Three Indianapolis residents face charges after Fishers Police say a woman intentionally struck an officer with her vehicle.

It all started November 23rd when Fishers Police were called to the Frye’s Electronics store on a report of a theft in progress.

Here’s what happened next, from the Fishers Police Department news release:

As the first officer arrived he observed three suspects attempting to flee the area in a Toyota passenger car. The officer activated his emergency lights and the Toyota stopped.

At this time one of the suspects exited the Toyota and ran. The officer began running after the suspect at which time the driver, of the Toyota, backed into a parked car, drove over a curb, onto the lawn, and intentionally struck the officer knocking him to the ground. The driver immediately speed away after striking the officer. The officer was able to get to his feet and continue chasing the suspect eventually capturing him. This suspect, later identified as, Allan Carter, was taken into custody and transported to the Hamilton County Jail without incident. Neither the officer nor Mr. Carter were injured during this incident.

On December 2, 2016 Investigators were able to locate the Toyota parked in front of a residence in Indianapolis. Uniformed officers from the Lawrence Police Department assisted Fishers Police Detectives as the female driver, later identified as Jordan Petty, and the other male suspect, identified as Michael McClendon were taken into custody. Mr. McClendon was issued a summons arrest and Ms. Petty was transported to the Hamilton County Jail without incident.

I spent most of the past week in the Pocket City, Evansville.  It was 66 degrees when I arrived Tuesday, and 25 degrees when I left on Friday.  As the picture above illustrates, it’s always nice scenery along the Ohio River.

Back in Fishers, I was able to attend a meeting of the Fishers Board of Work and Safety on Monday, where two important things happened.  First, the city entered into a “scoping agreement” with the Hagerman Group, which means Hagerman is the favorite to build the whole project and construct a new Fishers Police Headquarters building, as well as an adjacent parking garage.  Second, IKEA has agreed to pay for a left-turn lane to help customers more easily access the store.

Speaking of IKEA, they have one heckuva publicity department.  Their buildings have that iconic blue color and the first steel beams have been erected sporting that special shade of blue.  The PR staff was quick to send out a pic of the blue steel beams.  Unless there are construction setbacks one cannot now foresee now, IKEA in Fishers should be open in the fall of 2017, in plenty of time for the Christmas shopping season one year from now.

Fishers Police responded Thursday morning to a report of shots fired in an office park near I-69 & 96th Steet.  A news release from authorities says a former employee of a business in that area fired shots into the air.  A suspect in the incident was arrested a short time later by Lawrence Police.

We continue to await an economic development project announcement from the city. Mayor Scott Fadness appeared on Gerry Dick’s Inside Indiana Businessd television program and said a new development was in the works and would be made public within 30 days.  That was well over 30 days ago.  I am told the project is still in the works but just not fully nailed down yet, and should be announced shortly.  LarryInFishers will let you know once that happens.

TopGolf is now under construction near the I-69 interchange on 116th Street.  The facility has golf lovers all around central Indiana excited.  However, those golf enthusiasts will need to wait a bit longer.  TopGolf had hoped to open in the spring of 2017, it now looks more likely for a fall 2017 opening date.

Finally, Lindsey Erdody of the Indianapolis Business Journal reports that a new restaurant will be opening in the Switch Building December 13th.  LouVino is the name of the eatery, and is headquartered in Louisville.  The Fishers location will be their third.  If you like both wine and food, I hear this is the place for you.

Although it sure feels like winter around Fishers now, that hasn’t slowed the road construction schedule around the city.  Note that the roundabout at 106th & Cumberland Road is now open, but motorists are cautioned to be careful as some construction activity continues there.

Below is the list for Fishers road construction projects for the work week beginning Monday, December 5th, provided by the city….

=================================

EXIT FIVE PARKWAY

Exit Five Parkway is only open to right turning vehicles at this time. Vehicles are not permitted to turn left onto or off of Exit Five Parkway until the traffic signal is up and operational.

