Amtrak Buildings Damaged in Overnight Fire

Beech Grove, IN (May 2, 2021) - Two storage buildings were heavily damaged by a large fire at the Amtrak Maintenance Facility located at 202 Garstang Street in Beech Grove early Sunday morning. The fire was under control in 1 hour, 22 minutes. 

 

Photo: Indianapolis Fire Department

Beech Grove police first reported the fire just after 12:30 a.m. in the corrugated buildings. When firefighters arrived, they did not find a working hydrant inside the facility, they had to run hoses from Emerson Avenue and used tankers to get water on the buildings.

#OnScene #IFD 202 Garstang St pic.twitter.com/bLbZ1RlSHV

— Indianapolis Fire Department 🚒 (@IFD_NEWS) May 2, 2021

Both buildings, which housed paint and cleaning supplies, eventually collapsed. Hazardous materials investigators said runoff from the fire tested neutral. Nobody was hurt.

Southport Police Blood Drive

Southport, IN (July 24, 2020) - Now is a good time to give blood if you have never done so. The Southport Police Department is holding its annual Fallen Officer Blood Drive tomorrow.

The police department blood drive is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the training room at the Southport Municipal Complex at 137 Worman Street. To schedule a time to donate, click here.

Press release regarding this Saturday’s, “Fallen Officer Blood Drive” in partnership with Virsiti Blood Center of Indiana.

Use the link below to schedule your appointment to donate ahead of Saturday. #SouthportStronghttps://t.co/sfGQ8YWcU2 pic.twitter.com/UnNoVmX5tx

— Southport Police (@SouthportPD) July 22, 2020

This an opportunity for you to “raise your sleeve” in memory of the Indiana police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Use the map below to find your way to the Blood Drive.



July 27 will mark three years since the department lost Lt. Aaron Allan, who was shot and killed in the line of duty. The goal of the blood drive is to give a little in honor of those who gave all.

Beech Grove Man Arrested for Drug Possession

Wheatfield, IN (July 15, 2020) - A Beech Grove man driving through Jasper County last week was arrested and charged with four offenses by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department.

Tymothy J. Debolt, 31, will face charges of dealing in methamphetamine (Level 4 felony), possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 felony), habitual traffic offender (Level 6 felony) and possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor) after he was spotted at a gas station in Wheatfield on July 7.

According to police, a female called 911 advising the sheriff’s department that a vehicle had followed her from Indiana 2 and I-65 into Wheatfield.

After his car was found stopped at a gas station, deputies approached Debolt, who said he followed the other vehicle because he thought it was one of his “buddies.” Deputies would later discover that Debolt was a habitual traffic offender and should not have been driving.

Because Debolt appeared nervous and because of his previous record, JCSD brought in K9 Alfa and his handler to complete an open-air sniff of Debolt’s vehicle. Alfa alerted police to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.

Eventually, deputies obtained a search warrant for the vehicle, which revealed individual baggies containing a crystal substance that field-tested positive for meth. Paraphernalia was also found.

Debolt was later transported to the Jasper County Detention Center. Arrests and criminal charges are mere accusations. Every person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

SOURCE: Northwest Indiana Times

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Beech Grove sex offender arrested

South Bend, IN (January 29, 2020) — Seventy-year-old James F. Renick was arrested at the Rolfs Aquatic Center simply for being there. As a registered sex offender for life, it is a felony for Renick to so much as set foot on the property of any school.

Notre Dame police took Renick into custody after a report that a suspicious individual was taking pictures of participants at the Shamrock Invitational swim meet Friday.

Upon questioning, police learned that Renick pleaded guilty to molesting two boys under the age of 10 in 1996 At the time, a report in the Allentown Morning Call said a search of Renick’s home turned up “thousands of photographs of young boys naked and in bathing suits.”

Renick’s arrest at Notre Dame marks his second in the past 17 months. In August of 2018, Renick was arrested after taking pictures of juveniles age 14 and younger who were participating in a swim meet in Geneva, Ohio.

Renick lives in Beach Grove near Indianapolis. His bond has been set at $2,000 cash, and at last check he was still being held at the St. Joseph County Jail.

View his profile on the Marion County Sex Offenders List HERE

The University of Notre Dame released the following statement about the incident:

"Notre Dame police officers were made aware Friday, January 24, of an individual in the spectators' section of the Rolfs Aquatics Center taking photos of swimmers competing in an invitational meet. He was arrested and also received a no trespassing notice. The case was referred to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office. This individual has no affiliation with Notre Dame and does not reside in this part of the state. " 

SOURCE: WNDU
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Car crashes through Beech Grove Apartment

Beech Grove, IN (January 17, 2020) — Neighbors are rallying behind a woman and her three children who were out of their home Thursday night after a car drove into their apartment.

It happened just before 5 p.m Thursday at the Park View at Beech Grove Apartments. That’s near Emerson and Churchman avenues in Beech Grove.

Damaged Apartment

Police told the woman who lives there that the 19-year-old driver meant to hit the brake, but hit the gas instead. Neighbors ran out to help after hearing the crash, including, Rickey Barnett.

“I was inside my apartment and I heard a kaboom. So I came out to check on it and then I immediately called the apartment complex to have them come out and shut the electricity and the water off so nothing would catch on fire and everybody on both sides of the apartment would be safe,” Barnett said.

He works for the contracting company who is going to fix the giant hole in the apartment. He says his crew is going to work quickly to fix it in about five days.

Police say the driver was not given a ticket since it happened on private property.

SOURCE: WISH

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Mayor names new Beech Grove police chief

Beech Grove, IN (December 30, 2019) — A long-time officer with the Beech Grove Police Department has been tapped to succeed retiring Chief Mark Swartz. Mayor Dennis Buckley on Monday named Deputy Chief Michael Maurice as the new chief of the department.

Maurice has been with the department since February 2002. According to a biography provided by the department, Maurice has worked 10 years on the middle shift, with seven of those as shift lieutenant. He has also served as field training officer, Fratneral Order of Police representative and as a member of the Special Response team.

The department said Maurice has served the past eight years as deputy chief. Buckley also named Capt. Robert Mercuri as assistant police chief. Mercuri has been with the Beech Grove Police Department since the start of his law enforcement career in 1991. Captain Mercuri worked in the road patrol division for ten years and in the investigations division for 19 years.

New police chief in Beech Grove
WATCH: Beech Grove Mayor Dennis Buckley is announcing the new police chief following the retirement of Mark Swartz.
Posted by RTV6 (WRTV - Indianapolis) on Monday, December 30, 2019

In 1998 Mercuri was promoted to Corporal and one year later promoted to Sergeant. By 2004 Mercuri became a Lieutenant and soon after was promoted to Captain.

In 2006 Mercuri graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He has been a supervisor at the Beech Grove Police Department since 2011. The announcement comes days after the previous police chief, Mark Swartz announced his retirement.

SOURCE: WRTV

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