Speedway Police Press Releases

October 1, 2009 Speedway man will face charges for Sexual Misconduct with a Minor. The incident began on September 27th, when Speedway Police Officer Ben Rupenthal responded to the 2200 Block of Hermitage Way concerning a domestic dispute. Officer Rupenthal arrived, and met with the resident of the apartment. The female resident reported that she was having a verbal disagreement with her teenage daughter. Officer Rupenthal interviewed the teenage daughter. Officer Rupenthal was informed by the daughter that she was upset because but she is being abused by her mother's boyfriend, Howard Wilson, 46. The victim told Officer Rupenthal that Wilson had engaged in inappropriate acts which involved her. Officer Rupenthal transported the mother and victim to the Speedway Police Headquarters where they were interviewed by Lt. Trent Theobald. After interviewing the victim and the victim's mother, Lt. Theobald returned to the apartment. Howard Wilson accompanied Lt. Theobald to the Speedway Police Department for questioning. Wilson denied the allegations. Lt. Theobald placed Wilson under arrest. Lt. Theobald presented the case to the Marion County Prosecutors Office. Howard Wilson has been charged with Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, Class "B" felony, and Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, Class "C" felony. On July 17th, Speedway Police Officer Mike Marsteller responded to 6019 Cadillac Drive concerning a theft. Officer Marsteller met with the homeowner. The homeowner reported that several tools had been stolen from his garage while he and his family were away on vacation. The homeowner stated that his niece was staying at the house in their absence. A list of the stolen items was given to Officer Marsteller. Lt. Theobald began investigating the case. The homeowner later learned that Matthew R. Walkup, 25, had been to his home to visit his niece while they were away. Upon further investigation, Lt. Theobald learned that Matthew Walkup had pawned tools which matched items that had been reported stolen. The tools were recovered by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Departments Pawn Detail. On September 10th, Lt. Theobald located Walkup at his home in Clayton, IN. Walkup admitted to stealing the homeowner's tools from the garage, and selling them to the pawn shop. The case was presented to the Marion County Prosecutors Office. Matthew Walkup has been charged with Theft, Class "D" felony. Speedway Street Crimes Unit arrests Indianapolis man for Dealing in Marijuana. In August, Sergeant Robert Dine and Detective Christopher Ristuccia were able to conduct an undercover drug transaction from an apartment located at 2228 White Oaks Drive. The Detectives identified the man who sold the marijuana as Aaron Offutt, 25. On September 22, the Street Crimes Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Offutt. The Detectives located and arrested Offutt at 3500 N. Lafayette Road. The Detective's then went to 2228 White Oaks Drive where they met with the female resident. The Detectives confirmed that Offutt resided at the apartment and completed a search. The Detectives located a handgun, shotgun, and over $3,000.00 in cash inside of the apartment. Offutt has a previous conviction for Aggravated Battery, and cannot possess any firearms. The case was presented to the Marion County Prosecutors Office. Aaron Offutt has been charged with Dealing in Marijuana, two counts of Possession of Marijuana, and two counts of Firearms Possession by a Serious Violent Felon. Offutt is being held at the Marion County Jail.

August 27, 2009 On August 22nd, a store employee of the Bath and Body Works, 5820 Crawfordsville Road contacted the Speedway Police Department to report a theft in progress. Officers Kyle Hodges and Ben Rupenthal responded to the business. When the Officers arrived at the business, the two female suspects had already exited the store. Officer Hodges observed one of the suspects enter a Maroon Pontiac G6. The other suspect walked away from the car. The female driver of the Pontiac was later identified as Karmella Martin, 30. Officer's ordered Martin to exit the vehicle, but she instead drove away at a high rate of speed. Officer's Hodges and Rupenthal gave chase through the Shopping Center. Martin disregarded the stop sign at the intersection of Woolco Lane and W. 22nd Street, and nearly collided with Officer Matt Turpin who had arrived to assist with the incident. Martin then drove over a curb, and struck an apartment building at 2108 White Oaks Drive. Martin exited the vehicle, and ran from the crash scene. Officers pursued Martin on foot. Officer Turpin was able to catch up to Martin, and ordered her to stop. Martin continued to run from Officer Turpin. Martin was tased by Officer Turpin, and taken into custody in the rear of 5604 Cannon Court. Officer Turpin located marijuana inside of Martin's purse. Martin was charged with Theft, Resisting Law Enforcement, Criminal Recklessness with a Vehicle, Reckless Driving, and Possession of Marijuana. The second suspect has been identified by Investigators.

