Latest news with #EvansvillePoliceDepartment
Indianapolis Star
09-07-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Responders sickened by animal cruelty case after they found dead kittens in freezer, starved cats
A recent Evansville, Indiana, police report describes a horrific scene with dead kittens packed in a freezer, more long-dead cats and a house full of maggots and "brown matter." Responding officers described a scene with a strong ammonia odor that burned their eyes. One of them threw up. "I observed litter boxes with feces," one officer wrote. "The feces that was once solid had now become liquefied. Maggots moved in and around the litter boxes appearing to have not been touch(ed) for a significant amount of time." Officials described a "brown matter" on the stairs to the basement that appeared to be "a mix of animal feces, mold, and other unknown substances." It was so slick, they needed to use the handrail. Martin L. Haugland, 65, of Evansville, faces 10 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. He says he's innocent. The statute under which Haugland was charged appears under the legend, "Abandonment or neglect of vertebrate animals," in Indiana Code. It states, "A person who: has a vertebrate animal in the person's custody; and recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally abandons or neglects the animal; commits cruelty to an animal, a Class A misdemeanor." Haugland told the Courier & Press that the cats were never his and belonged to the man who owned the house and died recently. But Abbi Fahse, an officer with the Evansville Police Department's humane unit, said Haugland had established residency in the house. "Even though (the cats) didn't physically belong to (Haugland), he still lived in that house for an extended period of time, which makes him just as responsible as (the homeowner) — which if (he) were still alive, he'd face the same charges," Fahse said. "He still had just as much control as (the homeowner) did, to the cats." Haugland told the Courier & Press that the deceased homeowner had planned to bury the cats officials found in a freezer. Read the full Courier & Press story: Evansville officer describes house of horrors in animal cruelty case The charges are misdemeanors and not felonies, Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Diana Moers said, because they stem from the allegation that 10 cats under Haugland's care and control at 919 E. Mulberry St. — eight cats that were still alive plus the two on the basement floor — suffered starvation and dehydration, not physical injury or abuse. "We would have charged (Haugland) with more if we could have," Moers told the Courier & Press. "It's just really unfortunate that the (Indiana) animal statutes don't reflect the severity of these crimes, in my opinion." There were actually 18 cats total, dead and alive, in the house on Mulberry, according to EPD's Humane Unit. The 10 separate cruelty to an animal counts that Haugland faces account for the eight cats found alive and the two that were dead on a floor. The eight dead cats found in a freezer — six of which were kittens — aren't part of the criminal case against Haugland, officials said, because they do not know the cause of death. Abbi Fahse, an officer with EPD's Humane Unit, said Haugland had established residency and had — like the homeowner — failed to tend to the cats' litterboxes. Ever. Fahse's report stated that Haugland told her the homeowner "never" cleaned out the litterboxes, and neither did he. The two dead cats found in the basement had been dead for a long time, according to the police report — one near the bedroom Haugland once used. Haugland said he didn't know about them, and he'd since moved to a room upstairs. After a necropsy, officials found the two cats had died of starvation and dehydration. Haugland said those cats probably died when the homeowner was in the hospital. They were "sick anyway," he said. Harrison Maglinger, one of the officers who responded to the scene, had to leave the basement to vomit; and both he and Fahse contracted fleas from the home, according to the report. The house's main floor also had brown matter covering the stairs, furniture and ceiling fan, the report said. In the bathroom, officers found a bathtub full of grey, foggy water and a toilet with mold and maggots moving along its base. According to Fahse's report, Haugland told her the homeowner fell sick three years before his death and stopped cleaning the house. Local trap neuter return (TNR) nonprofit Feline Fix filed a complaint about the property at 919 E. Mulberry St. in Evansville Feline Fix trapped cats inside and outside the house and took control of their care. Representatives of Feline Fix said the cat food Haugland left was covered in feces and bugs. Any water he may have left was long gone, said Feline Fix founder Jamie Taylor. Feline Fix said the property had been abandoned, but that Haugland was the last known resident. Others are reading: Woman on federal probation for 'animal crushing' found with dogs, cats
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New details released in Marshall school bomb case
MARSHALL, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV) — More details were released regarding the 19-year-old woman who was arrested last week, after police say she allegedly had multiple 'incendiary devices' and was planning to use them at her former school. According to court documents, Ahnna Tipton, now of Evansville, was arrested and charged with possession of a destructive device after police said she told them she planned to deploy the devices at her former school, Marshall High School, in hopes of harming other people. On May 29, a detective with the Evansville Police Department, who is also certified as a Bomb Technician, was dispatched to St. Vincent's Emergency Room in reference to a possible destructive device. Upon arrival, another officer had transported Tipton to the emergency room for a psychological evaluation after she made suicidal threats, said officials. During that time, police said they allegedly found 'a pill bottle wrapped in duct tape with a matchstick protruding from the lid and a piece of cloth affixed.' Inside the same backpack, police also allegedly found a piece of aluminum piping with both ends secured by duct tape. After removing the tape from the piping, an officer saw incendiary materials inside and detected a strong chemical smell, according to court documents. These items were confirmed to be improved incendiary devices by bomb technicians, according to officials. During an interview with police, Tipton allegedly admitted to creating the devices and planned on initiating the devices by using a matchstick or another flammable ignition source. Tipton also allegedly told police she had two similar devices located inside her home. Inside Tipton's bedroom, the Evansville Police Department Hazardous Devices Unit allegedly located the two additional devices inside energy drink bottles, constructed using the same materials and design as the devices located in her backpack. Tipton then allegedly explained to police that she had planned to use the devices at Marshall High School with the intent to commit harm, according to court documents. 