Hargrove's trial moved back

Friday, December 17, 2010

GREENCASTLE -- The trial date of a Greenc astle man charged with Class A felony attempted murder has been pushed back.

Justin Hargrove, 25, was set for trial on Jan. 12, but that trial will now begin on Jan. 18.

Hargrove was one of four people involved in a shooting incident that happened April 5 in Greencastle.

Hargrove also faces Class D felony charges of resisting law enforcement, receiving stolen property and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon.

Court documents allege that Hargrove intentionally shot at Putnam County Sheriff's Department Reserve Deputy Matthew Biggs when Biggs stopped a vehicle in which Hargrove was a passenger.

Biggs stopped the vehicle because it matched the description of a vehicle that had been reported to have had random shots fired out its windows as it traveled in the area of Walnut Street in Greencastle during the early hours of April 5.

Numerous calls about the vehicle came in after the initial call, reporting shots fired in near Washington Road, Washington Street and Madison Street.

According to court records and police reports, Hargrove used a rifle to shoot at Biggs when Biggs pulled the vehicle over at the intersection of Franklin and Durham streets.

Biggs said Hargrove fired two or three rounds in his direction. Biggs was not hit, but one of the rounds did strike his police vehicle.

A vehicle chase ensued, and that eventually led to a foot chase. Biggs lost sight of Hargrove, and a manhunt that led to the closure of Greencastle schools was launched.

Hargrove and the others in the car were arrested the following day.

Hargrove's co-defendants -- Lacey Couch, 24 and Michael Pryor, 18 -- have both been sentenced. A third co-defendant, 19-year-old Keven Crow, is set to be sentenced in January.

Couch was convicted of Class D felonies resisting law enforcement and neglect of a dependent, and was sentenced in September to two-year suspended Indiana Department of Corrections terms, which are running concurrently.

Pryor and Crowe were both also charged in connection with the burglary of the guns used in the shooting. In October, Pryor was sentenced to five years at the Indiana Department of Correction and five years on probation.

Hargrove's bond was set at $1 million, in accordance with a recommendation from Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter.

Hargrove's criminal history includes convictions and prison sentences for possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.

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