By MATT THACKER Matt.Thacker@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Wed Nov 23, 2011, 07:09 PM EST
JEFFERSONVILLE — A Clark County Emergency Medical Services dispatcher is accused of providing police with false information about her brother’s location during a standoff in Charlestown last month.
Patty Colwell Vineyard, 42, of New Washington, was arrested Wednesday morning and then released after posting $5,000 court-cash bond. Vineyard was charged Tuesday with class D felony assisting a criminal.
Vineyard’s brother, William “Billy” Colwell, 40, and James Patrick Cochran, 46, are suspects in a rash of catalytic converter thefts in recent months. They were charged with two counts of class D felony theft in Clark County on Oct. 14 and two counts of class D felony receiving stolen property in Floyd County on Oct. 19.
Police received information that Colwell was residing in the 1600 block of Elm Drive in Charlestown. Indiana State Police troopers and Charlestown Police Department officers attempted to locate Colwell at that residence at 1:30 a.m. Oct. 28.
According to a Charlestown Police Department news release, the homeowners, Kevin and Sofia Harper, refused to cooperate with police and indicated Colwell was not inside the home. Officers surrounded the home while they waited for a judge to sign a search warrant and saw Colwell in the living room area before he moved to the rear of the house.
According to a probable-cause affidavit, Vineyard arrived at the residence and “attempted to create a distraction in an effort to assist Colwell elude arrest.”
She attempted to bypass police and gain entry into the residence, police say. After being told repeatedly to leave or she would be arrested, Vineyard left the scene.
Vineyard then contacted her co-workers at Clark County EMS multiple times and requested they inform officers at the scene that they were wasting their time and should leave because Colwell was not inside the residence, according to the report.
The homeowners and their juvenile son exited the home, and the Charlestown Special Response Team and Clark County Sheriff’s Department Special Operations Unit were sent to the scene. Shortly after their arrival, Colwell voluntarily surrendered and was taken into custody.
When reached by phone Wednesday, Vineyard said she disagreed with the charges but wanted to speak to an attorney before making a statement. Vineyard said she was told she will be allowed to keep her job as a dispatcher.
The Clark County EMS director referred all questions to EMS spokeswoman, Teresa Ball, who did not return a voicemail message left on her cell phone.
The Harpers were also charged with class D felony assisting a criminal and class B misdemeanor false informing.
Floyd County Sheriff’s Department Maj. Jeff Topping said Colwell and Cochran are likely responsible for widespread catalytic converter thefts in New Albany, Floyd County, Sellersburg and Clarksville. He said they would target vehicles in parking lots.
Reports of catalytic converter thefts have been taken at the YMCA in New Albany; the Target on State Street in New Albany; Providence Retirement Home and New Albany Fitness Center on Charlestown Road in New Albany; Bass Pro Shop in Clarksville; and Silver Creek High School. An ISP trooper’s car was even hit.
The two have been caught on surveillance camera, and although they have only been charged in a couple cases, police are investigating whether they are responsible for all of the thefts, Topping said. Police say the two can be seen on camera sliding under vehicles. He said they use a saw to cut off the catalytic converter and sell them at scrap yards. Topping said they have timed them at less than one minute on a single vehicle.
Police are still searching for Cochran. He is described as 5 feet 7 inches and 150 pounds with brown eyes and close-cut brown hair. He was last seen driving a white Dodge Intrepid with front-end damage. He was last known to live in the 7200 block of Popular Drive in Charlestown.
Anyone with information about his location is asked to call the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department at 812-948-5400 or their local police department.
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