Kiwi News Network

  Plainfield, IN — Two smaller Aku sculptures at Swarn Park were vandalized sometime Friday, leaving community members frustrated over damage to public artwork that was installed as a space for local families and youth to enjoy. The sculptures were part of the Aku art installation at Swarn Park and were unveiled to the public on March 7, 2026, as part of the $300 million Hobbs Station project. The artwork was introduced as a way to create a welcoming and positive space for the community. The vandalized pieces were among the smaller sculptures located throughout the park. Details surrounding the extent of the damage and what caused the vandalism have not yet been released. The Plainfield Police Department has been contacted for additional information regarding the incident, including whether a report has been filed and if there are any suspects or leads in the case.

DANVILLE, Ind. — The Hendricks County Animal Shelter is currently facing an overwhelming influx of animals. With kennels rapidly filling to maximum capacity, shelter staff are working around the clock to ensure every dog receives the care they deserve. To create much-needed space and help more dogs in need, the shelter has announced an emergency adoption event: all dog adoption fees are completely waived from today through Saturday, July 11th. While the fee waiver applies to all eligible dogs in the facility, shelter workers have issued a heartfelt, urgent plea for two specific residents who have stolen their hearts but have spent far too long behind kennel bars. Meet Tig and Angel, the shelter’s two longest-term residents. Meet Tig: 286 Days of Waiting Look at that incredible, goofy smile! Tig has spent a staggering 286 days living at the shelter. Tig is a strikingly handsome white and brindle pup with a unique coat pattern and an even more unique personality. Known by staf...

  Avon, IN — County Road 100 S is closed between Raceway Rd and County Road 1050 E following a crash involving multiple injuries. Three medics were dispatched to the scene. Avon Fire, Avon Police, and the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office are currently on scene handling the accident.

  PITTSBORO, Ind . — More details have emerged following the tragic passing of a worker at a local manufacturing facility on Friday, July 3. Timothy Wayne "Tim" Simpson, 54, passed away after being transported from the Steel Dynamics Inc. facility located at 8000 N CR 225 E to Hendricks Regional Health Brownsburg. Initial statements from the Hendricks County Coroner's Office indicated the incident was a suspected work-related heat death, noting that extreme environmental conditions potentially played a factor. Officials noted that a forensic autopsy would be required to officially determine the final cause of death and check for any contributing medical conditions. Simpson was a proud United States Army veteran who spent years working as a steelworker. Raised in a hardworking agricultural family, he spent his life balancing his career while prioritizing his wife, Mary "Mini" Simpson, and his two children, Collin and Jaimee. Those close to him recall that h...

  AVON, IN — With permission from the family of JT Brill, an update is being shared regarding Wednesday night’s serious motorcycle accident at the intersection of Dan Jones Road and County Road 200 N. The accident, which occurred just before 9:30 PM on July 1, tragically took his life. JT was just 23 years old and is being remembered by those who knew him as having a sweet soul and a genuine heart, always willing to drop everything to help anyone in need. An official GoFundMe has been shared to help ease the unexpected financial burdens and funeral costs facing his family during this unimaginably difficult time. Readers who wish to support the family through a donation or by sharing the fundraiser page can find the official link below. Support Link:   https://gofund.me/5f6602cd3

  PLAINFIELD, IN — A quick-thinking Plainfield Police officer saved a dog from potentially fatal conditions this afternoon after it was left locked inside a hot vehicle in a retail parking lot. Emergency dispatchers received a call at 4:13 PM regarding a dog trapped inside a vehicle parked at the Walmart located at 2373 E Main St. Upon arriving at the scene, the responding officer discovered the animal showing clear signs of heat distress. According to witnesses at the scene, the situation had become desperate, noting visible claw marks left on the interior of the vehicle where the dog had been frantically trying to escape the rising temperatures. The officer was able to successfully breach the vehicle, remove the dog from the sweltering cabin, and safely transport it to a cool environment. Thanks to the rapid intervention, the dog was successfully rescued from the dangerous situation. Local authorities have not yet released information regarding whether the owner of the vehicle w...

