GARRETT, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — A northeast Indiana high school has landed a key designation from the state for its construction trades program.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development has awarded a State Earn and Learn certification to Garrett High School in DeKalb County.

The certification comes from the the department’s Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship. SEAL programs, according to the department, are “structured, scalable programs … designed to meet the skills that employers demand, are geared toward both adult and youth populations, and satisfy Indiana’s new graduation pathway requirements.”

Eligible programs range from eight weeks to two years in length and include industry certifications tailored for any sector. Specifically for Garrett High School’s construction trades program, students will not only have the opportunity to earn seven nationally recognized industry credentials, but also earn more than 1,200 hours of on-the-job training and graduate with 22 transferable credits through Ivy Tech Community College.

“This SEAL adds more credibility to what we are trying to accomplish,” Chad Sutton, director of career development at Garrett High School, said in a news release. “It tells our industry partners that we are serious about skill development for our students. We all realize the opportunities in industry regarding the lack of skilled labor. When a student can achieve hands-on skill development in an area they are interested in and integrate academics into that vocational experience you have just helped that student create passion.”

The high school’s program has been running for more than 40 years but offers career development by offering the chance to earn National Center for Construction Education and Research credentials and college credit through Ivy Tech Fort Wayne. The Department of Workforce Developmetn said Sutton has also used his construction background to establish partnerships with more than 40 local businesses which has created job shadowing, mentoring, internship and employment opportunities.

Garrett High School joins Hamilton Heights High School in Arcadia, which in June became the first Hoosier school to earn the SEAL certification for its construction trades program.

GARRETT, Ind. (WANE) – A Garrett man faces a charge of reckless driving after a DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department officer clocked him early Tuesday morning going 153 mph in a 50 mph zone.

Sergeant Matthew Tamez was driving east on County Road 48 when he used his radar to record the speed of a westbound motorcycle. Tamez then witnessed the motorcycle pass a vehicle on the shoulder according to a department news release.

The motorcycle then crossed into the Garrett city limits where the speed limit is posted at 30 mph with Tamez in pursuit.  The operator of the motorcycle, Kyle Brooks, stopped near South Road and Taylor Road and was taken into custody. 

Brooks was driving a Suzuki GSX1300 R, which is one of the fastest motorcycles in production with a top speed over 180 mph. 

GARRETT, Ind. (WANE) – A DeKalb County Sheriff’s deputy acted in self-defense when he fired at a motorist who reportedly fired at him during a traffic stop earlier this month in Garrett, the DeKalb County prosecutor determined.

Nine-year veteran Todd McCormick will not face charges in the April 10 shooting along South Hamsher Street in Garrett that left 41-year-old Joshua D. Mumma of Garrett critically hurt, Prosecutor ClaraMary Winebrenner said Tuesday. McCormick, too, was shot during the gunbattle, but the wound to his hand was considered minor.

A Garrett Police officer — Alicia Castro — also involved in the stop and incident was not hurt. She will also not face charges, Winebrenner said.

“Both officers acted to defend themselves,” Winebrenner said. “Therefore, the state of Indiana has no case against Deputy McCormick nor Officer Castro for their actions in this incident.”

The incident began around 8:20 p.m., when McCormick pulled over Mumma for an equipment violation. At some point during the stop, both McCormick and Mumma fired shots.

It remains unclear what led to the shots and how many total shots were fired.

Mumma is recovering from his injuries, police said Tuesday. He’s considered a “person of interest” in the ongoing investigation, according to authorities.

Police are investigating after a shooting involving a deputy with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

It happened around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 400 block of Hamsher Street.

According to Indiana State Police, the officer was shot and also shot a person. It was not immediately known how seriously either person was hurt.

 GARRETT, Ind. (WANE) – Garrett police have a juvenile in custody after a family said their 3-year old girl was put in a washer and dryer by her babysitter and his friends. Since the family posted about it on Facebook, it has caused national and international outrage.

#JusticeForRaelyn has trended on social media all over the United States, as well as abroad in countries such as Australia, England and China.

The DeKalb County Prosecutor, Claramary Winebrenner, said two young children were left in the care of a 14-year-old babysitter. Allegedly, some of the babysitter’s friends joined them, and at some point, one or more of the teenagers placed a three year old child in a washing machine, and then into a dryer. One of them turned the dryer on several times, and the young child sustained multiple bruises all over her body. It is also alleged they were imitating a YouTube stunt involving an animal as the victim.

