No Formal Charges Yet In Triple Fatal Accident
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Formal charges have not been filed yet against Brandon J. Robinson, the Warsaw teenager who was allegedly driving a pickup that struck a car, killing three people.
Robinson, 18, was booked into Kosciusko County Jail Friday night on three charges of driving while intoxicated causing death, three Class C felonies. Two of his passengers in the pickup were booked into jail on charges of possession/consumption of alcohol by a minor.
More charges could be filed when the official paperwork is given to Kosciusko County Prosecutor David Kolbe.
Investigators from the Warsaw Police Department met with two members of the prosecutor's office Monday to discuss the case.
The police said they are still working on the investigation, including a reconstruction of the accident.
Robinson is accused of drinking several beers before driving his pickup into Warsaw Friday night. He allegedly ran the stop sign at the intersection of Zimmer and Crystal Lake roads and struck a car driven by Aaron P. Hatfield, 17.
Hatfield was pronounced dead at the scene along with a backseat passenger, Tyler Bartley, 12. Hatfield's girlfriend, Heather Florey, 16, the front-seat passenger was pronounced dead later at Kosciusko Community Hospital.
The two other passengers in the car, Tiffany Bartley, 13, and Monica Hatfield, 6 months, were airlifted to Parkview Memorial Hospital, Fort Wayne, where they are listed in serious condition.
All five people in the car were from Claypool.
Donald Ditton, 19, one of Robinson's passengers, was booked into Kosciusko County Jail on the illegal consumption charge. He was released on $175 bond.
Another passenger, Phillip Gagnon, 20, allegedly fled the accident scene on foot but was later arrested at his home. He was also released from jail on bond.
Warsaw Police Chief Craig Allebach said that his department received guidance from the prosecutor's office in preparing the paperwork against Robinson.
A memo at the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department cautioned jailers and deputies to allow only visitors that Robinson requested to see him during visitation because threats were allegedly made against him. The memo also requested extra security in the courtroom during Robinson's appearances, asking that those who enter the courtroom be checked for possible weapons.
Allebach said police were waiting for results of drug screenings and checking the brakes of the pickup. He said he hopes to file the charges later today or early tomorrow.
The delay is caused by the fact he wants to make sure all the evidence is in so all the charges can be filed at once, Allebach said.
If the charges are filed today, Robinson could make his initial court appearance Thursday. [[In-content Ad]]
Latest News
E-Editions
Formal charges have not been filed yet against Brandon J. Robinson, the Warsaw teenager who was allegedly driving a pickup that struck a car, killing three people.
Robinson, 18, was booked into Kosciusko County Jail Friday night on three charges of driving while intoxicated causing death, three Class C felonies. Two of his passengers in the pickup were booked into jail on charges of possession/consumption of alcohol by a minor.
More charges could be filed when the official paperwork is given to Kosciusko County Prosecutor David Kolbe.
Investigators from the Warsaw Police Department met with two members of the prosecutor's office Monday to discuss the case.
The police said they are still working on the investigation, including a reconstruction of the accident.
Robinson is accused of drinking several beers before driving his pickup into Warsaw Friday night. He allegedly ran the stop sign at the intersection of Zimmer and Crystal Lake roads and struck a car driven by Aaron P. Hatfield, 17.
Hatfield was pronounced dead at the scene along with a backseat passenger, Tyler Bartley, 12. Hatfield's girlfriend, Heather Florey, 16, the front-seat passenger was pronounced dead later at Kosciusko Community Hospital.
The two other passengers in the car, Tiffany Bartley, 13, and Monica Hatfield, 6 months, were airlifted to Parkview Memorial Hospital, Fort Wayne, where they are listed in serious condition.
All five people in the car were from Claypool.
Donald Ditton, 19, one of Robinson's passengers, was booked into Kosciusko County Jail on the illegal consumption charge. He was released on $175 bond.
Another passenger, Phillip Gagnon, 20, allegedly fled the accident scene on foot but was later arrested at his home. He was also released from jail on bond.
Warsaw Police Chief Craig Allebach said that his department received guidance from the prosecutor's office in preparing the paperwork against Robinson.
A memo at the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department cautioned jailers and deputies to allow only visitors that Robinson requested to see him during visitation because threats were allegedly made against him. The memo also requested extra security in the courtroom during Robinson's appearances, asking that those who enter the courtroom be checked for possible weapons.
Allebach said police were waiting for results of drug screenings and checking the brakes of the pickup. He said he hopes to file the charges later today or early tomorrow.
The delay is caused by the fact he wants to make sure all the evidence is in so all the charges can be filed at once, Allebach said.
If the charges are filed today, Robinson could make his initial court appearance Thursday. [[In-content Ad]]