Senate Bill on electronic stalking passes committee
The Indiana Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 161 on stalking though use of a tracking device authored by Sen. Crider. The bill provides the following:
- a person who, with the intent to track an individual and without the individual’s knowledge, places a tracking device on an individual or the individual’s property commits remote criminal tracking, a Class C misdemeanor.
- Provides certain exceptions.
- Increases the penalty to a Class A misdemeanor if the person is the subject of a protective order issued on behalf of the individual.
- Establishes a sentence enhancement if a person uses a tracking device to commit or facilitate the commission of a felony.
The bill was amended by consent to exempt from the prohibition on tracking devices a device installed as original equipment by the manufacturer of a motor vehicle and to make a technical correction. The amended bill passed 8-0.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2023/bills/senate/161
Duke Energy begins next phase of construction on new power transmission lines
Duke Energy will soon begin phases two and three of the Bloomington Rogers Street – 11th Street – Dunn Street Reliability Project, which aims to enhance the company’s ability to provide safe and reliable energy to homes, businesses and other community facilities in the Bloomington area. Crews will begin constructing approximately 2 miles of new power transmission line between the Rogers Street Substation at 1604 South Rogers Street and the 11th Street Substation at the corner of West 11th and North Rogers streets.
Crews will then begin constructing approximately 1 mile of new transmission line from the Dunn Street Substation, at the corner of Dunn Street and East 13th Street, to an existing transmission line at the corner of North Jackson Street and West 17th Street. Preconstruction activities, such as survey and staking the project area and performing vegetation management, will begin this month. Qualified tree personnel are inspecting and clearing vegetation along the route. These practices are approved by internationally recognized tree care associations. The easement must be clear of vegetation to allow for safe access during construction and safe operation of the line once energized.
Impacted property owners have been notified by mail and Duke Energy has attempted door-to-door contacts as well. A large part of the tree trimming and removal work will be conducted in city right-of-way, and Duke Energy has been working in partnership with local officials on work that will take place on municipal property. At times while work is underway, a lane of traffic or pedestrian path may be temporarily closed for crews to safely perform the work.
Construction is taking place in three phases. Phase 1, which involved building the new 11th Street Substation and transmission line along North Rogers Street, is complete. Phases 2 and 3 will begin this year and continue through early 2024. Residents who have questions about the project can visit www.duke-energy.com/Rogers-Dunn-Line.
Bloomington Trooper promoted to Crime Scene Investigator
Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas G. Carter recently announced the promotion of Detective (Trooper) Ian Matthews to the rank of Sergeant to serve as a Crime Scene Investigator for the Bloomington District. Sergeant Matthews, who is originally from Spencer, is a 2007 graduate of Owen Valley High School who then earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Indiana University in 2011. In 2015, he was selected to attend and graduated from the 75th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy located in Plainfield, IN. After graduation, he was assigned to the Bloomington Post working primarily in Owen County.
Matthews has most recently served as a Detective at the Bloomington District after being promoted to that position in 2020, working numerous different types of investigations. Sgt. Matthews has also taken on several responsibilities while assigned to Bloomington. Those duties include working as a background investigator, being certified as a DRE Officer (Drug Recognition Expert), FTO (Field Training Officer), TIP Team Member (Tactical Intervention Platoon), and CT (Control Tactics) Instructor. Sgt. Matthews resides in Greene County with his wife, Deborah, and their two children.
This Week in Hoosier History
1941 Wendell Willkie was at the Indiana Statehouse to speak to a joint session of the Legislature. The 1940 Presidential candidate told the lawmakers that they were living in some of the most fateful times in the nation’s history. He departed to spend a few days at his farm in Rush County.
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