Stabbing Victim Expresses Concerns To Winona Council
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
WINONA LAKE - An alleged crime victim told the Winona Lake Town Council Tuesday he feels his case isn't being addressed properly.
Winona Lake resident Casey May attended Tuesday's meeting in arm cast and expressed his concern with how the Winona Lake Police Department handled his case.
The Times-Union previously ran a story Oct. 6 that stated May told police he was walking near the intersection of Auditorium and West Canal Street around 5 a.m. Oct. 4 when he was hit by a pickup and then attacked by its occupants.
He also said he was stabbed and robbed.
"I feel like I was treated unethically by the Winona Lake Police Department, and basically they said to me they didn't believe my story and that they would not proceed with the case because I wasn't giving them all of the information," May said during Tuesday's meeting.
He said the police officer said maybe he had been in a bar fight, had an altercation with his girlfriend or was involved in a drug deal gone bad.
"I want the public to be aware of the treatment from the local police department, and that I have been turned from the victim to the accused," May said.
Council president Terry Howie suggested May write a letter to the council, Town Coordinator Craig Allebach, and Town Marshal Paul Schmitt regarding his experience that will be reviewed.
Howie said the issue is a personnel matter, and therefore could not be discussed in a public meeting.
Schmitt said it was the first he had heard of May's concerns on how he was treated.
"I was not approached by May about this, and I'd be glad to take his complaint and do an investigation on it," Schmitt said.
In another matter, Winona Lake Town Council heard milling and resurfacing on Pierceton Road and CR 250E will begin Monday.
The work is expected to be completed by the end of next week.
Allebach said the road between the railroad and Wooster Road will be milled and resurfaced and curb work will begin Monday.
"We don't anticipate on either project that the road will be closed," Allebach said.
The council approved a $65,000 change order between the town and the Indiana Department of Transportation for the milling and resurfacing of Pierceton Road.In other business, Schmitt said he has been approached about allowing deer hunters hunt behind the Winona Lake Street Department.
He said the hunting is being allowed, but only with bow and arrows. Archers must be in a tree stand 12 feet off the ground during hunting season when the hunting is allowed. Hunters also must have the approval of Schmitt to hunt.
Also during the meeting, the council approved its 2011 budget.
The town's general fund budget is $1,315,138; motor vehicle highway fund, $680,213; local road and street fund, $110,000; parks and recreation fund, $36,500; economic development income tax fund, $500,000; riverboat fund, $85,000; rainy day fund, $200,000; local law enforcement education fund, $2,500; Winona Lake Redevelopment fund, $300,000; and cumulative capital development fund, $250,000.
In other business, the council approved the town seeking quotes for new and used vehicles to replace Building Commissioner Dick Leaf's vehicle. The vehicle's frame is deteriorating as well as its fuel lines.
Also during the meeting, Mitch Titus, Winona Lake fire chief, said he had been approached by Nate Bosch, Kosciusko Lakes and Streams director at Grace College, about seeking a burn permit from the town to allow a burn for prairie restoration at Miller Field on the Grace College campus.
The council asked for Bosch to approach the council about the issue.
Retha Hicks, Winona Lake clerk treasurer, was asked by the council to provide a report of total wastewater fund expenditures as of Sept. 30 for the town.
She said as of Sept. 30, the town has a total of $759,436.56 in wastewater fund expenditures. The town has sent $374,388.84 to Warsaw for wastewater treatment payments, and Winona Lake's operations cost is $230,011.16 this year to date.
She also listed office expenditures for the clerk treasurer's office at $64,779.44 that has been spent so far.
"There will be no more office wages or clerk treasurer's salary that will be allocated to wastewater for the remainder of the year," Hicks said.
The council discussed property owned by Mike Arnolt, 301 5th St., Winona Lake.
The property is vacant, and Arnolt wants to donate the property to the town for tax write off purposes, Allebach said.
The council will continue to discuss what they want to do with the property.
Allebach informed the council that the town received a plaque for its 10 years of service for assisting with the census, and a letter of thanks from United Way of Kosciusko County for the town's involvement in the Day of Caring.
Upcoming events in the town include Taste & Trade Expo 2010 Friday and Saturday at the Orthopaedic Capital Center; trick-or-treat hours Oct. 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; an Empty Bowls event in the village for fundraising for local service agencies Nov. 13; Festival of Trees Nov. 19-20 at Rodeheaver Auditorium; and Winona Lake Community Dinner Nov. 19 with doors opening at 5:45 p.m. at Westminister Hotel. Tickets are available at Winona Lake Town Hall for $15.
