Columbus police have arrested a local man accused of driving the SUV that hit and killed a bicyclist Sunday night in Columbus.
Officers arrested Eric M. Winship, 27, of 3885 Rosewood Court, Columbus, after he was located at a residence in northern Bartholomew County, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
Winship is accused of driving a red GMC Jimmy that struck and killed bicyclist Kyla Ortlieb, 21, Columbus, at 11th and Chestnut streets at 11:15 p.m. Sunday, Harris said.
“We would like to thank the public for large number of calls, tips and information we have received in this case,” said CPD Detective Lt. Jay Frederick.
Winship was taken to the Bartholomew County Jail where he was being held on a 48-hour hold on preliminary charges of possession of a legend drug injection device and failure to stop after an accident resulting in death.
Following the 48-hour-hold at the jail, Winship’s bond has been set at $132,000, according to police.
The ongoing investigation is being handled by the Bartholomew County Death Investigation Team which consists of members of the Columbus Police Department, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office and the Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office.
Winship was earlier arrested on a possession of marijuana charge and was the first person being booked into the Bartholomew County Jail to have drugs located on his person by the jail’s new body scanner, sheriff deputies said.
Winship was initially arrested at 11:44 p.m. Sept. 29 on a possession of marijuana charge, deputies said. Winship was asked twice at the jail if he had any illegal substances on his person, and he responded that he didn’t, deputies said. Winship had also been patted down twice by deputies to make sure he was not concealing weapons.
When Winship got on the scanner, they found a pouch hidden on his left hip area that contained 9 grams of methamphetamine and a second bag of suboxone pills, deputies said.
In addition to the marijuana charge, Winship was arrested on preliminary charges of trafficking with an inmate, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance, deputies said. Winship was then being held in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $88,500 bond, jail officials said.
