March 6, 2010
On Friday night, March 5, 2010, the Ripley County Sheriff's Office, working in cooperation with the Batesville Police Department and the Ripley County Prosecutor's Office, executed a Search Warrant issued by the Ripley Superior Court, at a Batesville residence, resulting in several arrest and the seizure of a large quantity of Cocaine packaged for sale. More information
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February 17, 2010
The Ripley County Sheriff’s Office has been updating records for changes in law to confirm that all sex or violent sex offenders registered with the Sheriff’s Office are in compliance with Indiana law. According to state statute, some sex or violent offenders cannot reside within 1000 feet of any school, public park, or licensed daycare. If an offender is found to be in violation of this law, the offender will be required to move, or potentially have charges filed against him/her.
The Sheriff’s Office currently supervises 76 sex offenders and violent sex offenders. Sixty of these offenders are active, and sixteen offenders are incarcerated in county jails or state prison.
Several offenders have been given notice they must move from their current residence to become compliant.
In order to verify that all offenders are in compliance with state statute, the Sheriff is requesting that any licensed daycare or preschool, whether it is public or private, contact the office during business hours with their address, telephone number and contact person. When calling, you can ask for Deputy Matron Toni Gray, or the Sheriff.
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Ripley County Illegal Grow Operation Discovered
On Wednesday, February 3, 2010 Ripley County Deputy Jason Dickerson received a tip there were marijuana plants being grown at the home of 45 year-old Ernest H. Pyle of Milan.
Deputy Dickerson obtained a search warrant at that time, and the warrant was executed by the Sheriff’s Office, with Milan PD and the Indiana State Police assisting.
After the execution of the warrant, Pyle was incarcerated at the Ripley County Jail on charges of Possession of Marijuana, Cultivating Marijuana, and Possession of paraphernalia.
More charges are pending.
Pyle is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Sheriff Grills stated all law enforcement is committed to working together for the common good of our citizens. Public awareness and multi-police agency cooperation is the best way to fight the drug trade and usage in this area.
If you know or suspect any illegal drug activity, you are urged to contact your local law enforcement agency with information.
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Habitual Substance Offender Arrested
35-year-old William T. Borne Jr., Milan, was arrested Wednesday evening February 3, 2010 on a Felony warrant from Ripley County.
In addition to the Habitual charge, Borne also has charges for maintaining a common nuisance, possession of marijuana, and reckless possession of paraphernalia.
The arrest warrant stemmed from a search warrant obtained by Milan officers and served at the Borne residence the week before.
Ripley County Deputies and the Milan Police Department executed the arrest.
Borne is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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On Saturday night,
January 9, 2010, the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office
received a report of a sexual assault involving a 19 year old
female, near the Holton area, while traveling along Hopewell road. The female reported that she had stopped to
assist a stranded motorist, when assaulted by a white male who was
operating a small, older black pickup truck. The assailant was described as a white male
approximately 30 years of age, 6’-2”, medium build, wearing a green
winter (toboggan) style cap, brown coat and blue jeans. The assault is currently under investigation
by the Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information regarding the
incident is urged to contact the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office at
(812) 689-5555 or 689-5558.
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The Ripley County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a burglary that had happened on SR 129 just south of Batesville, Tuesday, September 22,2009 around 2:30pm
It is believed through evidence and the investigation the suspect was startled as the homeowner arrived back at the residence while the suspect was inside. The suspect exited the home unbeknown to the owner of the residence, and spoke to the owner about completing some landscaping before leaving the residence. The owner then realized the incident had taken place.
The vehicle is described as an Arizona Beige Ford F 150 extended cab pickup with a partial Ohio registration of DK 3697. It is believed to be a late 90’s or early two thousand year model. The suspect is described at early 20’s, sandy blonde hair, facial hair, about 5’10, thin build.
Citizens are urged to look out for their neighbors, lock everything, and pay attention to suspicious activity. Document all your valuables and keep that record in a secure place. Nobody is immune from becoming a victim.