  INDIANAPOLIS — A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Atlanta was forced to make an emergency landing at Indianapolis International Airport on Friday evening following a reported lightning strike. Emergency Response Staged at Runway A Delta Boeing 737 900(ER) departed from Chicago and was inbound to Atlanta when it diverted and made an emergency landing in Indianapolis. As the aircraft approached the airport, emergency personnel were placed on high alert. Indianapolis Airport Fire, Decatur Township Fire and Plainfield Fire were all dispatched to stage near the runway ahead of the arrival. Safe Landing and Inspection The aircraft landed just a little bit after 5:38pm safely on runway 23L. No injuries have been reported, and all passengers evacuated the plane without incident. Fire crews immediately began inspecting the aircraft. According to initial reports from the scene, crews are reporting damage to one of the wings was reportedly caused by a lightning strike. Fire crews later rep...

  AVON, Ind. — A serious motorcycle crash occurred Wednesday night at the intersection of Dan Jones Road and County Road 200 North in Avon. The Avon Fire Department and Avon Police Department responded to the intersection just before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday . County Road 200 North was shut down between Dan Jones Road and Charles Street while emergency crews were on scene. Avon Police remained at the location for several hours conducting a crash reconstruction investigation before the roadway was reopened. I have reached out to Avon Police for additional information and will provide updates as they become available.

PLAINFIELD, IN — A reported road rage incident involving a firearm prompted Plainfield Police to conduct a felony traffic stop early Wednesday morning. At approximately 12:27 a.m. on July 1, a 911 caller reported that the driver of a silver Dodge Charger pointed a firearm at them during the incident near Stafford Road and State Road 267 in Plainfield. Plainfield Police located the vehicle a short time later and conducted a felony traffic stop. Officers detained the occupants while they investigated the report. Hendricks County Jail records show Jordan Aaron Lomax was booked into the Hendricks County Jail early Wednesday morning on preliminary charges of Level 5 Felony Intimidation, Level 6 Felony Pointing a Firearm, and Level 6 Felony Dealing in Marijuana.

  Danville, IN — A large police response late Tuesday night in the Penrose neighborhood was ultimately determined to be the result of a prank rather than an attempted home invasion. At approximately 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, the Danville Police Department responded to a report of a possible home invasion in progress on Bedford Drive. Based on the initial information received, officers responded with urgency and residents reported seeing the entire Penrose neighborhood temporarily blocked off as police searched for possible suspects. According to neighbors, officers remained in the area for roughly two hours and used department drones while searching the neighborhood. Following the response, investigators reviewed neighborhood doorbell camera footage to determine what had occurred. According to the Danville Police Department, the investigation found that no burglary had taken place and no one entered any homes. Police say the footage showed what appeared to be a masked teenag...

  PLAINFIELD, IN — A 38-year-old Marion County man with a lengthy history of violent felony offenses is back behind bars in Hendricks County today . The arrest follows an enforcement stop by the Plainfield Police Department . Christopher E. Patterson was taken into custody and booked into the Hendricks County Jail on multiple high-level felony charges, including dealing methamphetamine . Court and jail booking records confirm that Patterson is currently being held under a strict "no bail" order as he awaits his initial hearing . Patterson's extensive interactions with the Indiana criminal justice system span nearly two decades, characterized by heavy sentences for violent crimes followed by early state prison releases . According to official Indiana Department of Corrections (IDOC) tracking profiles, Patterson was originally convicted in Marion County in 2008 for a count of Class A Felony Robbery resulting in serious bodily injury . A judge handed him a 30-year priso...

Brownsburg, IN — A confrontation yesterday at a local restaurant ended with a man facing multiple criminal charges in Hendricks County, including two high-level felonies. The incident began at Don Julio’s in Brownsburg, where a customer reportedly refused to pay their bill. The Brownsburg Police Department responded to the scene and ultimately took 41-year-old James Justin Devault into custody. After police arrived, the suspect allegedly battered a public safety official and went as far as attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer during the encounter. Devault faces felony counts of Disarming a Law Enforcement Officer and Battery Against a Public Safety Official, alongside misdemeanor counts of Resisting Law Enforcement, Disorderly Conduct, and Public Intoxication. He is currently being held in the Hendricks County Jail without bail.

  INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) made a highly unusual discovery last week when they intercepted two live smoke grenades, one of which was deliberately concealed inside a full jar of peanut butter packed within a passenger's checked luggage. According to an official agency statement released today, the incident began during routine baggage screening when automated security equipment flagged a traveler's checked bag, triggering an alert that required a physical inspection. When a supervisory TSA officer and an explosives specialist arrived to inspect the contents, they uncovered the hazardous items. Michael Dunphy, an 18-year TSA explosives specialist and a U.S. Navy explosive ordnance disposal veteran, handled the inspection. "After all contents were removed from the bag, I thought, 'Weren’t there two grenades in this bag?'" Dunphy stated. "After additional inspection o...

