By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News

PARKE COUNTY -- Three theft suspects from Danville, Illinois, all between the ages of 18-20, were booked into the Parke County Jail this morning following a crime spree in the town of Marshall.

The three suspects remain incarcerated in the jail on numerous counts of burglary and theft after officials say two garages were burglarized. Eight vehicles were also broken in to and numerous items were stolen --- that police are aware of at this stage in the ongoing investigation.

Just before 5 a.m.,. officers with the Parke County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of suspicious persons and activity.

"While officers were enroute to the area, the call was upgraded to a burglary in progress after another resident found the three males breaking into his garage and he fired shots at them," according to a Parke Co. Sheriff's Office press release.

The uninjured suspects fled the scene on foot but were located a short time later.

Some of the reported stolen items were found during an extensive search of the area and the PCSD askes the public to report any possible stolen or discarded items in the area.

"Some stolen items have not been recovered and are believed to still be in undetermined locations in town where they were either stashed prior to the suspects fleeing or discarded during the search of the suspects," according to the press release.

Meanwhile, officials warn those returning from Spring Break, to check their properties and vehicles to see if anyone is a a victim of a burglary or theft.

 The Marshall Town Marshal assisted the Parke County Sheriff’s Office.

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News

​A Sullivan County Sheriff's Office death investigation is underway after a 20-year-old man was found dead in an early morning fiery crash last weekend in Merom.

The driver of the vehicle was later identified as Mitchell Ridge, of Sullivan.

Sheriff Clark Cottom explained today that preliminary autopsy results show that Ridge's death was consistent with an accident.

While the autopsy indicated no signs of foul play, there were indications of smoke inhalation, Cottom said, noting  toxicology reports are pending from the state laboratory at this time.

Meanwhile, officials have been speaking with Ridge’s family and acquaintances to better understand the events leading up to Sunday's fatal crash.

“The investigation remains open as officials piece together the evening's happenings, and await further test results,” Cottom said.

According to the report, a homeowner called 911 just after noticing the vehicle on fire outside his residence Sunday just after 4 a.m. Sullivan County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeffrey Kinnett and Gill Township firefighters responded to the scene.

​Ultimately, investigators spent eight hours at the scene the day of the crash, Cottom said, noting they were able to determine the following:

• Ridge was traveling northbound on Third Street, when he failed to negotiate a 90 degree right hand turn.
• Ridge's vehicle then left the roadway narrowly missing two trees and a cemetery stone.
• Ridge's vehicle traveled slowly, in a zig-zag pattern, before coming to rest in a moistened area of a back yard, approximately 50 feet from the reporting homeowner’s back door.
• For reasons still to be determined, Ridge's vehicle subsequently caught fire.

​
Cottom called in the Indiana State Police and the Indiana State Fire Marshal to assist with determining the nature of the fire and to assist with the investigation.

“Investigators found no early indications of foul play at the scene, however the vehicle is still being secured under the authority of the Indiana State Police, pending any further findings from investigators,” Cottom said.