- Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, January 10, 2016 the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on a blue 1994 Ford Ranger that was traveling on State Road 66 near Detroy Road. The vehicle was driving erratically prior to being signaled to stop.
The driver increased speed and fled westbound on State Road 66 to Resurrection Road. The pursuit continued on New Harmony Road to Harmony Way and then south toward the city of Evansville. Evansville Police Department (EPD) officers as well as troopers with the Indiana State Police assisted during the pursuit, with one EPD officer attempting to deflate the suspects tires with stop sticks.
During the pursuit one of the rear wheels detached from the fleeing truck. The vehicle continued to flee, showering the roadway with sparks while dragging the axle against the pavement. The pursuit continued to the area of N. Fourth Avenue and W. Delaware St where the vehicle became disabled.
The driver, Mr. Christopher Craig Monks, then fled on foot and was pursued by a Sheriff’s Office canine unit. Mr. Monks grabbed the K-9 and slammed the dog into a chain link fence. The K-9 and handler continued to pursue Mr. Monks, apprehending him after Mr. Monks scaled a fence. Mr. Monks was treated at a local hospital and then transported to the Vanderburgh County Jail.
ARRESTED:
Christopher Craig Monks (pictured above), 40, of Evansville. Driving as a Habitual Traffic Violator as a Level 6 Felony, Resisting Arrest while Operating a Vehicle as a Level 6 Felony, Resisting Arrest as a Class A Misdemeanor, Reckless Driving as a B Misdemeanor, Interfering with a Police Canine as an A Misdemeanor
Overnight Pursuit Ends after Wheel Falls Off Suspect’s Vehicle
IS IT TRUE JANUARY 11, 2017
IS IT TRUE just before Mondays nights City Council meeting a Democratic member of Council received unexpected phone call from Council President Missy Mosby?  …its alleged that Ms. Mosby asked the Democratic member of Council to run for Vice President of Council since it was obvious that At-Large Councilman Jonathan Weaver didn’t have the votes to win re-election as Vice President?  …its alleged the main reason why Ms. Mosby wanted the Democratic member of Council to run for Vice President was to stop 5th Ward City Councilman Justin Elpers (R) from being elected as the next Vice President of City Council?  …the rest is history?  …we are extremely pleased that Justin Elpers was elected Vice President of the Evansville City Council because he is honest, intelligent, conservative and an all around good person?
IS IT TRUE that a female entrepreneur is reported to have expressed an intention to lease a building to start a business in Evansville and was denied an opportunity to sign the lease unless her husband was also willing to sign?…the landlord in this particular case was to have been the West Side Nut Club, that has been known for fairness, competence, and civic pride for many decades?…if this female had the qualifications to be approved for a lease and was denied the opportunity because of her gender then this issue needs to be revisited by the Nut Club?…if she lacked the qualifications then the City County Observer would like to offer a representative of the West Side Nut Club an opportunity to clear this issue up as gender discrimination is no way to conduct business in this United States?…we await a comprehensive explanation for this situation and hope that the West Side Nut Club is being fair but will not hesitate to condemn such an action if the entrepreneur’s allegations are grounded in truth?
IS IT TRUE that Evansville City Councilman Jonathan Weaver was passed over for the prestigious position of Vice President of the City Council for 2017?…the other members of the City Council elected Councilman Justin Elpers to serve in the leadership role over Councilman Weaver?…that Mole #3 tells the City County Observer that many members of the City Council are tired of being embarrassed by the extracurricular activities that Councilman Weaver has a knack for getting himself into?…these extracurricular activities have included alleged violation of a restraining order, excessive partying, and being generally disrespectful of other?…that it is time that Councilman Weaver learned what behavior is expected of public officials and start ,to live that way?..if he can’t do that, he should never run for office again?
IS IT TRUE plans are being hatched to finally move the LST to a more accessible location near the new downtown on land Tropicana Casino Complex?…we certainly hope this will give LST related tourism a boost?…having toured the LST on several occasions we can all attest to the historical learning opportunity it offers about Evansville’s role in World War II? Â …we also recommend that the City review the legal contracts between them and the”Riecken Family” so their won’t be any financial conflicts between both parties once the boat moves?