'The construction of the devices demonstrates a deliberate attempt to create an improvised incendiary weapon. Of particular concern is the presence of confinement, especially in the aluminum pipe device. Confinement significantly increases the potential hazard posed by such devices. When a flammable or reactive mixture is ignited inside a confined space, pressure can rapidly build, resulting in a deflagration or low-order explosion. This can cause the container to rupture violently, dispersing hot materials and shrapnel, and dramatically increasing the likelihood of injury, fire, or structural damage,' said court documents. The Evansville Police Department said a bomb unit was then sent to the school to check for more of these devices. According to court documents, these devices meet the definition of a 'destructive device' under Indiana Code § 35-47.5-2-4, resulting in Tipton being arrested and charged with possession of a destructive device, a level five felony. 'If deployed as designed, these devices would pose a serious risk to life and property. The intentional manufacture, possession, and planned use of such items reflect a clear and dangerous threat to public safety,' said court documents. Tipton is scheduled for an initial court hearing on June 4 at 1:00 p.m. in the Vanderburgh Circuit Court. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Indiana woman made Monster Energy bombs she planned to use at her old high school, police say
An Indiana 19-year-old was arrested and charged on Thursday after authorities discovered homemade explosive devices in Monster Energy drinks she planned to detonate at her old high school, police said. Ahnna Tipton was being transported by an Evansville police officer to a hospital for evaluation on Thursday, when officials found a suspicious item in Tipton's backpack during intake, according to an Evansville Police Department press release Friday. "The object appeared to be a pill bottle wrapped in duct tape, with a matchstick protruding from the lid and a piece of cloth attached," the release stated. An aluminum pipe was also found in the backpack, with both ends sealed with duct tape, authorities said. Hospital officials identified flammable materials inside the pipe and noted a strong chemical odor. The Evansville Police Department Bomb Technicians arrived at the scene and examined the materials, determining they were improvised incendiary devices, officials said. Authorities said Tipton admitted in an interview with technicians that she assembled the devices and revealed there were more located at her home in Warrick County, neighboring Evansville on the Kentucky border. A search warrant was executed at the residence, where the Evansville Hazardous Devices Unit found two more explosive devices concealed in Monster Energy drink bottles, officials said. The construction of the devices and materials matched those found in Tipton's backpack. "During a post-Miranda interview, Tipton revealed that she had planned to deploy the devices at the high school she previously attended, with the intent to cause harm to others," the release stated. Tipton was arrested on a charge of possession of a destructive device and booked in the Vanderburgh County Jail on Thursday evening, according to the jail's recent booking records. It is not clear if she has an attorney. Tipton's bond was set at $50,000 on Friday, according to online Vanderburgh Circuit Court records. Her initial hearing is scheduled for June 4. This article was originally published on
NBC News
30-05-2025
- NBC News
Indiana woman made Monster Energy bombs she planned to use at her old high school, police say
An Indiana 19-year-old was arrested and charged on Thursday after authorities discovered homemade explosive devices in Monster Energy drinks she planned to detonate at her old high school, police said. Ahnna Tipton was being transported by an Evansville police officer to a hospital for evaluation on Thursday, when officials found a suspicious item in Tipton's backpack during intake, according to an Evansville Police Department press release Friday. "The object appeared to be a pill bottle wrapped in duct tape, with a matchstick protruding from the lid and a piece of cloth attached," the release stated. An aluminum pipe was also found in the backpack, with both ends sealed with duct tape, authorities said. Hospital officials identified flammable materials inside the pipe and noted a strong chemical odor. The Evansville Police Department Bomb Technicians arrived at the scene and examined the materials, determining they were improvised incendiary devices, officials said. Authorities said Tipton admitted in an interview with technicians that she assembled the devices and revealed there were more located at her home in Warrick County, neighboring Evansville on the Kentucky border. A search warrant was executed at the residence, where the Evansville Hazardous Devices Unit found two more explosive devices concealed in Monster Energy drink bottles, officials said. The construction of the devices and materials matched those found in Tipton's backpack. "During a post-Miranda interview, Tipton revealed that she had planned to deploy the devices at the high school she previously attended, with the intent to cause harm to others," the release stated. Tipton was arrested on a charge of possession of a destructive device and booked in the Vanderburgh County Jail on Thursday evening, according to the jail's recent booking records. It is not clear if she has an attorney. Tipton's bond was set at $50,000 on Friday, according to online Vanderburgh Circuit Court records. Her initial hearing is scheduled for June 4.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
EPD calls Bitcoin scams a 'growing trend'
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — The Evansville Police Department is warning against Bitcoin scams. Officials with the Evansville Police Financial Crimes Unit are warning against the 'growing trend' of Bitcoin scams in a post to social media. The post says scammers tell victims to go to Bitcoin ATMs and send money. These scammers contact victims over the phone or online to pay bond for a warrant, restore an account or send money to a 'friend' online they have never met. The post goes on to say these the money stolen in these scams is 100% impossible to recover. Over 40 cases of these scams have been reported to EPD in the past two years. Over half a million dollars have been stolen in these scams. Five of these scams occurred in the past week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
