Indianapolis police detectives are searching for a woman who they say attacked and robbed her own mother. Police say Jessica Strahl, 28, arrived at her mother’s home Friday at about 2 p.m., asking for money. When her mother refused, police said the suspect attacked her, pushed her to the ground and ripped two gold necklaces from her neck. Strahl’s mother, who is an amputee and walks with a cane, sustained injuries to her forearm and back. Strahl also took the cane when she left the home to prevent her mother from following her, police said. The necklaces were pawned at a local pawn shop later that day. Police are seeking tips to Strahl’s whereabouts.

Fishers police have a new tool to help keep people safe over Memorial Day weekend. A public safety boat is set to debut on Geist Reservoir this weekend. Fishers officers and fire rescue personnel will use the 27-foot Boston Whaler to patrol during busy weekends, events and randomly throughout the summer.

Several Indiana schools agreed Wednesday to extend one of college basketball's top non-conference tournaments. Butler University, Indiana University, the University of Notre Dame and Purdue University will extend their Crossroads Classic contract through 2014. Bankers Life Fieldhouse will remain the host. The schedule and ticket information will be announced later.

All northbound Interstate 65 lanes in Boone County were closed late Wednesday morning after a semitrailer carrying hay caught fire. Emergency crews were dispatched at 10:30 a.m. to the site just north of Lebanon, near the 149-mile marker. Officials said they expected a lengthy cleanup.
 

Four people suffered smoke inhalation during a house fire early Wednesday morning in the 500 block of Hamilton Avenue on Indianapolis’ near-east side. Three people were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene and another was taken to the hospital. The blaze broke out about 1 a.m. A cause was not immediately known.
 

A school bus careened through a backyard and crashed into the side of a Carmel home about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. No students were aboard the bus when it crashed. Officials say the driver was alert and taken to a hospital for evaluation. Four family members were home at the time, but weren’t injured. The impact tore bricks and gutters off the side of the house in Tarkington Commons, near 131st Street and Gray Road. A cause for the crash wasn't immediately known.
 

Those Hot Wheels cars found at the toy store that feature flashy colors, interesting designs and plenty of chrome are now going full-size at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. The “Hot Wheels for Real” exhibit, in a partnership with Mattel, features full-size replicas of some cars and some special orange track setups. The exhibit opens Saturday and runs through January.

The Indianapolis 500 could set a track record for heat during this year’s race. Weather forecasts say it could reach 94 degrees during Sunday’s race with a 100-degree heat index, which factors in humidity. That would break the previous race-day record of 92 degrees set in 1937. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway said it will use cooling fans and misting stations to help fans stay cool. The speedway medical staff expects to treat more than 1,000 people for heat-related illness on race day.

The woman accused of fatally shooting a local minister pleaded not guilty at her initial hearing Tuesday morning. Lori Barcroft, 46, allegedly shot and killed Pastor Jaman Iseminger, 29, on Saturday morning while he was in his office at the Bethel Community Church in Southport. Barcroft’s mother said her daughter has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and abuses the drug Adderall. Other family members said they think Barcroft is mentally ill and dangerous.

A woman escaped a fire early Monday morning in the 2200 block of Lafayette Road. Indianapolis firefighters were dispatched shortly after 2 a.m. to JR Auto Sales. The occupant of an upstairs apartment, 40-year-old Jodi Vitz, called emergency dispatchers, saying thick smoke and fire filled her apartment. She was not injured. The fire, which is under investigation, started in the basement.
 

A man was shot to death early Sunday morning in the 4900 block of West 34th Street. Terrell Jones, 41, of Indianapolis died at the scene about 4:30 a.m. Two male suspects, described as teenagers, were seen running westbound from the scene of the crime.
 

Detectives continue to investigate why a car with five teenagers crashed into a tree Saturday morning in Brownsburg, killing an 18-year-old passenger. Police said marijuana, alcohol and speeding may have played a role in the single-car crash in the 6900 block of County Road 550E. Brownsburg High School student Nathan Gentry was killed in the crash. Passenger Shawn Bloomquist, 18, was hospitalized in critical condition. Driver Chris Hubbard, 17, and passenger Taylor LaMonte, 16, were seriously injured.
 

A 51-year-old man was in critical condition after a motorcycle club on the north side of Indianapolis caught fire early Friday morning. Firefighters responded to the Kentucky Gunslingers Club in the 2300 block of Yandes Street at about 5 a.m. Charles Buford, who was sleeping in a makeshift bedroom in the club, suffered smoke inhalation. Damage to the structure was estimated at $100,000. The fire is being investigated as arson.