IS IT TRUE there are some students of the now defunct ITT Technical Institute who are taking their grievances to court in hopes of having their student loans forgiven?…ITT has filed bankruptcy so the entity that received the money is not going to be capable of offering any refunds or assuming the debt?…if these debts are forgiven it will be the taxpayers of the USA who eat the costs?…ITT was known for high prices and credentials of marginal value?…all of that aside there are many former ITT students who did learn a skill and are gainfully employed earning more than they were before they attended ITT?…ITT is not alone among higher education institutions to have debt laden graduates flipping burgers for a living because they pursued a degree with limited commercial value?…whatever standards that ITT is held to, should be enforced on all colleges who are paid but deliver little value?…if these students are granted relief it will open the floodgates and the US taxpayer will be the losers?…we wonder whatever happened to letting the buyer beware (caveat emptor) and letting each person be responsible for their own decisions both good and bad?
FOOTNOTE:  Todays “Readers Poll” question is: are you pleased that City Council elected 5th Ward Council member Justin Elpers as the Vice President of that body?
Governor Holcomb’s Budget Recommendations Presented to State Budget Committee
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s first budget was presented to the State Budget Committee today and is posted online atwww.in.gov/sba/2707.htm.
Governor Eric Holcomb offered the following statement:
“This proposed budget achieves all of my objectives: It is honestly balanced, maintains prudent reserves, and preserves our AAA credit rating. It continues support for what’s working in our state while funding key priorities to take Indiana to the next level—long term funding for roads and bridges, high-quality education opportunities to prepare Indiana’s rapidly changing workforce, a strong focus on attacking Indiana’s drug epidemic, and great service to Indiana citizens. I look forward to working closely with state lawmakers in the weeks ahead, and I’m confident we’ll conclude this session with a budget that meets our key priorities for Indiana’s future.â€
COA Considers liability In Sheriff’s Office Suicide Case
COA Considers liability In Sheriff’s Office Suicide Case
Olivia Covington for www.theindianalawyer.com
After the wife of a Harrison County sheriff’s deputy killed herself with her husband’s gun while he was off duty, the sheriff’s office and her estate began debating a single question: was the deputy acting in the line of duty when his wife committed suicide?
The trial court answered that question with a “Yes,†awarding the estate of Christine Britton a $1.2 million verdict against the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department under the theory of resondeat superior. But in oral arguments Tuesday before the Indiana Court of Appeals, counsel for the deputy and the sheriff’s department fought back, arguing that Deputy John Britton was only acting as a husband when his wife took the gun, so his role in law enforcement should not apply.
Elizabeth Knight, counsel for the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, told the appellate panel of judges Edward Najam, John Baker and Rudolph Pyle III that there was no question that Officer Britton had committed a criminal act – that is, he threw his weapon down on the bed after his wife had threatened suicide, an act that constitutes aiding and abetting a suicide.
But the case should never have been sent to a jury because it hinged on a question of law, not a question of fact, Knight told the panel.
Based upon Indiana Supreme Court precedence in Barnett v. Clark, 889 N.E.2d 281 (Ind. 2008) and Stropes v. Heritage House Childrens Center, 547 N.E.2d 244 (Ind. 1989), such a case cannot go to a jury  to decide whether Officer Britton’s actions were in the scope of his employment unless it has been established that prior to committing the criminal act, he was committing authorized acts, Knight said. And because there is no evidence in the record that Officer Britton was acting within the scope of his employment at the time he threw the gun on the bed, that legal threshold was not met, she said.
But Baker noted that if a person threatens suicide in the presence of an officer, even an off-duty officer, that officer is then “instantly on†and back in his role as a protector of the peace. That argument presents a question of fact, he said, not a question of law.
Knight disagreed and instead said the Indiana Supreme Court had also established a second requirement stating that if an officer is acting independently and divorced from his job, then liability cannot attach.