August 21, 2009 Three individuals arrested at local motel by Speedway Police Street Crimes Unit. The investigation began in early August 2009 at the Motel 6, 6330 Debonair Lane. Detective Christopher Ristuccia, Sergeant Robert Dine, and Sergeant Michael Hart were able to complete several undercover drug transactions with the occupant of Room # 259. The occupant of Room #259 was later identified as Christopher D. Eubanks, 29. On August 6th, the Street Crimes Detectives served a search warrant at room #259 at the Motel 6. The Detectives located Eubanks and two female occupants in the room. The female occupants were identified as Necoles Adams, 32, and Melana Respress, 23. The Detectives recovered cocaine, marijuana, and cash from the inside motel room. Additional cocaine was recovered from a purse which belonged to Adams. Adams later admitted that the cocaine recovered from her purse belonged to her. Respress later admitted that marijuana cigarettes recovered from the room belonged to her. Eubanks admitted to the Detectives that he had been dealing cocaine from the Motel 6. Christopher Eubanks has been charged with three counts of Dealing in Cocaine, Class "A" felony, and three counts of Possession of Cocaine, Class "B" felony. Necoles Adams has been charged with Possession of Cocaine, Class "B" felony. Melana Respress has been charged with Possession of marijuana, class "D" felony, and Possession of marijuana, Class "A" misdemeanor.

August 11, 2009, Speedway Police Street Crimes Unit arrests two Indianapolis men for dealing in narcotics. Speedway Street Crimes Sergeant Robert Dine, Detective Chris Ristuccia, and Sgt. Mike Hart were able to complete several undercover drug transactions with the suspects. The drug transactions took place over the course of several days. The investigation began in Speedway, but concluded with a search warrant at 10122 Montery Road. The Detectives arrested Deon Willford, 25, and Elliot D. Willford, 29. As a result of the search warrant, the Street Crimes Detectives recovered cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, firearms, and over $1,300.00 from the apartment. Deon Willford has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Cocaine, Dealing in Cocaine, Possession of Cocaine, Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Marijuana, and Possession of Marijuana. Elliot Willford has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Cocaine, Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Marijuana, Dealing in Marijuana, and Possession of Marijuana.

Lebanon man arrested for Identity Deception. The incident began on July 17th, when Speedway Police Officer Benjamin Rupenthal stopped a Red Toyota at Thrush Street and Welch Street for a traffic violation. Upon approaching the Toyota, Officer Rupenthal observed that neither the driver nor the front seat passengers were wearing seat belts. The passenger in the Toyota identified himself as Richard Stevens. Officer Rupenthal issued Stevens a citation for failing to wear his seat belt. On July 30th, Richard Stevens brought his brother, Mitchell Stevens, 29, with him to the Speedway Police Department. Richard Stevens told Officer Rupenthal that his brother had been issued a traffic citation on July 17th. Richard Stevens explained to Officer Rupenthal that his brother Mitchell had used his identity when confronted by Officer Rupenthal. Officer Rupenthal interviewed Mitchell Stevens. Mitchell Stevens admitted that he provided his brothers information when Officer Rupenthal issued him a citation. Officer Rupenthal placed Mitchell Stevens under arrest for Identity Deception, Class "D" felony.

June 19, 2009 Local man will face charges for child molest. On June 15th, the complainant came to the Speedway Police Department to report the molestation. Detective James Thiele met with the complainant and the victim. The complainant reported to Thiele that the suspect had engaged in inappropriate behavior with a teenage family member. Detective Thiele then interviewed the victim, and the victim confirmed the allegations. The perpetrator was identified as Larry W. Beauchamp, 45. Detective Thiele located Beauchamp at his Eagle Creek Court apartment. Beauchamp accompanied Thiele to the Speedway Police Department for further questioning. Beauchamp was later placed under arrest by Detective Thiele. Detective Thiele presented the case to the Marion County Prosecutors Office. Larry Beauchamp has been charged with Child Molesting, Class "A" felony, and Child Molesting, Class "C" felony.

Street Crimes Detectives apprehend theft suspect. The incident began on June 9th, when an employee from CVS Pharmacy, 2320 Cunningham Road, called the Speedway Police Department to report a theft. Officer Robby Harris responded to the business and met with the clerk. The clerk told Officer Harris that a female entered the store, and selected a bottle of liquor from the shelf. The female concealed the bottle in her purse, and left the store without paying for the liquor. Officer Harris then viewed the store surveillance footage of the theft. Street Crimes Sergeant Robert Dine, Detective Chris Ristuccia, and Officer Mike Hart were conducting surveillance outside of the CVS Pharmacy. The detectives observed the female suspect exit the store and enter a vehicle. The Detectives then learned that the female had been involved in a theft at the CVS. The detectives followed the vehicle to the Dollar Inn Motel, 6331 Crawfordsville Road. The female suspect exited the vehicle and entered room #107. The Street Crimes Detectives knocked on the door of room #107. The Detectives identified Adriene McCurtis, 24, Indianapolis, as the female who they observed leaving the CVS. Officer Harris responded to the Dollar Inn, and identified McCurtis as the female whom he had observed on video stealing the liquor. McCurtis admitted to the Officers that she stole the liquor. McCurtis was placed under arrest for Theft, Class "D" felony. Officer Mike Hart identified another occupant of room #107 as Teonne Randolph, 26, Indianapolis. Officer Hart learned that Randolph was wanted for an active warrant in Marion County for Disorderly Conduct, and Public Intoxication. Randolph was placed under arrest for the warrant.

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