An Oolitic man arrested in Greene County last Thursday is accused of driving under the influence with a loaded handgun and a case of beer in the rear seat, but no gun permit and no valid driver’s license.
John Wesley Cowden
John Wesley Cowden, 49, Oolitic, was arrested Thursday afternoon, October 31, by Deputy James Carpenter of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.
Officers were looking for Cowden in Greene County to check on his welfare after the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department reported Cowden had a handgun and might possibly harm himself. Cowden was driving a black Nissan Altima. After a vehicle matching the description was seen next to the Greene County Courthouse before it headed south on US 231, Deputy Carpenter staged in the area of US 231 just north of the I-69 overpass.
When Deputy Carpenter saw the vehicle, it turned eastbound on State Road 58 then turned south onto West Gate Road and pulled into a driveway. Deputy Carpenter said the vehicle crossed the center line twice.
During a traffic stop, Cowden was cooperative and denied that he had any intention of harming himself. However, Deputy Carpenter said Cowden exhibited signs of intoxication and he saw several empty beer cans in the rear floor board and a case of beer on a rear seat.
When the deputy asked him how much he had to drink, he allegedly said probably four beers. When asked if all the cans were from that day, he allegedly said he does this every day.
Cowden was cooperative and told the deputy he had a gun. The deputy found it in the rear seat, a Smith and Wesson .45 caliber handgun with ammo in the magazine. It was chambered with a live round.
GCSD Deputy Jordan Gooding assisted on the scene.
Cowden was transported to the sheriff’s department where he allegedly failed standard field sobriety testing, then tested with a .241 BAC on a certified chemical test.
Deputy Carpenter reported Cowden’s driver’s license was not valid and his handgun permit from Florida was expired.
Cowden was booked in with bond set at $5,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He posted $500 and was released the next day.
He is currently scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court on Thursday morning, November 14, for an initial hearing when he will be formally charged with:
Carrying a handgun without a license, a Class A misdemeanor,
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor,
Operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 or more, and
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor.
GreeneStreets
GreeneStreets covers crime news, court news, jail logs, obituaries and sometimes other news from Greene County, Indiana.
Entries on the Activity Log at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department included response to 116 calls and incidents from Monday, March 3-Friday, March 7, 2025, including:
Entries on the Activity Log at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department included response to 111 calls and incidents from Monday, Feb. 10 to Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, including:
Bruce Button, age 70, of Cincinnati, OH and Worthington, passed away at 8:40 am on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at I.U. Hospice House in Bloomington. He was born in Troy, NY on September 28, 1954, the son of Dale & Ann (Colquhoun) Button.
Nellie Yvonne ‘Connie’ Dayhoff, 88, of Linton, Indiana, went to Heaven with her family by her side, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at Glenburn Senior Living in Linton. She was born on September 20, 1936 in Linton to Clifford William and Eva Mae (Blough) Lynch. Connie married the love of her life, John Dayhoff, Jr. on June 2, 1955.
Jennifer Ann Crites, age 47, of Worthington, entered eternal life on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, leaving behind a legacy of love, kindness, and generosity. She was born in Bedford on March 18, 1978, the daughter of Robert Paul and Elizabeth Ann (Porter) White.
Micki Elaine Church, 84, of Linton, Indiana, went to Heaven with loved ones by her side, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at Autumn Trace Assisted Living in Linton. She was born on February 9, 1941 in Terre Haute, Indiana to Max Earl and Cordy ‘Berti’ (Lashbrook) Hopkins. Micki married the love of her life, Jerry D. Church on October 11, 1959.
Justin David Sprang, age 20, of Linton, passed away due to an accident, at 8:45 PM on Saturday, February 22, 2025. Justin was born, along with his twin brother Jared, on December 21, 2004, the son of David Michael and Shelley Ann (Fisher) Sprang.
Joshua David Newton, age 39, of Petersburg, formerly of Linton, passed away on Friday, February 21, 2025. He was born in Linton on March 27, 1985, the son of James E. and Tamberly L. (Poe) Newton.
Larry D. Beverstock, 84, of Cloverdale, Indiana, passed away, on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at his home with loved ones by his side. He was born on September 25, 1940 in Kansas City, Missouri to Bard Bertram Beverstock and Iris (Robison) Beverstock Love. Larry married his loving wife, Sandy S. (Bloom) Beverstock on March 9, 1995.
GreeneStreets
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Crime news & stories from
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Man arrested for OVWI had a loaded handgun and a case of beer
/ Anna RochelleAn Oolitic man arrested in Greene County last Thursday is accused of driving under the influence with a loaded handgun and a case of beer in the rear seat, but no gun permit and no valid driver’s license.
John Wesley Cowden
John Wesley Cowden, 49, Oolitic, was arrested Thursday afternoon, October 31, by Deputy James Carpenter of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.