“There is absolutely nothing in the transitional facts that leads this to anything but a personal dispute,†Knight said.
But tracking closely to Baker’s line of question, Matthew Schad, counsel for Christine Britton’s estate, told the appellate panel the case did hinge on a question of fact because Officer Britton was wearing his “police hat†at the time of his wife’s death.
Up until Christine Britton threatened suicide, the sheriff’s deputy had been wearing his “husband hat,†Schad said, forming his argument around earlier testimony from the Harrison County sheriff. But when she first threatened suicide, the husband hat began to slide off while the law enforcement hat began to come on, he said, a transition that Officer Britton was aware of.
Then, when Christine Britton reached for her husband’s gun and, alternatively, threatened to kill herself with her own gun, Officer Britton was acting with his police hat entirely on when he restrained her.
But Pyle noted that the fact that the Brittons were in their own home at the time of the incident was a “huge fact†in the question of whether Officer Britton was acting within the scope of his employment. Schad conceded that the personal relationship between the two was a factor in the case, but not the deciding factor.
“In order for that to be the deciding factor, in essence it would require a rule that says if an off-duty officer is interacting with someone they know well personally … that somehow means they cannot also be acting in the scope or course of their employment,†Schad said, noting that he did not agree with the creation of such a rule.
But Knight said Officer Britton’s own testimony that he would’ve handcuffed his wife to the bed after she threatened suicide if she had been someone else proves that he was acting as a husband, not a sheriff’s deputy. And under a question of law, that admission from Britton fails to meet the threshold of proving that he was committing authorized acts prior to his criminal act, she said.
The case is Harrison County Sheriff’s Department v. Leandra Ayers, 22A01-1605-CT-01080. Tuesday’s oral arguments may be viewed here.
Anti-Bullying Candlelight Vigil Scheduled for this Thursday at 5pm at EVSC Headquarters
 The Tri-State Alliance is encouraging members of the local community to attend an anti-bullying candlelight vigil outside the EVSC Headquarters, 951 Walnut Street on Thursday from 5pm – 5:45pm. The EVSC School Board has their organizational meeting at 5:30pm that same night and same location.
        The vigil is in response to EVSC’s communication with the press the past week and a half, where they have downplayed bullying as a problem at EVSC.
        The event is being organized with the following goals:
1)Â Â Â To publicize that bullying IS a problem at EVSC, including the bullying of LGBT students;
2)Â Â Â To ask the public to contact school board members, to instruct EVSC Superintendent Dr. David Smith to take action to address this issue;
3)   And to publicize that the Tri-State Alliance Youth Group is a safe place for LGBT middle school and high school students in our area (the group meets on Saturdays at 7pm at the TSA Offices, 501 John Street Suite 5 in Evansville)
The public is invited to attend. All are encouraged to bring umbrellas, and either a candle or flashlight. Some candles and flashlights will be available that night. For information, contact Tri-State Alliance President Wally Paynter at 812-480-0204 orwallypaynter@aol.com.
Road Trip Continues On Wednesday At Missouri State
Road Trip Continues On Wednesday At Missouri State
Aces and Bears to play at 7 p.m. at JQH Arena
On Wednesday, a quick 2-game road trip concludes when the University of Evansville men’s basketball team visits Missouri State for a 7 p.m. game at JQH Arena.
Last time out, a late rally saw Drake earn an 88-76 win over Evansville on Sunday at the Knapp Center. The Aces led by a 72-70 score with four minutes remaining, but a furious Bulldog rally saw them finish the game on an 18-4 run to earn the win. Jaylon Brown was the top scorer once again for the Aces, finishing with 23 points. Dru Smith had his best game as a member of the Purple Aces, totaling 14 points; Duane Gibson matched Smith’s total of 14 while Ryan Taylor had 10.
After missing five games due to injury, freshman Dru Smith came back with a vengeance at Drake. The Evansville native set career marks in points (14), field goal makes (5), attempts (11), 3-pointers (2) and assists (6). Smith showed no rust from his missed time as he saw 28 minutes of action. His return saw him notch six assists and no turnovers; his assist-to-turnover ratio for the season is 3:1.
