LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office will host its fourth annual “Fish Fry for the Red Cross” and for the first time, a car show, to benefit the local Chapter of the American Red Cross. The food and festivities, including face painting, hair coloring, ring toss and bean bag toss, and the inaugural car show are scheduled for Friday, June 5, 2009 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds on Teal Road in Lafayette.

The Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office is no stranger to the services that the American Red Cross provides. The Red Cross routinely provides assistance to victims affected by disasters, notably the flooding that most recently impacted Greater Lafayette, and also administers care to local emergency personnel who are called to duty during those times.

“It has somewhat surprised me, over the past four years that this particular community event continues to grow and the enthusiasm has never waned. Every year we seem to come up with new and more innovative ideas to make that year’s event bigger and better than in previous years. It is a fun and rewarding way to give back to an organization that serves us and the community we serve. I commend the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office and all the other volunteers, they do a great job,” said Tippecanoe County Sheriff Tracy Brown.

American Red Cross Executive Director Bob Wollenburg agrees.

“Our partnership with the Sheriff’s Office is a great example of how much good can come about when we work together for a common cause. We appreciate the support of the Sheriff’s Office, the sponsors, volunteers, and the entire community. It is through all of their efforts that the annual Sheriff’s Fish Fry is such a huge success,” Wollenburg said.

Tickets are priced at Eight dollars ($8.00) for adults and Five dollars ($5.00) for children age twelve and under. Pre-event tickets may be purchased during regular business hours at the Sheriff’s Office at 2640 Duncan Road, or at the Red Cross Chapter House located 615 North 18th Street, Suite 101 in Lafayette. People wishing to order tickets by phone can call the Red Cross chapter at 765-742-6975, pay by credit or debit card and have tickets either mailed to them or held on reserve at the fairgrounds. Tickets will be sold at the fairgrounds on June 5th and carry-out dinners will also be available.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Two area grade schools were put on lockdown today (May 7) after receiving a complaint of a possible threat to the school.

On Thursday, May 7, 2009 at around 8:50a, Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to Hershey Elementary School after a student’s mother informed them that the student’s non-custodial father was going to try to remove the children from the school and that he might possibly be armed with a handgun.

As a precaution both Hershey Elementary School and the adjacent East Tipp Middle School were placed on lockdown while the investigation was pending. After approximately three (3) hours, the father, Richard Wireman (42) of Lafayette, was located in Plymouth, Indiana. He was arrested on an unrelated civil attachment (79D03-0207-JP-135) and is currently being held on a $1000.00 bond in the Marshall County Jail.

When detectives determined that Wireman had not been in the Lafayette area, the custodial mother, Melissa Paxton (33) of Lafayette, was arrested for False Informing as a Class a Misdemeanor and is she is currently being held in the Tippecanoe County Jail on a $250.00 cash bond.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Sergeant James D. Caldwell and Detective Thomas Lehman.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Members of the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a disabled semi tractor trailer on State Rd. 43 North. The driver of the semi had disregarded the “road closed – high water” signs at State Rd. 43 North and Soldiers Home Road. The driver continued southbound around the signs and drove into the high water on State Rd. 43 North.

Members of the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office Underwater Rescue and Recovery Team responded to the scene and rescued the driver. The water had entered the cab of the semi. The driver was transported by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Medical Center and treated for hypothermia.

According to a statement by the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department, Guadalupe S. Martinez (age 51) of Hammond, Indiana was arrested for Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated and for Disregarding a Traffic Control Device. The driver’s Blood Alcohol Content was .22 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, which is nearly three times the legal limit. He was not booked into jail because he was admitted to the hospital.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — On Saturday, February 14, 2008 at approximately 2:00 a.m., Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 4200 Doten Drive, Lafayette, Indiana in reference to a complaint of a disturbance. Upon their arrival deputies determined that one of the residents, twenty-eight year old Joshua A. Neeley, had suffered a stab wound to the lower back. Neeley was later transported by ambulance to Home Hospital where he was admitted for treatment.

Neeley’s roommate, twenty-five year old Kenneth Elvon Jenkins III, was later arrested on suspicion of Aggravated Battery (I.C. 35-42-2-1.5) as a Class B Felony. Jenkins is currently being held in the Tippecanoe County Jail on a $50,000.00 bond.

According to Tippecanoe County Sheriff Tracy Brown, the investigation continues and no further details are being released.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Tippecanoe County Sheriff Tracy Brown announced today that the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association will again be awarding college scholarships to qualified high school seniors or college students who are pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies. There will be approximately forty (40) five hundred dollar ($500.00) scholarships awarded to qualifying students throughout the state.

The Indiana Sheriffs’ Association Scholarship fund was established for the purpose of receiving, investing, and dispensing of funds to provide college scholarships to qualified students who are committed pursuing an education and career in the law enforcement field.

To qualify for one of these scholarships, the applicant must be an Indiana resident, be a current member of the association or a dependent child or grandchild of a current member of the association, attend an Indiana college or university, major in a law enforcement field and enroll as a full-time student (12 hours).

Applications for the scholarships are available from the high school counselor, the Sheriff’s Office located at 2640 Duncan Road, Lafayette, Indiana, or at its website at www.tippecanoesheriff.com.

The application must be completed and received by the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association on or before April 1, 2008.