  Avon, IN — Firefighters quickly contained a residential fire Thursday evening after responding to a home on Meadow Glen Dr., just east of Park Place Blvd. in Avon. The Avon Fire Department was dispatched just after 5:30 p.m. for a reported house fire. Arriving crews encountered smoke coming from the residence and located an active fire at the rear of the home. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control in approximately 15 minutes, preventing the flames from spreading further. Based on information from the scene, it does not appear anyone was home at the time of the fire. No injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire has not yet been released, and the incident remains under investigation.

  AVON, IN — A Town of Avon employee was seriously injured Tuesday morning after being struck by a vehicle at Ronald Reagan Parkway and County Road 100 N. According to emergency responders, the incident occurred just after 10:00 a.m. Avon Police and Fire personnel responded immediately to the scene to provide emergency medical aid. The victim was stabilized at the scene before being transported to Eskenazi Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Town Officials later confirmed that the pedestrian is an employee of the Town of Avon. The driver of the vehicle involved in the collision remained at the scene following the crash. Investigators stated that the driver has been fully cooperative with law enforcement as they work to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. The intersection was restricted for a period of time while crash investigators documented the scene. The Avon Police Department is leading the ongoing investigation into the cause of the collision. Additi...

  AVON, Ind. — Emergency crews were dispatched at 8:20 p.m. this evening to a single-vehicle accident on E County Road 100 S, just west of Avon Avenue. The vehicle involved in the crash struck a fire hydrant, resulting in a significant water main break. What began as flooding in several yards escalated into a widespread issue, with water continuing to flow from the damaged hydrant for a little over two hours before it was finally shut off by the water company.  The impact has extended across the neighborhood, with many houses suffering from flooded yards along E County Road 100 S. Additionally, there is evidence of structural damage, including at least one resident who is dealing with a completely flooded crawl space.

  North Salem, IN — A Hendricks County jury has found Matthew Mensch guilty on all counts related to threats, intimidation, and the distribution of an intimate image involving his former girlfriend and her family. According to the Hendricks County Prosecutor's Office, the case stemmed from a series of incidents that occurred after the relationship ended. Prosecutors said Mensch repeatedly sent threatening text messages and voicemails to his former girlfriend and members of her family. Evidence presented during trial included messages containing threats directed at the victim, her daughter, and her daughter's fiancé. On Oct. 31, 2023, prosecutors said Mensch drove to the family's residence in North Salem and aggressively pounded on doors while yelling profanities. Family members, including a small child, were inside the home at the time. Security camera footage presented during trial showed Mensch at the residence and captured him removing and damaging security cameras on t...

AVON, IN — A Hendricks County jury has found Zachary Stober guilty of sexual misconduct with a minor following a three-day trial. The level 4 felony conviction wrapped up last week when a judge handed down a 10-year sentence in the Indiana Department of Corrections, which puts him just two years shy of the maximum penalty allowed for the charge. The case brought forward a mountain of digital evidence showing a repetitive pattern of behavior. Investigators with the Avon Police Department discovered that Stober was actively using various social media platforms and phone messaging apps to seek out and groom young kids. In some of the instances uncovered by police, he was targeting victims who were only nine years old. For this specific conviction, court records show he used those online apps to set up a meeting with a local girl before bringing her back to his apartment complex over in Avon. During the sentencing phase, the court focused heavily on the fact that Stober wasn't dealing...

  PLAINFIELD, IN — Last week, our community suffered a devastating loss when a missing 6-year-old child was found in a nearby pond . As we all continue to grieve alongside the family, it’s a heavy reminder of just how fast a child or a loved one with special needs can wander off and end up in a dangerous situation . While vigilance is our first line of defense, specialized technology exists to provide an extra layer of security when seconds matter most . One program designed to help prevent these tragedies is Project Lifesaver . Project Lifesaver partners with local public safety agencies to quickly locate individuals who are prone to wandering due to autism, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injuries, or other cognitive conditions . The program relies on reliable radio-frequency technology . Participants wear a small, lightweight transmitter bracelet on their wrist or ankle that emits a unique tracking signal 24 hours a day . If they go missing, ...