Jaylon Brown continues to sit atop the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring (21.1 points per game), free throw percentage (.840) and minutes per game (36.1). Brown added 23 more points to his tally on Sunday at Drake as he hit 8 out of 13 shots and all four free throw attempts.
For the third time this season, Duane Gibson reached double figures as he set his season high of 14 points at Drake. Gibson knocked down 6 of his 9 attempts while recording 6 rebounds and 6 assists. He has started all 15 games that he has appeared in and currently stands with an average of 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Despite missing two games, Gibson leads the Aces with a total of 59 assists.
A 75-67 loss to Southern Illinois on Saturday has Missouri State standing at an 11-6 overall mark and an even 2-2 record in MVC play. Three Bears average double figures, led by Alize Johnson at 13.6 points per game; Johnson is the only MSU player to start all 17 games. Johnson is a beast on the boards, checking in with a conference-leading 9.8 per game; that tally is 1.4 more than any other player in the league.Ronnie Rousseau III enters Wednesday’s tilt with 11.6 PPG while Dequon Miller stands with 11.1. In the loss to SIU, Miller and Jarred Dixon notched a team-high 15 points apiece while Johnson finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
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Break-Ins to Vending Machines
In recent months, there have been a string of break-ins to vending machines at various local business, including those in apartment laundry rooms and hotel snack stations (in hallways or external locations). In these cases, entry into the machines was made or attempted by drilling into the coin receptacles, causing damage to the machine. In addition to lost revenue from the machines, the cost of repairing the damage can be extensive.   Â
Break-Ins to Vending Machines
Please report any suspicious behavior you have noticed or may become aware of in the future, including suspicious behavior, subjects and / or vehicles, or damage to machines consistent with the above break-ins
If you witness a crime in progress or suspicious activity, please call 911. However, if you have information you’d like to pass on, or have any questions, please contact the Evansville Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit at (812) 485-6135 or call the WeTip line at 1-800-78-CRIME.
Eagles look to build on strong GLVC start
University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball looks to build on its 4-0 start to Great Lakes Valley Conference play this week as the Screaming Eagles visit Truman State University Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Kirksville, Missouri, and Quincy University Saturday at 1 p.m. in Quincy, Illinois.
Both games will be aired on WSWI 95.7 FM, while live stats, audio and GLVC Sports Network coverage can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com. The GLVC Sports Network app also is available on Apple TV.
USI (12-2, 4-0 GLVC) is coming off an 84-79 win over Rockhurst University this past Saturday and a 57-39 win over William Jewell College last Thursday. It is USI’s first 4-0 start to league play since the 2009-10 campaign–USI has not started league play with five straight wins since 2006-07.
Junior guard/forward Kaydie Grooms (Marshall, Illinois) averaged 18.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game to lead the Eagles last week, while senior forwardHannah Wascher (Rantoul, Illinois) chipped in 11.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest.
Grooms, who has at least 20 points in five of USI’s last seven games, ranks fifth in the GLVC with a team-high 16.4 points per contest. Wascher is contributing 12.5 points and a team-best 8.1 rebounds per game, while junior forward Morgan Dahlstrom (Grayslake, Illinois) is pitching in 10.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per appearance.
Senior guard Tanner Marcum (New Albany, Indiana) is averaging 10.0 points and a GLVC-best 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio after recording nine points, three rebounds, five assists, and six steals in USI’s win over Rockhurst.
Truman State (8-6, 3-2 GLVC), which has won three straight games, is led by senior center Cassidy Clark, the reigning GLVC Player of the Week. Clark is averaging 15.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per contest for the Bulldogs, who defeated the Eagles, 60-42, at the Physical Activities Center a year ago.
Quincy (4-11, 1-4 GLVC) is led by senior guard Nikia Edom’s 11.7 points per game. Junior forward Anika Webster is chipping in 11.5 points and a team-best 5.0 rebounds per game for the Lady Hawks, who lost seven of their first eight games to begin the year.
