SEYMOUR – A Seymour man has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that left an 87-year-old pedestrian dead in downtown Seymour.
Omar S. Donald, 54, was taken into custody Friday morning on multiple charges, including leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death or catastrophic injury, a Level 4 felony, and driving while suspended, a Class A misdemeanor.
The incident occurred on Saturday, November 2, when Ronald D. Jarvis, 87, was struck by a vehicle as he was leaving Larrison’s Diner near Tipton and Chestnut Streets around 7:12 a.m.
According to Lt. C.J. Foster, responding officers found Jarvis unresponsive in the roadway. Jarvis was transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where he succumbed to his injuries on Monday, November 4.
Jarvis served his country in the United States Navy. After 30 years of service, he retired from Cummins and volunteered for the Provisions Food Pantry in Seymour.
Jarvis’s funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday, November 12, at 1:00 p.m. at Voss and Sons Funeral and Cremation Services in Seymour. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until the service. He will be laid to rest immediately following with military honors in Vallonia Cemetery in Vallonia.
The investigation progressed quickly as patrol officers located Donald’s vehicle in the 300 block of South Chestnut Street that evening. After obtaining a search warrant from Jackson Circuit Court, officers impounded the vehicle and detained Donald. However, Donald refused to cooperate during questioning.
Following Jarvis’s death, investigators intensified their efforts. On Wednesday, November 6, officers secured a search warrant to examine Donald’s vehicle, uncovering items with potential evidentiary value. Another warrant issued on Friday, November 8, allowed investigators to search an apartment in the 300 block of South Chestnut Street, where Donald was located and arrested.
During the arrest, officers observed methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia in plain view, prompting a further search. The search yielded around ten grams of meth, marijuana, and additional drug paraphernalia.
In addition to the hit-and-run charges, Donald now faces multiple drug-related charges, including dealing meth within 500 feet of a school, a Level 2 felony, possession of meth, a Level 5 felony, possession of marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor, maintaining a common nuisance, a Level 6 felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. He was transported to the Jackson County Jail.
Court records indicate Donald has an extensive criminal history, with 28 prior charges and nine felony convictions over the past 31 years.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to gather evidence.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