I-69 AND CAMPUS PARKWAY

Milestone Contractors has begun mobilizing cranes and other equipment and setting a temporary concrete barrier wall along I-69 at Campus Parkway Exit 210. Work will require alternating lane closures on northbound and southbound I-69 between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Lane closures may recur each night through the end of the week depending on weather and progress. Questions about this project should be directed to INDOT at eastcentralin@indot.in.gov or 1-855-463-6848.

I-69 TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS

INDOT is overseeing an overnight closure on multiple traffic lanes on I-69 overnight this week. Weather permitting, lane closures, traffic changes and rolling slowdowns of traffic will begin after 9 p.m. and are expected to end before 6 a.m. the next day. Construction schedules and traffic restrictions are subject to change, and questions should be directed to INDOT at indot.carsprogram.org, 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or 511 from a mobile phone. Please drive with caution as a new traffic pattern is in place.

OAK DRIVE (IKEA WAY)

Oak Drive recently renamed IKEA Way is only open to right turning vehicles at this time. Vehicles are not permitted to turn left onto or off of IKEA Way until the traffic signal is up and operational.

106^th STREET & CUMBERLAND ROAD ROUNDABOUT

The new roundabout at 106th Street and Cumberland Road is now open to traffic. Motorists are encouraged to drive with caution, this site is still an active construction zone.

106th STREET INTERCHANGE

INDOT has begun work on the 106th Street interchange. A lane shift is currently in place on I-69 and 106th Street is closed as construction continues. Additional details about this project will be released through INDOT and shared on the weekly construction update. Please be advised the speed limit from 82nd Street to 116th Street has been reduced to 55 mph and there are lane shifts on I-69. Please travel with caution and pay close attention to signage in the area.

116th STREET

There will be daytime and nighttime lane restrictions on 116th Street between Commercial Drive and Exit Five Parkway while road work is being completed.

126th STREET

There may be temporary lane restrictions on 126th Street between Allisonville Road and Lantern Road while shoulder work is being completed.

136^TH STREET

Temporary lane restrictions will be in place along 136^th Street, east of Prairie Baptist Road for the construction of a new entrance into the Silverton subdivision.

For those of you venturing north of Fishers on I-69, beware of traffic restrictions coming in the area of State Road 13.

Below is the full news release from the Indiana Department of Transportation:

==========================

Construction contractors plan to set beams next Monday and Tuesday for widening the Interstate 69 bridges over State Road 13 as part of the I-69 Major Moves 2020 interstate expansion project. 

Flaggers will direct traffic on State Road 13 during daylight hours on Monday, Dec. 5. Motorists should plan for slow traffic and short delays or seek alternate routes.

Starting at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6 until 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7, northbound I-69 will be reduced to one lane and traffic on State Road 13 will be stopped for recurring periods of up to 20 minutes at a time. 

Milestone Contractors is widening bridges on I-69 as part of the I-69 Major Moves 2020 project, which is adding a third lane in the median to each direction of I-69 between State Road 37 (Exit 205) and State Road 38 (Exit 219). 

In addition, other improvements are being made to maintain and preserve existing bridges, pavement, and drainage structures on the 15-mile stretch of interstate.

It’s not a good idea to fire shots into the air around Fishers.  One man is accused of doing just that and is in the Hamilton County Jail facing a felony count.  Jarrel Brown, 19, of Indianapolis, is charged with criminal recklessness with a gun.

Fisher Police were called to 9900 block of North by Northeast Boulevard at 10:00am Thursday after a man reportedly had fired a gun into the air near Nugistics, where witnesses told officers an ex-employee of the business had fired the shots and provided a description of the car used by the suspect to get away.  After notifying area authorities, Lawrence Police and detained the suspect without incident.

No one was hurt and there were no reports of property damage.

If you drive near the construction site of the new Fishers IKEA store, you can view the progress being made.  The company issued a news release to show their iconic blue steel beams are new being constructed.

“With IKEA Fishers taking shape and the blue paneling now going up, we continue to be on track for a grand opening next Fall,” said Lars Petersson, IKEA U.S. president. “We hope to be enclosed in Spring, and cannot wait to begin transforming the building’s interior to look like an IKEA store as well. We know there are many customers in the area who are excited for us to open, including those who are driving great distances to shop at our other stores as well those who have yet to experience the unique IKEA shopping experience.”