Deputies: Fake information led to unnecessary search

A Shelbyville man is being accused of giving authorities false information that caused police to waste time searching for an injured driver who didn’t exist.

According to reports from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to the area of County Roads 700N and 425E near Hope about a vehicle crash at about 5 on Sunday morning.

Deputies found a vehicle with serious front-end damage, that had crashed into and broken a Bartholomew County REMC power pole just west of the intersection.

No one was in the vehicle, however deputies received information that 24-year-old Joshua W. Marsh of Shelbyville was at a nearby residence. Marsh told deputies that he had been a passenger in the vehicle and had no idea where the driver was.

Authorities made an extensive search of the area, including bring in the Columbus Fire Department to use the agency’s drone to look for the driver who was believed to be injured.

However, Marsh eventually admitted that he had been the driver. He was arrested on preliminary charges of false informing and operating a vehicle while under the influence.