Indiana
2 Indiana men charged in heat deaths of 9 dogs in an uncooled truck
CROWN POINT, Ind. — Two Indiana men have been charged in the deaths of nine dogs that succumbed to heat-related illnesses last year after being transported in the back of an uncooled box truck during hot weather.
Michael McHenry, 55, and Jessee Urbaszewski, 44, were both charged Monday with 18 misdemeanor counts of neglect of a vertebrate animal. Each charge carries the possibility of up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $5,000, said Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter.
The Michigan City, Indiana, men surrendered Tuesday night at the Lake County Jail and were released after posting cash bond, said Sgt. Glen Fifield of Indiana State Police. He said McHenry posted $36,000 cash bond and Urbaszewski posted a $18,000.
Online court records do not list an attorney for either McHenry or Urbaszewski. Hearings had yet to be scheduled for either man as of Wednesday, according to the court records.
Investigators said 18 dogs were being transported in a box truck on the afternoon of July 27, 2023, for a roughly 120-mile (192-kilometer) trip from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to Berrien Center in southwestern Michigan.
When the truck’s driver, Urbaszewski, stopped at a gas station in Lake Station, Indiana, about 55 miles (89 kilometers) southeast of O’Hare, he discovered that the dogs were in heat-related distress. Temperatures in the area that day reached around 90 degrees (32.2 Celsius).
Despite the best efforts of first responders and good Samaritans, three dogs died at the scene and six others were later euthanized due to their condition.
Fifield said Tuesday at a news conference that the truck’s cargo area was equipped “with a substandard cooling system” to transport the dogs.
The dogs were being transported by Michigan-based business FM K9 to its facility in Berrien Centerto for training to become police dogs. Of the 18 dogs in the box truck, 10 were German Shepherds, six were Belgian Malinois and two were Dutch Shepherds, WGN-TV reported.
Investigators said McHenry is FM K9’s owner and lead trainer.
Jennifer Webber, the executive director of the Humane Society of Hobart, responded to the scene last July and said the dogs displayed signs of heatstroke: salivating heavily, wobbling, vomiting and convulsing.
She told The Times of Northwest Indiana on Tuesday that she’s “thrilled” by the investigative work that led to charges in the case.
“Our professional opinion that night is vindicated,” Webber said. “We saw that there was neglect.”
Indiana
DCS contractor accused of child sex crimes in Indiana, Illinois
(WXIN/WTTV) — A man who is reportedly a local hospital chaplain and contract worker for the Department of Child Services is now facing felony child sex crime charges in both Indiana and Illinois.
Jose Briseno, 60, is currently being held in Marion County Jail on charges of child exploitation and possession of child sex abuse material. He also faces one count of internet child solicitation as a Level 5 Felony in Tazewell County, Illinois.
While court documents state that Briseno lives in a home on the north side of Indianapolis, his jail booking information states that he is a Mexican citizen. Court documents filed last week in Marion Superior Court 35 detail how he has previously worked for several child services groups.
Indianapolis police began investigating Briseno on June 3 when authorities in Illinois sent a tip that a man living in Indy may be involved in child sex crimes. The tip stated that the suspect was previously contracted to work with Illinois DCFS and had since moved to Indianapolis.
The suspect was later identified as Briseno, who had reportedly helped transport children to parental visitations while working for DCFS. It is during this time that Briseno allegedly met the 15-year-old girl he is now accused of soliciting nude photographs from.
Briseno is said to have contacted the teen girl over social media apps with the username “tanman1966,” the suspect’s birth year. While pretending to be a younger man named Pablo, the 60-year-old allegedly convinced the victim to send explicit images over text.
When the girl realized she had actually been communicating with Briseno, she said she tried to block him. However, Briseno allegedly threatened to disseminate her nude photographs and forced her to produce more child sex abuse material, all while sending explicit material of his own.
This alleged solicitation all occurred after Briseno had moved to an Indianapolis home near 86th Street and Ditch Road, according to court documents. Investigators later matched the IP address to his residence on Kings Cove Court and brought Briseno in for questioning.
The suspect reportedly told police that he was employed as a hospital chaplain with Gentiva as well as a case manager with the Indiana Department of Child Services. DCS officials confirmed to FOX59/CBS4’s Angela Ganote that Briseno was contracted but never employed by DCS.
Court records state that, over the past few years, Briseno has worked as a pastor for First Christian Church, First Christian Church of Mason City Inc, and West Union Christian Church in Illinois. He has also worked for DCS contractors in Indiana and Illinois.
While attempting to track down Briseno, investigators reportedly found that he was working for a hospice care center in Terre Haute. A Facebook post reviewed by FOX59/CBS4 shows that a man named “Chaplain Joe,” or “Mr. Mariachi,” was employed at Southerncare, Inc. Research as recently as May 22.
Online jail records show that Briseno was booked last Tuesday, June 9, into the Marion County Adult Detention Center. The court has since set a $5,000 cash bond.
Online court records show Briseno was charged last Friday, June 12, with Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material as a Level 6 Felony. An initial hearing was reportedly held on Monday afternoon in front of Judge Charnette Garner. A pre-trial hearing is now scheduled for July 27.
Indiana
Two killed in southern Indiana when car hits semi head-on in no passing zone
DEARBORN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) Two people died in a crash Sunday morning in southern Indiana. Police believe weather and alcohol may have been factors.
The crash took place at around 3:30 a.m. on U.S. 52 in Dearborn County according to a press release from Indiana State Police.
The initial investigation determined that a 2020 Honda Civic, being driven by Kelis Manuel, 22, of Fairfield, Ohio, was traveling westbound on U.S. 52, just west of State Road 46. In a no passing zone, Manuel attempted to pass a pickup truck hauling a trailer. Manuel’s vehicle collided head-on with a semi that was traveling eastbon US 52.
The semi driver was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Manuel and an unidentified rear passenger in her vehicle were transported to Cincinnati area hospitals for treatment of life-threatening injuries.
A front seat passenger in Manuel’s vehicle, identified as Kimora Manuel, age 21, Cincinnati, Ohio and a rear seat passenger, Le’Marea Holmes, 22, also from Cincinnati, both lost their lives in the crash. They were both pronounced deceased on the scene by the Dearborn County Coroner’s Office.
Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash. Toxicology tests are pending. Heavy rain in the area at the time may also have been a contributing factor.
Indiana
21-year-old Indiana man shot, killed near Ford City Mall, Chicago officials say
CHICAGO (WLS) — A man from Indiana was shot and killed near Chicago’s Ford City Mall this weekend, officials said.
The shooting happened around 2:50 a.m. Saturday in the 7600 block of South Cicero Avenue, Chicago police said.
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The victim, a 21-year-old man, was standing outside at the location when a male offender with a firearm shot him in the head, police said.
The man was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed the man died due to his injuries.
SEE ALSO | At least 18 shot, 5 fatally, in weekend gun violence across Chicago
The victim was identified as 21-year-old Martin Isaac Cantu Murillo of South Bend, Indiana, the medical examiner’s office said.
No further information was available as Chicago police continue to investigate.
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