Prosecutor named in Wells case

Monroe County Circuit Court Judge E. Michael Hoff named Greene County prosecutor David Powell as special prosecutor in Monroe County Councilman Scott Wells' case Friday. Wells was arrested for driving under the influence, but he says he was set-up by political enemies.\nPowell's appointment is effective until Oct. 4, 2003. Powell, who was out of his office this weekend and could not be reached for comment, now has a year to decide whether or not to take action in the case.\nMonroe County Prosecutor Carl Salzmann stepped aside in the case last week, citing a conflict of interest. The Monroe County Council, which Wells is a member of, allocates the annual budget for Salzmann's office.\nShortly before Powell was named prosecutor, a news conference scheduled for Friday was cancelled. The conference was intended to identify the person who notified Indiana State Police Sgt. J.D. Maxwell of the intoxicated driver Friday night.\nThe ISP asked all witnesses involved with Wells' arrest last week to keep quiet about what they saw. \nLt. Michael Saltzman, commander of the Bloomington branch of the state police, said comment from a witness prior to the appointment of a special prosecutor would have been highly unusual.\n"It's something we just don't do as a matter of policy," Saltzman said. "Until someone is appointed to oversee the case legally, it's in the best interest of the case for these witnesses not to comment."\nRichard Wells, a Republican and J.D. Maxwell supporter who has no relation to Scott Wells, said the individual who called Maxwell last Friday to report an intoxicated person walking and driving near 6th and Dunn streets was ready to comment about her motives.\n"The state police requested that nobody give any statements to anyone except the special prosecutor," Richard Wells said.\nA news release issued by the state police said Maxwell was called at home last Friday concerning an intoxicated man driving and walking in the area of Sixth and Dunn streets. The release said Scott Wells was arrested after Maxwell called the state police post and a trooper was dispatched to investigate the area.\nScott Wells said the charges of driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest were set up by his political rivals.\nThe state police have refused to elaborate on a news release.