Two garages and their adjacent homes were damaged by a fire Thursday morning in the historic Ransom Place neighborhood of Indianapolis. Multiple callers at about 3:45 a.m reported smoke and fire coming from two garages behind homes in the 800 block of California Avenue. Resident Michelle Kavanaugh and her two children, ages 5 and 10, safely escaped the home while the fire destroyed their garage, housing a 1992 Camaro convertible and family belongings. Fire officials estimate total damage at about $75,000.

An Indianapolis jury on Wednesday found Allen Parker, 26, guilty of the murder of a well-known local musician. John Butsch, 59, was found dead in his Woodruff Place home in April 2011. Parker strangled Butsch while he slept and then showered, ate, drank and spent hours hanging out in the apartment. He faces up to 135 years in prison when he is sentenced later this month.

A man was killed early Thursday morning by a fire that destroyed his Morgan County home. Firefighters were called to the home south of Mooresville along State Road 67 at about 2:40 a.m. and found heavy smoke and fire. A male in his 50s was found near the front door and pulled from the house, but he died a short time later. His identity hasn’t been released. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A list by State Farm Insurance Co. says Indiana ranks eighth in the number of dog-bite claims. The Hoosier state racked up 139 claims last year, costing the company $3.5 million. No. 1 was California with 527 claims. Next came Illinois and Texas. State Farm said 5 million people are bitten or attacked by dogs each year. In 2011, insurers paid almost $500 million in dog-bite claims nationwide..

 

Firefighters saved the life of a pet dog after an apartment fire Wednesday morning on the southeast side of Indianapolis. The blaze started shortly before 4 a.m. in Strawbridge Green Apartments. Resident Chris Hubbard told firefighters he and his nephew were sleeping when smoke began filling the apartment. Three dogs and two cats also escaped the fire. One of the dogs, a Shih Tzu named Q-tip, required aggressive oxygen therapy due to smoke inhalation. One of the residents told fire officials he believed a pit bull started the fire by jumping on the stove to get leftover food, accidentally turning on a burner. Damage to the apartment was estimated at $50,000.
 

State police officers shot an 18-year-old man who was waving a gun in the air early Wednesday night in a Hamilton County park. Cory Michael Tucker was flown to an Indianapolis hospital in critical condition after being shot by an officer at about 1 a.m. The trouble started at about 10 p.m. Tuesday when police patrolling Lafayette Trace Park tried to check on a parked vehicle. Tucker, they say, emerged from the car with a handgun and ran. After a three-hour standoff, Tucker fired a shot in the air and waved his gun in an “erratic manner,” police said. Tucker was reportedly despondent over a recent breakup and had made suicidal threats.
 

Hundreds of local volunteers hit the streets of downtown on Monday morning in an effort to make the city more beautiful. Volunteers in the fifth annual Wholesale District Beautification Day were set to plant flowers, sweep sidewalks, remove stickers, paint over graffiti, and pick up litter. More than 20 businesses and organizations were part of the effort.
 

Sixteen minors were arrested and a Carmel bar was cited on multiple charges Saturday after police raided the tavern. The Double Apple Lounge in the 4000 block of West 96th Street was preliminarily charged with 16 counts of allowing a minor to loiter, five counts of sale of alcohol to a minor, and one count each of hindering enforcement, employment of minors, and failing to maintain employee records. Excise police said three underage girls were found in the kitchen, pretending to be cooks, even though the grill was cold. Police said several of the minors, age 15 through 20, had blood alcohol levels as high as 0.15, nearly twice the legal limit for driving. The Double Apple was cited on similar charges in January.

Bloomington police say they shot and injured a naked man north of the Indiana University campus Friday morning after he fired shots at a home and several cars in the neighborhood. Police answering the 6:53 a.m. call ordered the man to drop his weapon. The man, described as college-aged, continued to wave the gun and was shot when he pointed the weapon in the direction of officers. The suspect was shot again after he fell to the ground and raised his gun. The man was in surgery Friday morning in unknown condition.

A man driving a box truck died Thursday night in a collision with a semi-trailer on Interstate 65 near the Marion-Hendricks county line. The truck caught fire after the 10:45 p.m. collision. The semi driver was identified as Robert Labazevych, 50, of Chicago. He was taken to Wishard Hospital in critical but stable condition. Southbound lanes of the interstate were closed until Friday morning.

An Indianapolis man lost his west-side home and a pet in a fire Friday morning. Firefighters were called to the fire in the 1000 block of West McCarty Street at about 5:15 a.m. Homeowner Anthony Ryan told firefighters he was asleep and awoke to the smell of smoke. When he went downstairs, he found the front of the home engulfed in flames. He escaped without injury, but his cat, Growler, died. Fire officials estimated the damage at $150,000.

A man was hurt and several residents were displaced when a fire erupted at an apartment complex in Speedway early Thursday. Firefighters were called to Villa Capri Apartments near 25th Street and Crawfordsville Road at about 12:30 a.m. At least five units were damaged. A cause is under investigation.