Indianapolis, IN
Man, 45, facing three counts of arson in IndyGo bus fire
IndyGo electric bus will be Indy’s first rapid transit
See an electric IndyGo bus that will eventually drive the Red Line. When it opens in 2019, the Red Line will be Indy’s first rapid transit line.
Kelly Wilkinson, kelly.wilkinson@indystar.com
The man accused of setting an IndyGo bus on fire last week was found with two lighters and smelled like “ignitable liquid” when he was arrested about a quarter mile from the scene, according to court documents.
The bus was engulfed in flames at a stop on the north side of Indianapolis near the intersection of 38th Street and Meridian Streets on the morning of April 24.
The 45-year-old man taken into custody in connection with the arson was located at a McDonald’s restaurant down 38th Street.
There were four people on the bus, including the driver. The bus driver said all passengers evacuated through the middle door of the vehicle. Indianapolis Fire Department officials said two passengers were transported to Eskenazi Hospital to treat slight injuries afterwards.
Investigators used survelliance footage and information from the bus driver to make an arrest, according to a probable cause affidavit for the suspect’s arrest.
IndyGo had cameras inside the bus and at the bus stop shelter. The man arrested at the McDonald’s had the same clothing on as the man who set the bus ablaze in the video, the affidavit reads.
The video showed the man getting on the bus at the transit center in downtown Indianapolis around 6:45 a.m. He was carrying a clear, plastic milk jug with a brown liquid inside.
About 20 minutes later, the video showed the man on the bus lighting a piece of paper on fire then blowing it out. He then moved to a seat closer to the bus’ exit and pretended to drink from the milk jug, according to the affidavit.
Previous coverage: IndyGo bus fire at 38th and Meridian ends in arson arrest
At about 7:10 a.m., as the bus was approaching the stop, the video showed the man pouring the liquid out of the jug then lighting paper on fire and throwing it toward the liquid on the floor of the bus, the affidavit reads.
The liquid ignited into a large ball of fire, the video showed. The bus driver told investigators he had stopped the bus and was walking to the back to ask the man what was in the jug when the man started the fire, according to the affidavit.
The passenger who started the fire had ridden the bus a few other times in the week prior, the bus driver stated. The driver identified the man detained at McDonald’s as the arsonist, the affidavit reads.
The bus was a 2018 2018 BYD all-electric bus and the damage from the fire cost IndyGo $2.1 million, investigators learned.
Demarcus McCloud was arrested in connection with the arson. He is charged with two counts of arson as well as arson resulting in bodily injury, court records show.
McCloud has faced charges in several other criminal cases filed in Marion County in the past five years, including several drug-related cases. An attorney for McCloud was not yet listed in online court records before publication of this article.
McCloud is currently in custody at Marion County’s Adult Detention Center, but prosecutors have filed a motion asking he be ordered to stay away from all IndyGo buses and stations if he were to be released before a trial.
Prosecutors also filed a motion requesting a greater than standard bond for McCloud.
“Defendant is a risk to the safety of the community, due to the nature of the allegations against him in this case,” prosecutors wrote in that motion.
Online court records were not yet updated with scheduling information on the next hearing in the case before publication of this article.
Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19.
Indianapolis, IN
Woman killed in Southside Indianapolis apartment shooting
INDIANAPOLIS — A 26-year-old woman was shot and killed at her Indianapolis apartment Monday night, in what family members say was domestic-related.
Police say Amanda S. Jones was killed at an apartment complex on the city’s south side while her 2-year-old daughter was home. The child was not injured during the incident.
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Woman killed in Southside Indianapolis apartment shooting
“I told her over and over that relationship’s not good for you. You gotta leave,” said Denaejah Ivy, Jones’ cousin.
While the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has not released a motive, police reports show officers had been called to the same address multiple times, including one call less than nine hours before Jones was killed.
In previous calls, Jones reported harassment, domestic disturbances and a protection order violation. Court records show a felony intimidation charge was filed but was ultimately dismissed.
“She filed multiple; she did multiple police reports. I was on the phone, actually, numerous times, and she told the police, ‘You’re not gonna do something till somebody’s dead.’ I heard her tell them that,” Ivy said.
“I feel like I lost a sister. I feel like I lost my everyday person, my everyday friend,” Ivy said.
WRTV
Danyette Smith, director of the Indy Champions with the Indy Public Safety Foundation, said survivors need to prioritize their safety.
“What we have to understand as a survivor, as an advocate, as someone who’s been doing this work for many years, we have to put us first, and that means choosing you and your children first,” Smith said.
