The Versailles Republican Headline News

Pick up a copy of the newspaper at your local newsstand!

UPDATED BY MARIA SIEVERDING MARCH 22, 2018.

Police shoot, kill former SR student

Wanda English Burnett
EDITOR

Georgetown, Kentucky, police have fatally shot a 2004 South Ripley graduate. According to information from WKYT news, Joel Pflum, 32, broke into his ex-wife’s home in Georgetown around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 20 armed with weapons.

At a press conference police said the ex-wife, along with a male friend, were able to escape and call for help, while a child was sleeping in the home.
When police arrived after receiving the call for help, news reports say they asked Pflum to drop his weapon, but instead he raised a handgun pointing it at police.

A Georgetown Police Department officer shot Pflum with one single gunshot to the upper torso. In the preliminary investigation police say the use of force was justified. The news report revealed that Pflum had two handguns with four extra magazines, hunting knives, and a semi automatic rifle with additional magazines in his car.

When living in the South Ripley School area, Pflum excelled in basketball. He was well known for his performance on the hardwood.

Some reports note that his body will be transported to Brookville (Indiana), where he was originally from.

Traffic stop leads to pursuit in Osgood

On Monday, March 5, at approximately 3:09 p.m. Marshal William Wallace of the Osgood Police Department attempted to initiate a traffic stop with a vehicle being operated by Robert L. Stinson of Osgood, who was known to have active arrest warrants. Stinson failed to comply with law enforcement, and a pursuit ensued.

Stinson led police on a chase for approximately 5 minutes, from central Osgood traveling southeast of the town, at speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour. Due to terrain, Stinson’s vehicle became stuck, and he fled on foot. Police officers from multiple agencies searched the area where Stinson fled, but were unable to locate him at the time. A search of the vehicle was conducted, locating paraphernalia and illegal narcotics.

Stinson was located and apprehended without incident on Thursday, March 8. He was processed into the Ripley County Jail on his current warrants. He will also be facing additional charges of Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Paraphernalia.
The Osgood Police Department would like to thank the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police, Milan Police Department, and Versailles Police Department for their assistance in the search.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.