Sheriff wants new armored vehicle to deal with ‘threats’
A sheriff in northwestern Indiana wants to buy a $360,000 armored vehicle, but local officials are not so sure.
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Appeals court remands Hamilton Southeastern rate case to IURC
A Hamilton County sewer utility rate increase case that went all the way to the Indiana Supreme Court is going back to the state agency where it originated after an Indiana Court of Appeals ruling Wednesday.
COA affirms dismissal of annexation fiscal plan challenge
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a Dayton resident’s complaint for declaratory judgment against the town when it found meritless her assertions that a fiscal plan for a proposed annexation was “inadequate.”
Judge: Woman can’t keep pet pigs in Anderson
A judge has ruled that a woman can’t keep her three miniature pigs within the city limits of her central Indiana community. Madison Circuit Court Judge George Pancol rejected Lily Harsh’s appeal of a 2017 decision by the Anderson Board of Zoning Appeals to deny her a zoning variance to keep the pet pigs.
Elkhart police chief suspended after discipline reports
A northern Indiana police chief has been suspended 30 days without pay after revelations that two of his officers received only reprimands for repeatedly punching a handcuffed man and that nearly all of his supervisors have been disciplined at some point in their careers.
Ex-Lawrenceburg policeman loses 7th Circuit appeal over firing
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a federal court ruling for the city of Lawrenceburg in its firing of a criminally charged police officer, who claimed his termination implicated his First Amendment rights because it came after he complained about the mayor and purported wrongdoing by city officials.
Judge: Indy deputy used excessive force ‘sadistically and maliciously’
A Marion County sheriff’s deputy used excessive force against a former jail inmate “sadistically and maliciously,” a federal judge determined, ruling in favor of the inmate and ordering a determination of damages he is owed.
Order to return 5-unit apartment to single-family house upheld
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a public works and safety board’s order that a man restore a property he uses as apartments back to a single-family dwelling after finding the home to be unsafe and sufficient evidence proved it was not a multi-family unit.
Board fires South Bend officer involved in fatal crash
A public safety board has voted to fire a South Bend police officer who was involved in a fatal car crash while on duty.
Reversal: Officer’s suit reinstated, bond requirement ambiguous
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a trial court’s grant of summary judgment to a Northeastern Indiana city when it found the lower court failed to fix a bond amount for a disciplined police officer by the time of judgment.
Glitches keep Porter County from counting votes
Officials northwestern Indiana’s Porter County, which hasn’t reported any general election votes, are sorting through a mix of problems to get ballots counted a day after the election.
Justices rule for firefighters claiming age discrimination
The Supreme Court has decided unanimously that local governments with small workforces must comply with a federal law against age discrimination.
Lake County Sheriff’s Department can’t account for missing $7,600
A northwestern Indiana sheriff’s department says it can’t account for more than $7,600 missing from one of its divisions. Lake County Police Chief William said the county Sheriff’s Department can’t account for the money that an audit by the State Board of Accounts found missing from its Civil Division last year.
2 Elkhart police officers face battery charges
Two Elkhart police officers were placed on administrative leave and will be charged with battery for repeatedly punching a handcuffed man in the face. The Elkhart police department on Friday announced the charges against officers Cory Newland and Joshua Titus.
Darmstadt apartment zoning approval splits appellate court
A controversial proposed apartment complex in the Vanderburgh County community of Darmstadt is poised to proceed after a divided panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the trial court’s rejection of two petitions contesting the zoning board’s approval.
Summary judgment for former sheriff reversed after sexual assault allegations against deputy
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned summary judgment for a former Lake County sheriff sued after a local woman alleged a sheriff’s deputy sexually assaulted her while in her home, with the court finding the woman’s respondeat superior claim against the sheriff can proceed.
Revived Madison Co. needle exchange program has positive results
A central Indiana county’s revived needle exchange program has collected nearly twice as many used needles as the number of clean needles it’s distributed, according to the behavior health system running the program.
Lake County paying $185K to settle sexual harassment lawsuit
Lake County has agreed to pay $185,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against the northwestern Indiana county’s recorder. Taxpayers will finance the payment to Estela Montalvo, the former part-time recorder’s office employee who sued recorder Michael B. Brown and the county in federal court last year, alleging sexual harassment.
Ex-Indiana town marshal put on house arrest ahead of trial
A judge has placed a former Indiana town marshal on house arrest ahead of his trial on charges that he allegedly took medication from a home while in uniform. This week’s update came after Donald R. Bosley admitted to leaving the state and consuming controlled substances without a prescription.
Many Indiana counties face jail crowding with inmate shift
Taxpayers in dozens of Indiana counties will be paying for new jail beds years after sweeping state criminal code changes began sending more low-level offenders into local jails instead of state prisons. At least 40 jails in Indiana are over capacity, and a recent state survey found that almost half of all jail inmates are Level 6 felons, the lowest-level felons.