Following USI’s trip to Truman and Quincy, the Eagles return home for games against No. 4 Bellarmine (Monday), the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (January 19) and No. 19 Lewis University (January 21).
USI Women’s Basketball Notes
- Eagles resume GLVC play with two wins.USI Women’s Basketball resumed GLVC play with a 57-39 win over William Jewell and an 84-79 victory over Rockhurst last week. Junior guard/forward Kaydie Grooms averaged 18.5 points and 5.5 rebounds to lead the Screaming Eagles, while senior forwardHannah Waschercontributed 11.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest.
- Strong start to GLVC play. The Eagles are off to a 4-0 start to GLVC play for the first time since the 2009-10 season. USI has not opened league play with five straight wins since 2006-07.
- Block party.USI racked up a season-high 11 blocks in its win over Rockhurst after recording 10 blocks in its win over William Jewell two days prior. While USI had not reached double-digit blocks in a game since February 1, 2014, the last time USI had double-digit blocks in back-to-back games was during the 1995-96 season, which also was the last time USI recorded double-digit blocks twice in the same year. The Eagles followed a 15-block effort against Northern Kentucky January 4, 1996, with a 16-block effort against Bellarmine two days later. USI finished the year with three games with double-digit block totals.
- Stein earns 300th win in 500th game.Head Coach Rick Steinearned his 300th career win in his 500th career game at the helm of the Screaming Eagles with USI’s 57-39 win over William Jewell. Stein, the all-time winningest coach in program history, has been a part of 460 victories during his 26 years at USI, including 159 in eight seasons as an assistant coach for the Eagles.
- Busy slate.Starting with Truman State, the Eagles will play five games in a 10-day span. That includes bouts against nationally-ranked Bellarmine and Lewis.
- Grooms continues to be headache for opposing defenses.Junior guard/forward Kaydie Groomshas reached the 20-point plateau in five of USI’s last seven games and a team-best seven times this season. She currently ranks fifth in the GLVC with 16.4 points per contest.
- Marcum leads GLVC in assist-to-turnover ratio.Senior guard Tanner Marcumleads the GLVC with her 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. The next closest player to Marcum in the GLVC has a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio.
- Harshbarger becomes scoring threat.Junior guard Randa Harshbargerbecame a scoring threat last week as she had back-to-back season highs against William Jewell and Rockhurst. After scoring eight points against the Cardinals, she racked up 11 points in USI’s win over Rockhurst.
- USI in statistical rankings.USI begins the week leading the GLVC in 10 statistical rankings and is in the top six of 18 GLVC statistical categories. The Eagles also rank in the top 25 of 11 NCAA Division II statistical rankings.
- Scouting the opposition (Truman State).Senior center Cassidy Clark, the reigning GLVC Player of the Week, is averaging 15.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game to lead the Bulldogs, who have won their last three games. It marks the second straight week USI will go up against the reigning GLVC Player of the Week after facing William Jewell’s Maddie Nelson last Thursday.
- Last year against Truman.USI made just six second-half field goals in a 60-42 loss to Truman last year. The Bulldogs used a 7-2 run late in the second quarter to build a four-point halftime lead; then outscored the Eagles 17-7 to go up by 14 heading into the final period.
- Scouting the opposition (Quincy).Senior guard Nikia Edom averages 11.7 points per game to lead the Lady Hawks, who lost seven of their first eight games. Junior forward Anika Webster is chipping in 11.5 points and a team-high 5.0 rebounds per game.
- Last year against Quincy.Quincy drained 14 three-pointers and took advantage of 21 USI turnovers en route to a 78-65 win over the Eagles. USI fought back from a late 22-point deficit, using a 10-0 fourth-quarter run to get within 11 points with less than four minutes to play; but back-to-back three-pointers by Nikia Edom quelled the Eagles’ surge.
- Record book watch.Senior guard Tanner Marcumand junior guard/forward Kaydie Grooms are both looking to climb up the scoring record book at USI. Marcum is 19th all-time with 863 career points, while Grooms is 27th with 798 career points.