskoCounty.  The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office has not set a bond on Bohn as of this morning.  K.C.S.D. detectives believe that more arrests are possible as the investigation continues.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputies were also assisted at the scene by officers from the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force and the Indiana State Police.

An Etna Green woman is in serious condition this morning after crashing into a dump truck/trailer on U.S. 30 Monday evening.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputies and rescue personnel were dispatched to a vehicle crash last evening at the intersection of U.S. 30 and County Road 350 West at 6:19 p.m.  Arriving units located a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix that had collided with a 1995 International dump truck/trailer in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 30.  The driver of the Pontiac, Jenna L. Wireman, 24, Etna Green, was extricated by the Atwood Fire Department and immediately airlifted from the scene to Parkview RegionalMedical Center via Samaritan helicopter in serious condition.

The driver of the semi-tractor trailer, Dan R. Hass, 46, Plymouth, was uninjured from the crash according to Kosciusko County F.A.C.T./crash investigators.  According to witnesses, Hass had stopped at the intersection and then pulled northbound into the median area of the cross-over.  The trailer of Hass’s dump truck/trailer combination was still in the eastbound travel portion of U.S. 30.  Wireman stated to officers at the scene before being transported that the truck had pulled into her path leaving her no time to stop.  She was undergoing surgery this morning and was still listed in serious condition according to hospital officials.

Kosciusko County F.A.C.T. team members stated that the crash is still under investigation and are also awaiting the pending blood testing results. 

April 9, 2012

One adult and one juvenile are in custody after an alleged Sunday morning stabbing near Papakeechie Lake in Kosciusko County.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call of a possible stabbing on Sunday morning at approximately 12:14 a.m. at the location of 9774 East Bald Eagle Drive, Syracuse, in the Papakeechie Estates Addition.  Upon arrival, officers located one individual laying in the front yard covered in blood with several other individuals at the location.  Witnesses at the scene advised officers of two possible suspects that were immediately taken into custody without incident.

The victim, Tyler James Niles, 24, was immediately transported from the scene by Syracuse/Turkey Creek Township E.M.S. to Goshen General Hospital with a knife wound to his neck area.  He was later transferred to a hospital inSouth Bend in serious condition due to his injuries.

K.C.S.D. deputies and detectives preliminarily arrested Scott Daniel Koontz, 20, Boston Street, Syracuse for felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.  A 17 year old male juvenile was also arrested in connection with the incident and is currently be held at The Woods Juvenile Center, Pierceton, on similar charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Niles’ bond was initially set at $5,000.00 by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office.  The 17 year old juvenile has a scheduled detention hearing later today in Kosciusko County Superior Court.