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BMV Announces Big Changes
Wednesday, July 8, 2008
This morning, I'm announcing big changes that will take effect on January 1, 2010, concerning the documentation necessary to obtain a driver's license or state-issued identification card. The program, called "SecureID," allows Indiana to comply with recommendations from the 9/11 Commission Report and will improve the BMV's ability to protect your identity from theft and fraud.Beginning January 1, 2010, every person renewing, replacing or applying for a new driver's license or identification card will be required to present documentation proving his or her:
- Identity. An original or certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate or a U.S. passport will meet this requirement. If you are a foreign national, a U.S. immigration document, such as foreign passport with a Visa and an I-94 form issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is acceptable.
- Social Security number. A Social Security card, a W-2, tax form, an SSA-1099 form, or a pay stub showing the name and Social Security number on it will meet the requirement.
- Lawful status. Again, an original or certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate or a U.S. passport satisfies this requirement. If you are a foreign national, a U.S. immigration document, such as foreign passport with a Visa and an I-94 form issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is acceptable.
- Residency. Two recent statements from a utility company, bank, credit card company, doctor or hospital showing name and residence address. Computer-generated bills are acceptable.
If you do not have a copy of your birth
certificate,
contact the health department
in the state where you were born and request an official copy. Indiana
county health departments can be found
here . A change
in the name listed on your birth certificate requires additional items
to be brought in - such as a marriage license. Those who have been
through multiple name changes because of marriage, divorce or adoption
must show proof of each name change.
After
you present all documents, you will receive an interim license at the
BMV branch. You will receive your permanent license or identification
card within 10 business days. It will be mailed from a secure,
government-run facility to your mailing address. This added step is to
provide yet another layer of protection of your identity.
If
your driver's license expires in 2011 or later, it is valid until the
normal expiration date.
You do not need to come into the license branch any earlier. If you are
updating your name or address before the expiration date, you will have
to bring all of the required documentation to the license branch.
To learn more about SecureID, please visit
myBMV.IN.gov.
Also, if you do not have a myBMV account, please sign-up for one
here. A myBMV
account allows you to conduct many regular transactions online at
your convenience. The service is free and your information is
confidential and will not be shared with third parties.
Please feel free to forward this email to your family and friends so
they can learn more about SecureID. The BMV will send future updates to
keep you informed of the program's progress.
Sincerely,
Andy
Miller, Commissioner
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2009
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Attorney General Zoeller, Marion County Prosecutor Brizzi warn of ID Theft
New concerted effort geared to helping Hoosiers avoid becoming victims
INDIANAPOLIS - With identity theft among the fastest growing crimes in the state, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced a concerted effort to combat identity theft. Joined by Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi, Zoeller alerted Hoosiers to several improved ways for consumers to protect their good name and credit rating.
“With the downturn in the economy, criminals have become relentless in their efforts to steal the identities of consumers and fraudulently open lines of credit,” Zoeller said. “Identity theft is devastating to victims and can take months or years to untangle. Today we launch a new effort to attack identity theft.”
“In the past, our response to identity theft has been limited because the law had not caught up to this new form of digital victimization. With these new tools at our disposal, our offices will better be able to protect the citizens of Marion County and the State of Indiana from the serious threat of identity theft,” Brizzi said.
Zoeller and Brizzi today discussed a new effort to assist identity-theft victims while educating other consumers on how to avoid becoming victims in the first place.
“One of the most important protections is the security freeze, where consumers can go to our web site, sign up and prevent anyone from fraudulently obtaining credit in their name. The security freeze is tied to all three major credit-reporting bureaus. And, if the consumer wants to apply for a new line of credit, they can go back to the web site, lift the freeze temporarily, and then seal the lid of protection again,” Zoeller said.
To train attorneys on the legal ramifications of dealing with identity theft, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office is holding a series of CLE (Continuing Legal Education) classes on ID theft. Registration for the first CLE session, July 15, already is full, but others will be offered soon and will be open to lawyers and non-lawyers alike. Professionals who work with the public - such as law enforcement officers, retail merchants, social services workers, assisted-living facilities managers and clergy - may find the course of benefit.
