Bartholomew County Sheriff - Sheriff Chris Lane

08/28/2026

🚨I-65 Crash/Lane Closure-Bartholomew County🚨

8/28/26. 2:30 pm

The Indiana State Police is currently investigating a serious crash on I-65 Southbound near the 64 mile marker in Bartholomew County. This is just south of Columbus.

All lanes are currently shut down. One lane is expected to open shortly.

Investigators are searching for an Hispanic male wearing dark clothing and possibly carrying a backpack that fled westbound from the scene on foot. Call 9-1-1 if you see him in the area.

08/26/2026

The Sheriff’s Office would like to recognize Juanita Green’s 25 years of service to the community. Today we celebrated Juanita’s retirement with a reception at the Sheriff’s Office. Thank you for your service Juanita!

08/24/2026

The Sheriff’s Office is proud to take part in this task force, with the primary goal of protecting children. Thank you to all agencies that participated in this operation.

Matthew Bruce Ciske, 48, of Richmond - Child solicitation, a Level 4 felony, and attempted s*xual misconduct with a minor, a Level 4 felony.

Andrew Rodger Donat, 59, of Indianapolis
- Child solicitation, a Level 4 felony, and attempted s*xual misconduct with a minor, a Level 4 felony.

David Todd Hahn, 48, of Mt. Washington, Kentucky - Child solicitation, a Level 4 felony, and attempted s*xual misconduct with a minor, a Level 4 felony.

Nathan Todd Jones, 49, of Thorntown - Child solicitation, a Level 4 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony; possession of ma*****na, a Class B misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.

Luis Ernesto Nunez Machuca, 37, of Streamwood, Illinois - Child solicitation, a Level 4 felony, and attempted s*xual misconduct with a minor, a Level 4 felony.

This is a preliminary investigation. All persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Five men were arrested during a sting operation targeting online child s*x offenders. Led by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the operation spanned multiple days and involved federal, state and local law enforcement agencies working undercover to intercept predators seeking unlawful contact with minors.

Bartholomew County Prosecutor Lindsey Holden said the collaboration of agencies is instrumental in such investigations. “The agencies involved in this operation are very committed
to keeping our kids safer in a world where technology can make them more vulnerable,” she said. Investigators used a variety of social media platforms to intercept the suspects.

“These five individuals traveled well over 400 miles total, believing they were going to have s*xual contact with minors in Columbus,” said Bartholomew County Sheriff, Chris Lane. “We will continue to work with fellow law enforcement agencies everywhere to capture offenders against children and hold them accountable.”

Columbus Police Department Chief, Steve Norman said, "We must be proactive in our efforts to prevent child s*x offenders from harming our children. Our continued investment into investigating, educating, and preventing child s*x crimes will make Columbus safer and preserve our community as a great place to raise a family."

ISP Lieutenant Christopher Cecil, the Commander of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force stated, “The success of this operation illustrates the Indiana ICAC’s steadfast commitment to its mission to protect children from online exploitation and solicitation. By collaborating with local, state, and federal law enforcement, we work diligently to protect our communities from the online scourge that seeks to prey on children.”

The filing of a criminal charge is an allegation, not evidence of guilt. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The investigation was led by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and hosted by the Bartholomew County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (BCICAC). Involved agencies included: ‘if you or someone you know are experiencing child s*xual exploitation, please report that to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), call the 24/7 toll-free hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or submit an anonymous report online via the cybertipline.org.”

08/20/2026

Congratulations to Deputy Daniel Brenneman!

Today, Deputy Brenneman graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy after completing 16 weeks of intensive academic and practical law enforcement training.

On Monday, he’ll begin his Field Training Program, where he’ll work alongside experienced deputies and put the knowledge and skills he gained at the academy into practice right here in Bartholomew County.

We’re proud of Deputy Brenneman and look forward to watching him continue to grow in his career and serve our community.

Please join us in congratulating Deputy Brenneman on this accomplishment!

08/17/2026

Bartholomew County Traffic Safety Partnership to increase impaired driving enforcement ahead of Labor Day

Bartholomew County Indiana — As summer winds down, The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) to increase patrols and conduct sobriety checkpoints as part of the annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over national enforcement campaign, supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Through the Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program (CHIRP), an ICJI initiative that provides federal funding for local traffic safety enforcement, officers statewide will work overtime beginning August 19 through September 7, 2026, to identify and stop motorists under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

“Our officers are seeing the consequences of impaired driving far too often,” said Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Jason Williams.“ As we enter the final weeks of summer, we’re asking every driver to make responsible decisions. A sober ride isn’t just the safest option—it’s the choice that saves lives.”
Preliminary data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) shows that in 2025, nearly 23% of Indiana’s traffic fatalities involved alcohol, and more than 41% involved drug impairment.

“Impaired driving continues to be one of the most serious threats on our roadways, and we’re focused on reducing these tragedies through education and enforcement,” said Douglas Huntsinger, executive director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. “This year’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign reminds everyone that impaired driving is preventable. When you choose a sober ride, you’re helping protect your community and ensuring everyone makes it home safely.”
In Indiana, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, although drivers can be arrested at any BAC level if an officer believes they are impaired.
Have a Plan Whether You're Driving, Riding, or Hosting:

• Before drinking, plan a safe and sober ride home.
• Don’t let someone get behind the wheel if they've been drinking.
• If you’re hosting a gathering, make sure all your guests have a sober ride home.
• If you see an impaired driver, call 911. Always wear your seat belt — it’s your best defense against impaired drivers.

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaign, administered by ICJI, is supported with federal traffic safety funds provided by the United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.

Every day, about 32 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that's one person every 44 minutes. In 2024, 11,904 people died in

08/14/2026

Congratulations to Lt. Courtney Fisher, she received the Donald W. And Catherine G. Jugermeyer Community Hero Award through the Heritage Fund - The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.

The award recognizes and celebrates the contributions of everyday local heroes - those who have performed life-saving measures, come to the aid of another or contributed to the safety, security and resiliency of our community.

Nominees must be either a professional or volunteer serving in Bartholomew County as a law enforcement official, firefighter, first responder or in the medical or healthcare field.

Her compassion and commitment to others extend well beyond her responsibilities at the Sheriff’s Office. Through Soups for Souls, she has dedicated countless hours of her own time to helping people in need throughout our community.

Courtney, this recognition is well deserved. We are proud of you, proud of the work you continue to do, and proud to call you one of our own.

Congratulations on this outstanding honor!

08/13/2026

Congratulations to our new corrections officers. Welcome to the team here at the Sheriff’s Office!

Left to right: Jakob Getsinger, Jackson Brewer, Alex Wenzler and Anika Jenkins.

08/13/2026

Vehicle Collision Results in One Fatality

On 08/12/2026 at approximately 12:32PM deputies responded to the intersection of W SR 46 and N 675 W in regards to a vehicle collision. The caller told dispatch that the collision was between a truck and passenger car, which had gone down an embankment after the collision.

Upon deputies’ arrival they found the driver of the passenger car to be deceased. The driver of the truck, an 18yo male from Columbus, had minor complaints of pain to his hands. The driver of the truck consented to a blood draw and is cooperating with the investigation.

The Bartholomew County Accident Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and documented the incident. At this time the collision remains under investigation.

08/12/2026

ROAD CLOSED:

State Road 46 West is closed at North 675 West due to an accident. There is a detour for local traffic, however we encourage you to use an alternate route.

08/11/2026

Check out Sheriff Lane’s interview in which he discusses the culture and the employee buy in we’re cultivating here at the Sheriff’s Office.