Northern Indiana couple charged with animal cruelty
A northern Indiana couple is facing animal cruelty charges after authorities say three dozen dogs were found living in deplorable conditions at their rural property.
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Divided Supreme Court upholds civil forfeiture reimbursement of law enforcement
The practice of diverting civil forfeiture proceeds away from the Common School Fund to reimburse law enforcement costs is constitutional under Article 8, Section 2 of the Indiana Constitution, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled, answering the longstanding question of whether the constitution requires all forfeiture proceeds to go to the Common School Fund.
Justices allow seizure, turnover of $60K in alleged drug money
The Indiana Supreme Court has upheld the seizure of $60,000 in cash believed to be drug money, finding the officer who intercepted the parcel holding the cash had probable cause to think the package was related to drug trafficking. The unanimous ruling also upholds the turnover of the cash to the federal government, though it doesn’t address whether the money will be forfeited. The Court of Appeals previously had ruled the seizure was unlawful.
Split 4 ways, justices OK warrantless blood draw for unconscious driver
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in a plurality decision that law enforcement officers can generally draw blood without a warrant from an unconscious person suspected of driving drunk or while on drugs. Concurring and dissenting justices warned the court was establishing cumbersome and difficult guidance for authorities facing such situations.
Brazil assistant police chief faces DUI charges
The assistant police chief of a western Indiana community has been arrested for driving under the influence.
Henry, Madison counties considering possible shared jail
Officials from two central Indiana counties are considering the possibility of opening a regional jail that they would share.
Police investigate whether Tipton funeral home didn’t bury bodies
Police are investigating whether a central Indiana funeral director didn’t bury at least four bodies within a reasonable time as required by state law. State police say an inspection this month of Porter Funeral Home in Tipton by an examiner from the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency Board found four bodies in a non-refrigerated area, 11 death certificates hadn’t been issued and funeral director 62-year-old Kevin Porter’s license was expired.
After shooting, Buttigieg says South Bend police must activate cameras
Back home from the Democratic presidential campaign trail, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg is telling officers after a fatal police shooting that they must activate their body cameras during any interaction with civilians.
Judgment for trooper in motorcycle crash suit reversed
A motorcyclist injured in a crash after he attempted to evade a head-on collision with an oncoming state police trooper’s vehicle will have his day in court after the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a trial court ruling for the officer.
Judge rejects request to block records in woman’s death
A southwestern Indiana judge has rejected a man’s request to block the release of records on authorities’ investigation into his daughter’s 2014 disappearance and death.
Judge denies police defamation claims in Indiana wiretapping
A northern Indiana judge has ruled that a former South Bend councilman did not defame four police officers targeted in a long-running wiretapping case when he sought a federal probe of potential racial bias in the police department.
Lawmaker: Recording at famed Indiana farm politically driven
Video exposing alleged animal abuse at a famous northwestern Indiana dairy farm is politically motivated, said an Indiana lawmaker who drafted legislation in 2013 that would have barred undercover video filming at the state’s agricultural operations.
Resentencing ordered in former Lake County sheriff’s wire-fraud case
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered for resentencing for a former Lake County sheriff convicted last year on bribery and wire fraud charges, vacating some of his counts for insufficient evidence.
7th Circuit: Evidence found during unlawful drug raid still admissible
Convictions were affirmed for a man whose home was illegally searched by the Drug Enforcement Administration, which uncovered 10 pounds of methamphetamine inside. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found that although the DEA should have obtained a search warrant first, the evidence was still admissible.
Animal abuse alleged at northern Indiana’s Fair Oaks Farms
Retailers began pulling Fairlife products from their shelves Wednesday as police investigated alleged animal abuse after an animal rights group released graphic video showing workers kicking and throwing young calves at an Indiana dairy farm that’s a popular destination for school field trips.
Justices let stand suppression in drug case, grant transfer in 2 others
Indiana Supreme Court justices agreed to hear two cases on grant of transfer last week, denying one other involving a faulty Muncie controlled drug buy. The three cases were the only matters justices considered on petition to transfer last week.
2 charged in vandalism of Hammond church
Authorities say two men are facing charges after they allegedly ransacked a northwestern Indiana church and left behind painted hate messages. Hammond police announced Saturday that 23-year-old Aaron J. Vanoppens and 22-year-old Nicholas D. Reding were charged with one count each of burglary and institutional criminal mischief after the interior of Faith United Church of Christ in Hammond sustained significant damage.
Man gets life in prison for Indiana deputy’s shooting death
A Lebanon man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty in the fatal shooting of a Boone County sheriff's deputy.
Resisting conviction affirmed over challenged ‘force’ instruction
An Indianapolis man’s conviction of Class A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement will stand after an appellate court declined to reverse it over a challenged jury instruction that sought to illustrate what appellate courts have construed to constitute “force.”
Appeals court upholds removal of Gary reserve officer
A Gary reserve officer suspended but later reinstated must now remain off the force after the Indiana Court of Appeals agreed that the Gary Police Department presented evidence of the reserve officer’s “repeated and blatant noncompliance” with orders.