Martinsville – Friday afternoon (7/13/2012) just after 6:00 p.m. Bloomington Trooper Dustin Starnes was working crash reduction patrol on State Road 67 in the area of Centerton Road in Morgan County. Trooper Starnes checked the speed of a Dodge truck that appeared to be traveling above the posted speed limit.

Once Trooper Starnes stopped the van, the driver, later identified as Jonathan W. Powers, 37 of Galveston, IN., exited the truck and fled toward the Centerton area. Off Duty Troopers Seth Parker and Ryan Belcher were nearby and stopped to assist Trooper Starnes.

Further investigation revealed that Powers was wanted on a Parole Warrant and also on a second Court Warrant through Marion County.

With the assistance of the off duty Troopers, Morgan County Sheriff’s Deputies and an Indiana Conservation Officer, Powers was located, arrested and charged with Resisting Law Enforcement, a Class A Misdemeanor and was held for the two aforementioned warrants.  He was lodged in the Morgan County Jail.

Over half of all fatal crashes in June occurred on Hoosier highways between 12 noon and 12 midnight. The Indiana State Police remain committed to reducing crashes and patrolling in high crash areas.  We continue to monitor the top causes for crashes around the state and concentrating enforcement efforts on these causes

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.