Greenwood Police search for additional suspects
Police are searching for those which they believe are responsible for 2 different armed robberies this month at the Greenwood Park Mall. Both incidents took place in the evening at the Macy’s parking lot. The first reported robbery was January 3rd when an unidentified woman who was leaving work at the mall noticed a silver SUV pulling up next to her. A teenager demanded the woman’s belongings while threatening her with a gun. When she refused, the teen hit her in the head with the weapon, leaving her bloodied.
On January 17th, another Greenwood Park Mall employee was robbed at gunpoint in the same parking outside of Macy’s. Witness described a silver SUV racing through the Lowe’s parking lot just north of the mall following that incident. The vehicle believed to be the one used was stolen during a home invasion in Indianapolis before both of the Greenwood incidents.
Greenwood Police found the vehicle and were led on a foot chase by a group of teenagers. They were taken into custody, but authorities believe there are others who were involved in the armed robbery attempts. Police are working with Mall officials to improve security.
Rising Indiana opioid problem overlooked in pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken over headlines for the past two years. New variants, a surge in cases, the effectiveness of masks all spark debate about what the public should and shouldn’t do to protect themselves. But amid all these concerns, CDC data also shows another rising problem in the country. For the first time, the number of drug overdose deaths related to opioid use topped 100,000 in a 12-month period.
What does this mean for Indiana? According to the CDC dashboard, predicted deaths in Indiana rose from 1,878 in April of 2020 to 2,487 in April of 2021. That’s more than a 32% increase in deaths over the course of a year. In light of the deaths from COVID-19, this number may not seem significant, but it is. The rising number of opioid-related deaths takes its toll on first responders who respond to these emergency calls, who are already stretched thin.
Adding to the complexity of those calls is the concern of where to take patients that need to be transported. Hospitals are filled with so many COVID-19 patients that many don’t have room to take in another patient, COVID-related or not.
Indiana keeps a record of any time an EMS responder reports the administration of naloxone to respond to an overdose. This data is compiled together to create the Indiana Drug Data Dashboard, which shows the trends where naloxone is administered the most. Large cities like Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Gary are hot spots, but there are also troubled areas in Muncie, Kokomo, and Richmond.
IMPD seeking help in hit and run
Indianapolis Police seek the suspect of a fatal hit and run which occurred near West 30th Street in Indianapolis around 9pm on Tuesday evening, near the campus of Marian University. The vehicle used in connection with the incident is a red Dodge Ram pick-up with license plate TK829NNJ. The Dodge Ram was driving north and hit a Pontiac brand car going west. The driver of the truck did not stop to provide aid or information. The driver of the Pontiac and a passenger were taken to the hospital. The driver was pronounced dead upon arrival and the passenger is listed in critical condition. Anyone with information about this incident or the red Dodge Ram should call the IMPD Hit and Run Office at (317) 327-6549 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-TIPS (8477).
This Week in Hoosier History
2013 – A headstone was placed on the grave of Dr. Samuel Elbert at Crown Hill Cemetery over 100 years after his death. He is considered to be the first African American physician in Indiana.
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