Governor Mike Pence has directed the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and the Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health & Addiction to identify a county criminal justice entity and implement a therapeutic program for offenders while incarcerated and awaiting adjunction. At the latest meeting of the Governor’s Task Force on Drug Enforcement, Treatment and Prevention on January 29, 2016, the action item was discussed and accepted for recommendation to the Governor.

“We must not allow Hoosiers battling addiction to fall through the cracks,” said Governor Pence. “The latest recommendation from the Task Force implements an evidence-based substance abuse treatment program that allows for addicted individuals in our criminal justice system to more quickly receive the treatment they need. As the Task Force continues to provide counsel and guidance, my administration will remain vigilant in addressing drug abuse and its heartbreaking repercussions in a comprehensive manner.”

The next meeting for the Governor’s Task Force on Drug Enforcement, Treatment, and Prevention is March 18, 2016. For additional information about the Task Force, including a list of resources, post-meeting recordings, minutes, presentation materials, and upcoming agendas, visit: www.drugtaskforce.in.gov.

 Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016.

Christopher Allen North Disarming a law enforcement officer, Level 5 felony

Resisting law enforcement, Class A misdemeanor

Disorderly conduct, Class B misdemeanor

Public intoxication, Class B misdemeanor

Gerrickk Antonio Dennis Battery with moderate bodily injury, Level 6 felony

Criminal gang activity, Level 6 felony

Possession of a synthetic drug or synthetic drug look-alike substance, Class A misdemeanor

Brian Jay Leon Intimidation, Level 5 felony

Andrea Michelle Diamond Unlawful transfer of a handgun, Level 5 felony

Neglect of a dependent, Level 6 felony

Isaac Lamont Pope Domestic battery, Level 6 felony

Interference with the reporting of a crime, Class A misdemeanor

Michael Anthony Jones Theft, Level 6 felony

James Keith Lewis Possession of a narcotic drug, Level 6 felony

Legend Drug deception, Level 6 felony

Theft, Class A misdemeanor

Kristin Jo Gaffney Possession of methamphetamine, Level 6 felony

Neglect of a dependent, Level 6 felony

Possession of a controlled substance, Class A  misdemeanor

Brandon Lee Hicks Criminal recklessness, Level 6 felony

Battery by bodily waste, Class A misdemeanor

Disorderly conduct, Class B misdemeanor

Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, Class C misdemeanor

James Vaughn Forgery, Level 6 felony

Theft, Class A misdemeanor

Antonio Lamont Taylor Theft, Level 6 felony

Jason Matthew Bates Intimidation, Level 6 felony

Theft, Level 6 felony

Resisting law enforcement, Class A misdemeanor

Brandon Kyle Craig Possession of methamphetamine, Level 6 felony

Possession of marijuana, Class B misdemeanor

Possession of paraphernalia, Class C misdemeanor

Cynthia Ann Waters Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person with a passenger less than 18 years of age, Level 6 felony

Caleb Frederick Johnson Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person with a passenger less than 18 years of age, Level 6 felony

Austin David Swan Unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, Level 4 felony

Theft of a firearm, Level 6 felony

Terry William Frieson Theft of a firearm, Level 6 felony

Carrying a handgun without a license, Class A misdemeanor

Antwon Lamar Dulin Legend Drug deception, Level 6 felony

Michael Joe Thompson Operating a motor vehicle after forfeiture of license for life, Level 5 felony

Justin Deshawn McMorris Possession of a narcotic drug, Level 6 felony

Carrying a handgun without a license, Class A misdemeanor

Possession of a controlled substance, Class A misdemeanor

Possession of marijuana, Class B misdemeanor

Joseph Monroe Walker Resisting law enforcement, Level 6 felony

Criminal recklessness, Level 6 felony

Resisting law enforcement, Class A misdemeanor

Possession of paraphernalia, Class C misdemeanor

False informing, Class B misdemeanor

Norma Jeananne Brown Possession of methamphetamine, Level 6 felony

Jonathan Michael Burns Unlawful possession of a syringe, Level 6 felony

Possession of a narcotic drug, Level 6 felony

Diamond Lasha Fox Domestic battery, Level 6 felony

Rameish Cartez Madison Domestic battery, Level 6 felony

Possession of marijuana, Class B misdemeanor

Larry Lee Shedrick III Operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator, Level 6 felony

Timmy Terrell Bland Resisting law enforcement, Level 6 felony

Resisting law enforcement, Class A misdemeanor

Possession of marijuana, Class A misdemeanor

Deniko Lewis Scott Theft of a firearm, Level 6 felony

Carrying a handgun without a license, Class A misdemeanor

Possession of marijuana, Class B misdemeanor

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security has been recognized with a 2016 national award for its team that will rapidly respond to inspect buildings after a man-made or natural disaster.

The National Earthquake Conference selected Indiana for a National Award in Excellence in the category of “Multi-jurisdictional Planning” for its Indiana Building Emergency Assessment and Monitoring Team (I-BEAM). The National Awards in Excellence are presented once every four years.

“The I-BEAM Team’s ability to rapidly respond and assess building safety is crucial to our state’s response to a disaster,” said Governor Mike Pence. “The team’s work helps identify safe structures, which is critical in reopening essential services, saving lives and helping communities recover and rebuild.”

Two aspects that make Indiana’s team unique is that it is self-sustaining and it has the first communications trailer in the nation that is totally wind and solar powered.

Partners in the award selection and presentation are the Western States Seismic Policy Council (WSSPC) Board of Directors in partnership with the Northeast States Emergency Consortium (NESEC), the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), and the Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW).

The Indiana team strives to provide all necessary equipment for the team’s inspectors and command structure in the event of a disaster deployment. This includes all needed mobile command center, command tents, briefing tents, sleeping tents, restrooms, showers, food, water, and cooking facilities. There is also the necessary supporting equipment such as a power generator, heating\cooling and communications.

While I-BEAM can respond to multiple situations that would widely affect building safety, the impetus for the team’s formation was the threat of a major earthquake to Indiana due to seismic zones in Indiana, Missouri and Illinois. The New Madrid Seismic Zone is located 180 miles southwest of Evansville, and the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone encompasses parts of Southeastern Illinois and Southwestern Indiana.

I-BEAM is comprised of volunteers from around Indiana and personnel from IDHS who have a background in building safety. After any man-made or natural event which may destabilize buildings, I-BEAM can perform structural assessments to determine whether or not buildings are safe to be used again.

The National Awards recognize organizations and agencies for their achievements as demonstrated through exemplary programs, projects and products that address earthquake risk reduction within the United States. The awards will be presented at the National Earthquake Conference held at The Hilton Long Beach in Long Beach, California, on May 5, 2016. Summaries of the 2016 winning programs and projects are posted on the Western States Seismic Policy Council’s website at www.wsspc.org.

Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence is directing flags at state facilities statewide be flown at half-staff to honor former Governor Edgar D. Whitcomb, who passed away today, Thursday, February 4. Flags should be flown at half-staff for seven days from his passing, through Thursday, February 11.

Governor Pence also asks businesses and residents to lower their flags to half-staff to honor Governor Whitcomb for his service to Indiana and the nation.