Capsule Reports - Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024

Friday fires

Two fires damaged property Friday in Jay County.

Salamonia and Portland fire departments responded to a grass fire at 5543 S. 500 East, Portland, about 1:55 p.m. Friday. A structure — it was destroyed — caught on fire and spread to the surrounding grassy areas. The flames also damaged a few trailers. 

According to Geographic Information System data, the property is owned by Nick and Holly Brunswick. Portland Fire Department put out the fire and returned from the scene about 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Also, emergency personnel received a call about a shed on fire at 1303 S. Meridian St., Portland, about 1:20 p.m. Friday. Portland Fire Department extinguished the flames on the shed — it was owned by Matt Schooler — in about half an hour. Schooler’s adjacent garage also sustained some fire damage to its siding.

Intersection crash

Two people were injured after an Ohio woman failed to yield to oncoming traffic, causing a collision at the intersection of Indiana 67 and Como Road about 9:22 a.m. Thursday.

Chelsy L. Paris, 31, New Madison, Ohio, was driving her 2018 Dodge Durango northwest on Como Road when she drove into the intersection with Indiana 67. Paris drove into the path of a southbound 2008 Buick LaCrosse driven by 70-year-old Deborah L. McFarland of Portland. McFarland couldn’t stop before crashing into Paris. 

McFarland sustained a head injury and was transported to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie. Paris complained of arm pain and was also transported to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.

Paris was administered a blood alcohol and drug test with results pending. She was cited for failing to yield the right-of-way.

Both of their vehicles were towed, with damage estimated between $25,000 and $50,000.

Drunk driving

A Portland man was arrested Thursday after he crashed the vehicle he was driving at the intersection of Hayes and First streets in Portland about 6 p.m. Thursday.

Police found 31-year-old Darwin Mendez in a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, which was parked upward on a guide wire attached to a utility pole, according to a Portland police report. 

Mendez was given a preliminary breath test and alcohol blood test with results pending.

He was arrested Thursday and preliminarily charged with two Class C misdemeanors for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and operating a vehicle without obtaining a license. Mendez was being held on a $1,500 bond in Jay County Jail.

The vehicle he was driving — it’s registered to Queider Hernadez of Portland — was towed, with damage estimated between $1,000 and $2,500.

Lost control

A Portland man drove his moped into a ditch to avoid hitting a vehicle in front of him along county road 800 South about 10 a.m. Friday.

Theodore A. Davis, 47, told police he was driving his 2024 Zhongxing ZXGS-50C west on the road when he noticed an oncoming vehicle in his lane. Davis drove into a ditch along the north side of the road to avoid a collision. He lost control of his moped and fell off it, sustaining an injury on his arm.

Damage is estimated between $1,000 and $2,500.