“This CLE training offered by the Attorney General’s office will cast a wide net in training professionals who will be the first line of defense in preventing identity theft,” Zoeller said. “Our office has found that the Hispanic community often is hit especially hard by identity thieves.”
The effort comes as Indiana’s new identity-theft protection law, House Enrolled Act 1121, took effect last week. The new law boosts protections for consumers and creates new rights for victims, while giving local and state authorities more powerful tools to crack down on identity thieves.
Among other things, the new law does the following:
- Makes it a crime for a parent or guardian to use a child’s personal information to commit identity theft and fraudulently obtain credit. The new crime is a Class C felony, punishable by two to eight years in prison.
- Creates the new crime of synthetic identity theft, to specify that combining parts of the identities of several people into a hybrid, fictional person in order to commit fraud also is illegal. It’s a Class D felony, punishable by six months to three years imprisonment.
- Creates recovery tools for victims. Identity theft victims often have difficulty establishing new credit or utility service because of damage to their credit histories. HEA 1121 gives Hoosiers the ability to go to court and obtain a declaratory judgment, a legal document that says the person was an innocent victim of identity theft, in order to correct their records.
- Increases the penalties for database owners who recklessly discard consumers’ personal information, such as Social Security numbers, in a manner that could subject consumers to identity theft. If a business discards such records without shredding, blacking out or incinerating them first, then the Attorney General’s office could file suit and seek penalties of $5,000 per incident for the violation. Database owners also are now required to notify the attorney general’s office – as well as consumers – if a security breach occurs.
Recently, the Attorney General’s ID Theft Unit responded to two cases – one in New Castle, Ind., in April, and the other in Mishawaka, Ind., in June - where customers’ sensitive personal information, such as medical records and loan applications, were discarded in trash bins. Concerned members of the public spotted the dumped records, realized the risk and alerted the Attorney General’s office.
- Formally establishes the ID Theft Unit. Created administratively by former Attorney General Steve Carter in January 2008, the ID Theft Unit is a team of attorneys and investigators who use computer forensic techniques to probe complaints and assist victims. HEA 1121 by statute makes the unit a permanent part of the Attorney General’s office as of July 1, 2009.
Since it was created 18 months ago, the ID Theft Unit has investigated more than 600 cases or referrals and recovered more than $608,000 in refunds for consumers, and its investigations have resulted in 13 arrests. Under the new law, the ID Theft Unit will also have an expanded role, through public presentations, in educating consumers on how to avoid being victimized and mitigate the damage if identity is stolen.
The Attorney General’s web site, www.indianaconsumer.com/idtheft, has free resource tools available to educate consumers about their rights and protect their identity and credit. Versions in Spanish are posted.
Zoeller today thanked members of the Indiana General Assembly who helped pass House Enrolled Act 1121 in April during the regular session, including House author State Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, and Senate sponsor State Sen. Brent Steele, R-Bedford. Zoeller thanked in particular State Rep. David Frizzell, R-Indianapolis, long a supporter of identity-theft-protection legislation.
“The hard work of legislators has crafted a powerful new tool we can use to combat identity thieves,” Zoeller said. “We also appreciate the front-line efforts of county prosecuting attorneys such as Mr. Brizzi in filing criminal charges against such lawbreakers and bringing them to justice.”
“These new measures will help law enforcement keep up with tactics being used by identity thieves,” Rep. Frizzell said. “As more and more of our personal information is recorded and stored, it will be increasingly important to give law enforcement the tools they need to fight identity theft, including the ability to hold perpetrators accountable.”
For more information about preventing identity theft and the details of the new law, consumers can visit www.indianaconsumer.com/idtheft. The link to the credit-security freeze online application is http://www.indianaconsumer.com/idtheft/SecurityFreeze.asp. Video of today’s news conference will be posted on the Attorney General’s web site. Dates for upcoming CLE training courses on identity-theft prevention offered by the Attorney General’s office will be announced soon.