Local News: Wed. May 15

The two juveniles who ran away Monday night from the Green River Group Home on Kellyville Road  were found  Tuesday morning by Adair Co. Sheriff Harrison Moss and two men John Shehan and Larry Stone on a farm near the Taylor/Adair County line. The male has been taken to the Adair Juvenile Detention Facility while Meade County Social Workers came and got the female.
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A Greensburg woman has been arrested after she abandoned an 8-month-old baby at a local business.

The Columbia Police Department responded to Wal-Mart SuperCenter after receiving a call from Adair County Dispatch of a female child being left at the store. Upon arrival, Ofc. Jamie Cole was led to a infant child being attended to by Wal-Mart employees.  The child had been found by an employee of Coca Cola who stated he noticed the child inside a shopping cart with nobody around and nobody coming to check on the child. After interviews with employees, watching surveillance video obtained and identifying documents found in the cart, the child’s mother was able to be identified.  Ofc. Cole  and CPD Sgt. Jr. Murphy located the mother in Greensburg.  A.C. Deputy Sheriff Justin Cross travelled to the location of the mother in Green County and brought her back to Adair County.  Ofc. Cole charged 26-year-old Adrianne N. Falkner with Abandonment of a Minor, Endangering the Welfare of a Minor, Wanton Endangerment 2nd degree, Public Intoxication and 2 counts of Shoplifting.  Falkner stated to officers that when she got back to Green County she realized she had left her infant child but made no attempt to come back and pick her up.  Sgt. Murphy transported the child to the Department of Community Based Services, Protection and Permanency Division, where Social Workers took protective custody of the child and will ensure a safe placement for the infant.  CPD Ofc. Jamie Cole is continuing the investigation.
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An Adair County man was arrested early Tuesday morning after a pursuit in the City Limits of Columbia.

At 12:46 a.m., Columbia Police Department Ofc. Charles Greer observed a ATV traveling north on Burkesville street. Ofc. Greer  initiated a traffic stop but the suspect refused to stop and attempted to elude officers.  The pursuit came to a end when the 4-wheeler ran off roadway and turned over.  Arrested was 35-year-old Timothy Vanardsdale who was charged with Operating an ATV on the Roadway, Fleeing and Evading Police, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Vanarsdale was lodged in the Adair County Regional Jail. 

Ofc. Greer was assisted by CPD Sgt. Gary Roy and Deputy Aaron Rainwater.
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For the second time in less than a year, a Casey County man has been arrested on charges related to child pornography.

Franklin G. Clark, 30, was charged last Thursday with 14 counts of distribution of matter portraying a sex performance by a minor and three counts of possession of matter portraying a sex performance by a minor. Clark, who was out of jail on bond following similar charges in August, was lodged in the Casey County Detention Center.

The latest arrest was the result of an ongoing undercover Internet Crimes Against Children investigation by the Kentucky State Police Electronic Crime Branch. Detectives began investigating in February after they discovered a suspect sharing images of child sexual exploitation online. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that state police detectives had received child pornography from the suspect. The majority of the images depicted the sexual abuse of children who were less than 16 years of age.

The investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant on May 9 at Clark’s residence, located in Bethelridge, Casey County. The KSP Electronic Crime Branch was assisted by troopers from KSP Post 15 in Columbia. Equipment used to view and possess child pornography was seized and taken to KSP’s Forensic Laboratory for examination.

The arrest marks the second time in less than a year that Clark has been charged with charges related to child pornography.

On August 1, 2012, Clark was charged with two counts of distribution of matter portraying a sex performance by a minor and 20 counts of possession of matter portraying a sex performance by a minor. A prior investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant at Clark’s residence on August 1, 2012 by the KSP Electronic Crime Branch. Clark has been out of jail on bond while that court case is pending.