Indiana State Police

"We will not allow any organization to diminish the trust our community places with us or the use of our good name for illegitimate purposes," James Ballard, Elkhart FOP 52 president said Saturday. Elkhart Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 52 is immediately suspending all phone fundraising efforts after misconduct was discovered on the part of one of the solicitors was uncovered, Ballard noted in the news release. The unnamed solicitor, worked as independent contractor to raise money for the FOP. Since community complaints surfaced and the organization uncovered misconduct, the FOP ceased its working relationship with the contractor.

GROVERTOWN - Indiana State Police say a K-9 unit tracked a suspect trying to escape arrest for nearly half a mile Thursday morning. This happened just before 9 a.m. when a deputy with the Starke County Sheriff's Department spotted 40-year-old Jeff Knoebel of Grovertown - who was wanted for possession of methamphetamine and maintaining a common nuisance - driving on U.S. 30. Police say he turned into the Grovertown truck stop, made...

MARTINSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - A central Indiana prosecutor doesn't want to give a 10-year-old girl her piggy bank back. The Reporter-Times of Martinsville reports ( http://bit.ly/ziWvCx ) that Morgan County Prosecutor Steve Sonnega has filed a motion asking a Superior Court judge in the central Indiana county to reverse his order to give the piggy bank back to the daughter of Russell Hill. On Jan. 18, members of the Indiana State Police and Indiana Gaming Commission raided Hill's home in rural Morgan County.

GARY, Ind. (AP) - Indiana State Police say an East Chicago man was shot in the head while driving on Interstate 80 in northwest Indiana. Sgt. Ann Wojas says 31-year-old Brandis France remained unconscious in a hospital following the shooting about 3:45 a.m. Saturday. Police say France and his 24-year-old female passenger passed a slow-moving SUV with its windows rolled down on Cline Avenue in Gary and the vehicle followed them onto the interstate. The passenger told police the SUV pulled along the driver's side of their car and she heard a single gunshot that hit France in his temple.

FORT WAYNE - A major Indiana highway shutdown for more than eight hours after a truck that police say was carrying meth-trash rolled over. A company that contracts with state police to handle meth materials was headed south on I-69 near Fort Wayne to dispose of the trash when the driver lost control, slid off the road, and rolled his truck spilling the cargo all over the road. The meth trash was in 181 buckets. Only two broke open, but the contents were sealed.

A former LaPorte County police officer is under close observation at IU Health LaPorte Hospital after threatening to kill himself when police tried to arrest him on child molestation charges. David Oldham, 42, is already facing federal child porn and evidence tampering charges, and on the state level he is charged with child exploitation. He has a hearing in May on those charges. Tuesday afternoon, around 3:30 p.m., Michigan City Police along with deputies from the United States Marshall's Service went to Oldham's home on West Andrea Drive in rural LaPorte Country to arrest him on a new charge of child molestation.

LAGRANGE COUNTY - In crime watch, Indiana State Police need your help in solving a case involving the desecration and destruction of several tombstones in LaGrange County. Investigators sent pictures taken at Pretty Prairie Cemetery located in Howe. Police say vandals knocked over and damaged dozens of tombstones that date back to the 1800's. One of the tombstones was carried into the middle of the road and then smashed on the ground. Anyone with information is asked to call the LaGrange County Sheriff or Crime Stoppers.

Indiana State Police have arrested two men in connection to the murder of an 81-year-old Fulton County woman, but they are still looking for one man. Investigators believe 24-year-old Roy Bell of Rochester is possibly armed and should be considered dangerous. An order of probable cause has been issued by the Fulton Court for Bell to be arrested on murder, robbery, and burglary charges. If you see him, call Indiana State Police at 1-800-382-06-89. Police have received tips that he could be in northwest Fulton County, or southern Marshall County.

FULTON COUNTY - It is a crime that police are calling a cowardly act. An 81-year-old woman was shot and killed in a Fulton County home Tuesday evening. At this time, there are no arrests following the murder about 10 miles outside Rochester. Early Wednesday morning, before the sun was up, police combed the inside of the rural Fulton County home for clues. “It appears be a murder,” said Sergeant Tony Slocum from Indiana State Police.   The 81-year-old, Wilma Upsall, was shot to death inside the home.

BRISTOL - Dallard Tackett, a former Indiana State Police trooper accused of stealing more than $90,000 from the state, has pleaded guilty. Last year Tackett was charged with stealing the money. He resigned from his job after learning that there were suspicions of how he handled state police funds.   Investigators say over a three year period Tackett used his position as a lieutenant and former Indiana Toll Road district commander in Bristol to transfer state funds into a personal account.