Geist Patrol

The Fishers Police Department arrested two men Sunday, November 4, 2007 after officers were called to 12211 Black Hills Drive in reference to a burglary. An alert neighbor reported seeing two men enter a residence under construction at approximately 7:45 am. The caller provided a description of the two men and the vehicle they were driving.

Officers arrived at the residence under construction and observed two men in the garage of the residence cutting copper tubing. The two men were taken into custody without incident. Officers discovered that the men had been in four residences and had been cutting walls to remove the copper tubing.

The two men were arrested and transported to the Hamilton County Jail. The two men are brothers.

Arrested: Michael D. Bertram         Aaron L. Bertram
30 years old                                         28 years old
Shirley, Indiana                                 Shirley, Indiana
Charges: 4 Counts - Burglary         4 Counts – Burglary
4 Counts – Thefts                             4 Counts – Theft
4 Counts – Criminal Mischief         4 Counts – Criminal Mishief
Held: Hamilton County Jail             Hamilton County Jail

On 10-04-07 the Hamilton County Metro ICAC Task Force arrested William G. Russell who was charged with Child Solicitation and Providing Obscene Matter and Performances before Minors. These charges stem from an undercover online computer chat room investigation. Russell first made contact with an HCM ICAC Investigator who was posing as a 15 year old girl on 07-17-07 in an online chat room. After multiple instant messaging chat sessions the investigation culminated on 10-04-07 when HCM ICAC Investigators along with the Indiana State Police executed a search and arrest warrant at Russell’s home in Derby, Indiana. Items were seized from Russell’s home related to the investigation and Russell was taken into custody without incident and transported back to the Hamilton County Jail.

Arrested: William G. Russell
57 years old
Derby, IN

Screen Name: ep4u2002

Charges: Child Solicitation, IC. 35-42-4-6 (2 Counts, Class C Felony
Providing Obscene Matter and Performances before Minors, IC. 35-49-3-3 (4 Counts, Class D Felony)
Held: Hamilton County Jail

On Friday, September 14, 2007 the Hamilton County Metro ICAC Task Force arrested Michael Bell and charged him with Child Solicitation, Dissemination of Matter Harmful to Minors and Attempted Sexual Misconduct with a Minor.

These charges stem from an undercover online computer chat room investigation. Bell first made contact with an HCM ICAC Investigator who was posing as a 14 year old girl on 9-7-07 in an online chat room. After several instant messaging chat sessions the investigation culminated on 9-14-07 when Bell again participated in a chat session with the HCM ICAC Investigator which led to a solicitation and a request for contact. The investigator arranged for the meeting to take place at an undisclosed location in Carmel and Bell was taken into custody without incident.

Arrested: Michael Bell
27 years old
New Castle, Indiana
Screen Name: stone_cold_bell
Charges: Child Solicitation, IC. 35-42-4-6 (2 Counts, Class C Felony)
Dissemination of Matter or Conducting Performance Harmful to Minors, IC. 35-49-3-3 (2 Count, Class D Felony)
Attempted Sexual Misconduct with a Minor (1 Count, Class B Felony)
Held: Hamilton County Jail

Geist Patrol added a new patrol car with a new look this month. The private security company for several Geist area subdivisions has several cars in their fleet, but the newest car sports the new Geist Patrol logo and decals. According to Brent McFerran, President of Geist Patrol, as new cars are purchased going forward, they will have the same markings.

Geist residents and local police have received numerous complaints regarding motorized bicycles and motor scooters. The usual complaints include high speeds, reckless driving, and driving on the sidewalks. Many are unaware of the Indiana laws regarding the liability and legal ages for motor scooter riders. Fishers Police recently published a report to clear the air on these issues.

“We want to be sure that parents are aware of the laws relating to motorized bicycles and motor scooters to make sure that the riders operate in a responsible manner for their own safety and for the safety of others” said Fishers Police Chief George Kehl.

First of all, if your child is under 15 they should not be riding a motorized bicycle or motor scooter at all. Motor scooter drivers must have a driver’s license and motorized bicycle drivers can be 15 years old but must have an Indiana Identification Card. Secondly, motorized bicycles and motor scooter riders are not supposed to drive on sidewalks, and if under 18 years of age, they must be wearing a helmet. Lastly, if your motorized bicycle or motor scooter is capable of or exceeds 25 miles per hour, the driver must be 16 years of age with a driver’s license.

If you are wondering what the difference is between a motorized bicycle and a motor scooter, think of a motorized bicycle as the smaller gas or electric powered stand-up scooter with automatic transmission and a motor scooter is a larger, sit-down moped with a floor pad for the driver’s feet.

Before you purchase a motorized bicycle scooter for your child, remember that you as the parent are responsible and liable for any violations of these laws.

Many residents complain about the door to door salespeople that frequent the Geist area. Recently, such a sales person was picked up in Brownsburg, Indiana by local police and found that he had an outstanding warrant for a murder in Louisiana. Last year, a woman approached an elderly woman in Beamreach and she robbed the resident. If you are solicited, please call Neighborhood Patrol and we will come out and investigate them.

As the day grow shorter in the fall and winter, please remember to close your garage doors in the early evening/late afternoons. We have had several reports of suspicious vehicles in the area stalking homes that have their garage doors open after 6:00 pm. There have been several reports of stolen purses, wallets, and other valuables from garages in the last month. If we see your door open and your name is in the neighborhood directory, we will call you to let you know that your door is open. Before you go to bed at night, please take a look at your own garage door and the doors of your neighbors.