Officers were looking for Cowden in Greene County to check on his welfare after the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department reported Cowden had a handgun and might possibly harm himself. Cowden was driving a black Nissan Altima. After a vehicle matching the description was seen next to the Greene County Courthouse before it headed south on US 231, Deputy Carpenter staged in the area of US 231 just north of the I-69 overpass.
When Deputy Carpenter saw the vehicle, it turned eastbound on State Road 58 then turned south onto West Gate Road and pulled into a driveway. Deputy Carpenter said the vehicle crossed the center line twice.
During a traffic stop, Cowden was cooperative and denied that he had any intention of harming himself. However, Deputy Carpenter said Cowden exhibited signs of intoxication and he saw several empty beer cans in the rear floor board and a case of beer on a rear seat.
When the deputy asked him how much he had to drink, he allegedly said probably four beers. When asked if all the cans were from that day, he allegedly said he does this every day.
Cowden was cooperative and told the deputy he had a gun. The deputy found it in the rear seat, a Smith and Wesson .45 caliber handgun with ammo in the magazine. It was chambered with a live round.
GCSD Deputy Jordan Gooding assisted on the scene.
Cowden was transported to the sheriff’s department where he allegedly failed standard field sobriety testing, then tested with a .241 BAC on a certified chemical test.
Deputy Carpenter reported Cowden’s driver’s license was not valid and his handgun permit from Florida was expired.
Cowden was booked in with bond set at $5,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He posted $500 and was released the next day.
He is currently scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court on Thursday morning, November 14, for an initial hearing when he will be formally charged with:
Carrying a handgun without a license, a Class A misdemeanor,
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor,
Operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 or more, and
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor.
GreeneStreets
GreeneStreets covers crime news, court news, jail logs, obituaries and sometimes other news from Greene County, Indiana.
Latest Jail Logs
New entries on the morning Jail Log at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Friday, April 4, 2025:
New entries on the morning Jail Log at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday, April 3, 2025:
New entries on the morning Jail Log at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday, April 2, 2025:
Latest Activity Logs
Entries on the Activity Log at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department included response to 116 calls and incidents from Monday, March 3-Friday, March 7, 2025, including:
Entries on the Activity Log at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department included response to 111 calls and incidents from Monday, Feb. 10 to Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, including:
Court News & Records
List of all speeding tickets and other infractions filed in Greene Superior Court March 17-March 21, 2025:
List of all criminal cases filed in Greene Circuit and Superior Courts, March 17-March 21, 2025:
List of all civil and small claims cases filed in Greene Circuit and Superior Court, March 17-March 21, 2025:
List of all speeding tickets and other infractions filed in Greene Superior Court March 10-March 14, 2025:
Latest Obituaries
Bruce Button, age 70, of Cincinnati, OH and Worthington, passed away at 8:40 am on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at I.U. Hospice House in Bloomington. He was born in Troy, NY on September 28, 1954, the son of Dale & Ann (Colquhoun) Button.
Nellie Yvonne ‘Connie’ Dayhoff, 88, of Linton, Indiana, went to Heaven with her family by her side, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at Glenburn Senior Living in Linton. She was born on September 20, 1936 in Linton to Clifford William and Eva Mae (Blough) Lynch. Connie married the love of her life, John Dayhoff, Jr. on June 2, 1955.
Martin W. Baysinger, 60, of Linton, IN passed away at 9:13 a.m. Thursday, March 27, 2025 at his home in Linton, IN.
William D. "Bill" Myers, 84, of Midland, IN passed away at 7:19 p.m. Friday, March 28, 2025 in Union Hospital in Terre Haute, IN.
Nolan "Jack" Jean Wilson, 89, of Linton, IN passed away March 31, 2025 at his residence.
Jennifer Ann Crites, age 47, of Worthington, entered eternal life on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, leaving behind a legacy of love, kindness, and generosity. She was born in Bedford on March 18, 1978, the daughter of Robert Paul and Elizabeth Ann (Porter) White.
Micki Elaine Church, 84, of Linton, Indiana, went to Heaven with loved ones by her side, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at Autumn Trace Assisted Living in Linton. She was born on February 9, 1941 in Terre Haute, Indiana to Max Earl and Cordy ‘Berti’ (Lashbrook) Hopkins. Micki married the love of her life, Jerry D. Church on October 11, 1959.
Justin David Sprang, age 20, of Linton, passed away due to an accident, at 8:45 PM on Saturday, February 22, 2025. Justin was born, along with his twin brother Jared, on December 21, 2004, the son of David Michael and Shelley Ann (Fisher) Sprang.
Joshua David Newton, age 39, of Petersburg, formerly of Linton, passed away on Friday, February 21, 2025. He was born in Linton on March 27, 1985, the son of James E. and Tamberly L. (Poe) Newton.
Larry D. Beverstock, 84, of Cloverdale, Indiana, passed away, on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at his home with loved ones by his side. He was born on September 25, 1940 in Kansas City, Missouri to Bard Bertram Beverstock and Iris (Robison) Beverstock Love. Larry married his loving wife, Sandy S. (Bloom) Beverstock on March 9, 1995.
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