Smith emphasized the importance of understanding protection order processes and ensuring accountability when those orders are violated, which may ultimately require leaving one’s home.
“You can’t let nobody else love you more than you love yourself, and I wish Amanda would have loved herself just a little bit more to walk away sooner,” Ivy said.
WRTV
Anyone with information about this incident should call Detective Michal Dinnsen at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317.327.3475 or e-mail the detective at Michal.Dinnsen@indy.gov.
Alternatively, they can call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317.262.8477 or (TIPS) to remain anonymous.
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Adam Schumes is the In Your Community reporter for East Side Indy. He joined WRTV in December of 2021. Adam has a passion for telling stories and giving people a voice they might not have had before. Share your story ideas and important issues with Adam by emailing him at adam.schumes@wrtv.com.
Indianapolis, IN
Babe Ruth, Charles Manson and WWII: See life in Indy in the 1940s
LOST GYMS: The 1940 Crawfordsville gym gets a second life, throwback game
Once called the ‘Snake Pit’ because it felt like the crowd would come down and bite you, Crawfordsville gym gets a second life.
We’ve seen what life looked like in Indianapolis in the city’s “Golden Age” of the 1920s, and what it looked like when the expansion came to a screeching halt in the Great Depression decade of the 30s.
The 1940s was a decade defined by World War II and Indiana was no different. The archive photos below are filled with snapshots that tell the story – new soliders after the country’s first peacetime conscription, the push to buy defense bonds and the celebration on Monument Circle after Japan’s surrender.
Aside from the ever-present backdrop of the war, the photos also show iconic moments and characters from sports and beyond. From Babe Ruth surrounded by Indy kids at a junior all-star game to a 14-year-old Charles Manson already in trouble with the law, check out the archive photos below to see life in one of the most important decades in American history.
Plus, check out some bonus retro galleries of the holidays through the years.
Life in Indianapolis in the 1940s
Thanksgiving and Christmas in Indy through the years
Indianapolis, IN
3 Fantasy Takeaways from Chiefs’ Clutch Win Over Colts
It wasn’t pretty, but the Kansas City Chiefs got back on track against the Indianapolis Colts. They returned to their win column after two straight losses, downing Indy at Arrowhead, 23-20 in overtime, to move to 6-5 on the 2025 NFL season. Not only was this a huge victory for the Chiefs, but they also gave one of their potential Wild Card competitors their third defeat of the year.
It wasn’t Patrick Mahomes and the offense that led the way for Kansas City in this one. Instead, the defense kept them in the game while the Chiefs struggled on the other side of the ball. They allowed Daniel Jones and the Colts’ league-leading attack to gain just 255 total yards, as well as limiting Jonathan Taylor to a paltry 3.6 yards per carry.
KC’s offense actually put them in danger of losing this game, as one of Indy’s touchdowns came after a Patrick Mahomes interception that set the Colts up in the red zone. Still, the Chiefs did enough on O to get the win, stringing together a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter and overtime to complete the comeback.
1. Patrick Mahomes
It’s hard to say that Patrick Mahomes is back after this game. He finished Week 12 with 352 yards on 29-of-46 passing, but was shut out of the end zone entirely while throwing a costly interception early in the contest. He did get back to making plays with his legs, though, gaining 30 yards on four carries.
It wasn’t a fantastic fantasy day for Mahomes, as he finished with 18.08 points in standard leagues. However, it was an encouraging showing for his prospects for the rest of the season. The two-time MVP made several huge plays in this game to get his team the win. He’ll start finding the end zone once again, and it’s clear that this offense still runs through Mahomes’ arm.
2. Kareem Hunt
At 30 years old, Kareem Hunt just set a new career high. Not in touchdowns, yards, or even yards per attempt, but in carries, as he rushed the ball 30 times against the Indianapolis Colts. He converted them into 104 yards and a touchdown. It wasn’t an incredibly efficient performance, but it’s clear that he has the trust of the coaching staff. So long as Isiah Pacheco remains out, Hunt is a must-start solely due to volume.
3. Rashee Rice & Xavier Worthy
Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy had arguably their best game as a tandem in this one. Neither found the end zone, but they combined for 12 catches and 200 yards receiving. Rice led the way with eight receptions for 141 yards.
Both wideouts made huge plays in crunch time to pull out KC’s first one-score victory of the season. Their fantasy managers will be hoping that they can use this game to build momentum for the home stretch of the fantasy campaign and the long-awaited playoffs.
To get all of our key Chiefs’ fantasy takeaways after each game, sign up for our 100% FREE newsletter that comes straight to your email with the latest news. SIGN UP HERE NOW.
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