Missy Camp said it’s her 3-year old daughter, Raelyn Camp, who was put into their washer and dryer by the babysitter.

On Saturday, June 2, Missy Camp said she left Raelyn and her 5-year-old daughter in the care of a long time family friend, a 14-year-old boy, while she went to spend time with her family. Missy said the boy had babysat her daughters before.

When Missy came to pick up her daughters the next day, she found bruises all over Raelyn’s body.

“It’s hard to explain,” Missy said. “I go home. I’m upset, but at the same time I feel like I can’t really sit and cry and I need to keep both of my kids happy, not as depressed about it.”

Missy said her apartment was also trashed. Two of her toilets, her T.V., and a window were broken. Food and pop cans were everywhere. Drugs, like Xanax, were on the floor, according to Missy.

Missy said her 5-year-old daughter, Raelyn’s older sister, told her what happened. She told her mother the babysitter invited three of his friends over. Missy said she has been told by other sources that the four boys were drinking.

According to Raelyn’s sister, the boys turned the washer on until it was filled with water and then put Raelyn in it. They also put her in the dryer.

Missy said a doctor has told them there are also possible signs of sexual abuse. She said child services will soon help test Raelyn for rape.

She said Raelyn has not been the same since the weekend.

“She’s quiet,” Missy said. “Like usually she’s very hyper, running around, going crazy and all that but lately she just kind of wants to sit on the couch and cuddle. She doesn’t eat as much.”

When Missy’s sister, Madison Camp, heard what happened to her neice she posted pictures of Raelyn on Facebook with #JusticeForRaelyn. The post had more than 180,000 shares. Missy and Madison said they have both been receiving thousands of messages and friend requests from all over the country and the world.

“She’s my niece,” Madison said. “She’s like everything to me. She’s literally like my life. I love her so much. I just want her to have the clarity she deserves.”

Missy is also looking for justice.

“My first goal is to just get one to break down and just kind of admit or say who did it and from there press charges and hopefully they get what they deserve,” she said.

Missy explained that the babysitter said he took Raelyn to the park and she fell off a merry-go-round.

Garrett Police Department chief, Roland McPherson, said they have been investigating the case since they received the police report on Sunday. He told 24-Hour News 8’s sister station, WANE, that it’s unfortunate that people are going on Facebook to discuss the situation before all the facts have been truly represented. They started interviews about the case on Thursday morning and by the evening they had detained a juvenile in relation to the case. They said charges are pending. They are working with DeKalb County Department of Child Services, DeKalb County Probation Department and the DeKalb Prosecutor’s Office on the investigation.

In regards to the case, Winebrenner said certain incorrect and dangerous allegations appear to be spreading at a rapid rate on Facebook and other social media outlets, and such inaccurate information must be addressed. She firstly said that it’s not true that ‘nothing can be done because the alleged perpetrators are juveniles.’ She said secondly, ‘one of the special protections of the juvenile code is that the identity of juvenile offenders is confidential.’ She also gave reminders of the ‘danger posed by allowing videos of dangerous experiments to remain on YouTube’ and the ‘danger of spreading or believing information on Facebook that has not been verified.’

GARRETT, Ind. (WANE) Officers with three different police departments served a search warrant at 1:00 a.m. Wednesday at a home on Quincy Street in Garrett where they found several “one pot” meth labs, methamphetamines, items to make meth and drug paraphernalia.

The raid was conducted by the Garrett Police Department, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Auburn Police Department.

Six people were arrested on the following charges:

Dakota Aikins, 18 of Garrett – Possession of Methamphetamine, Dealing Methamphetamine, Possession of precursors, Possession of paraphernalia

David Lee Hicks, 27, of Garrett – Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of paraphernalia, visiting a common nuisance

Rhonda “Dee Dee” Moore, 35, of Garrett – Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of paraphernalia, visiting a common nuisance

Dale Swonger, 18, of Garrett – Unlawful sale of precursors, visiting a common nuisance

Daylon Rowe, 19, of Garrett – Unlawful sale of precursors, visiting a common nuisance

Taylor Nodine, 21, of Garrett – Visiting a common nuisance

The Indiana State Police Lab Team was called in to take care of the meth labs and associated ingredients.