Man arrested on school property

BRAZIL -- A Putnam County man was recently arrested for possession of a firearm in a local school playground.

According to Brazil City Police Department Sgt. Dennis Archer, Robert Price II, 30, was taken into custody while officers were investigating a fight on the Meridian Elementary School playground shortly after midnight Wednesday.

When officers initially arrived, five unidentified people (four males and one female) were standing around, of which one male was dirty and appeared to have been in a scuffle. The male told officers he had gotten into a dispute with a family member, but did not want to press charges.

While talking with the officers, another male seemed to be very anxious and nervous when asked about his name.

"He identified himself as Chad McPheters," Archer said, adding one of the officers noticed something odd about the suspect's appearance. "One of the officers said he noticed a strap hanging out of the back of his shirt."

During a pat down of the suspect, Archer said officers discovered the suspect was wearing a shoulder holster with a gun inside. Officers also found Price's identification and an Indiana Department of Correction release card.

While Price was being taken into custody, officers discovered during an a routine records check arrest warrant issued from Putnam County for failure to appear on one count of possession of methamphetamine and two counts of possession of controlled substance.

Archer said the four remaining individuals at the school were issued trespass warnings.

Price was taken to the Clay County Justice Center on the outstanding arrest warrant and booked on additional preliminary charges of refusal to aid an officer, possession of firearms on school property, felony possession of firearms and possession of an unlicensed weapon.

Upon further investigation into Price's records, a second outstanding arrest warrant for auto theft charges, also issued in Putnam County, was discovered.

Jail officials confirm Price remains incarcerated on a $7,000 cash bond awaiting formal court proceedings.