Not guilty plea, $100,000 bond for alleged cop shooter

Monday, December 19, 2016
Jeffrey Hunter

Despite the defendant’s claim of “extenuating circumstances” surrounding the Dec. 10 incident, Judge Matthew Headley set bond at $100,000 for the Greencastle man accused of shooting a Cloverdale Police officer with a shotgun.

Communicating via video conference Monday afternoon, Headley entered a not-guilty plea on behalf of 48-year-old Jeffrey Hunter.

Hunter faces the possibility of more than 40 years in prison for firing a shotgun at the chest of Cloverdale Officer Luke Brown from about a foot away.

Brown’s ballistic vest saved him from serious injury. He was able to return fire, wounding Hunter in the torso, and then render first aid until paramedics arrived.

When Headley asked Hunter what plea he wanted to enter, the defendant took a long pause, looked down at the floor and eventually made a response.

“There are all sorts of extenuating circumstances, sir,” Hunter began.

Advising Hunter that his time to defend himself would come later, Headley said that due to the seriousness of the charges, he would enter a not-guilty plea.

The judge then asked Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter if he had a request for the bond amount. The prosecutor asked for $100,000, cash only.

“Because of the severity of this case,”Headley said, “I’m going to accept the state’s request of $100,000 cash.”

Hunter advised the court he had been out of work for a year and had no means of paying for a lawyer. Headley assigned public defender Sidney Tongret to the case.

The judge opened the hearing by listing the four charges against Hunter on Monday, advising him of the possible sentences for each.

• Level 1 felony attempted murder carries a sentencing range of 20-40 years (30 years advisory) and a fine of up to $10,000.

• Class A misdemeanor theft carries a sentence of up to one year and a fine of up to $5,000.

• Level 6 felony resisting law enforcement with a vehicle has a sentencing range of six months to 2-1/2 years (one year advisory) and a fine of up to $10,000.

• Class B misdemeanor battery has a sentence of up to six months and a fine of up to $1,000.

The four charges spring from a series of events that culminated when Hunter reportedly fired on Brown from the front door of his Mt. Meridian area home.

He is accused of stealing a chainsaw valued at $369.99 from Tractor Supply Co. in Greencastle after his credit card was denied.

Hunter is alleged to have battered a store clerk on his way out of the store and also to have fled in his pickup from Lt. Donnie Pettit of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department.

Finally, with four officers on the scene at Hunter’s house, he alleged to have struggled physically with Officer Brown before grabbing the shotgun and firing at Brown.

The Cloverdale officer stood his ground and was able to wound Hunter, who spent a week in an Indianapolis hospital before being released and promptly arrested on Saturday, Dec. 17.

Brown was taken to a Terre Haute hospital and released later that evening.

Hunter will be back before Judge Headley for a hearing at 10 a.m. on Feb. 9.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: