*Menu
Search
Greencastle Banner Graphic

City, county officers raid apartment but find little

Monday, March 24, 2008
By ADAM COATES, Assistant Editor

City and county law enforcement officers raided a downtown area residence Saturday evening but didn't find what they were looking for.

Greencastle Police Chief Tom Sutherlin told the BannerGraphic Sunday that officers from the Emergency Response Team and deputies from the Putnam County Sheriff's Department served a warrant at around 9 p.m. Saturday at an apartment building near downtown Greencastle.

The officers expected to find a suspect and illegal drugs, but they found neither, Sutherlin said.

"Right now the investigation is just getting started. It's ongoing," Sutherlin said.

Patrons to downtown business stepped outside when they heard the commotion and witnessed the officers dressed in protective gear.

Sutherlin said he made the decision to activate the E.R.T. because he wasn't sure what type of resistance officers might find when they raided the building.

"It was drug related and when you're dealing with situations like that, you don't know what might be inside," he said.

The whole thing wrapped up in about 45 minutes, Sutherlin said.

The sheriff's department received the initial information of possible drug activity, but the city has since become the lead investigating agency, Sutherlin said. In the interest of protecting the investigation, Sutherlin said he didn't want to release the type of drug, or drugs, that are suspected or the identity of the suspect.

Comments
View 35 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

  • Someone got lucky this time, but the presence of the E.R.T. will make them think twice about dealing around here. Hopefully the next story will be of a capture.

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Mon, Mar 24, 2008, at 5:55 AM

  • Great job!! Keep the keep the pressure on !!

    -- Posted by Blue6 on Mon, Mar 24, 2008, at 6:53 AM

  • Blue6 and Xgamer you cannot be serious. Law enforecement, acting apparently on some very bad information, broke into somebody's home and found nothing and you, Blue6, say: "Great Job." What do you say when they actually find something? Any idea what this pointless police action cost the taxpayers not only in money. Why not call for an investigation of how a bad decision like that is made? It is not clear from the article (seldom is), but if the police got a warrant before their raid let the Banner Graphic publish the Probable Cause Affidavit to see what information the police were acting on to see if we think their actions were reasonable and if they did not get a warrant lets remove them. And how about some photos of the place after the police got done tearing it apart. Ever seen a search executed? Also not clear from the article if people were present and subjected to humiliating actions by the police or otherwise terrorized. (By the way, Xgamer,"hopefully" means to be full of hope, not "I hope", e.g., "Hopefully he left the house that morning." He was full of hope as he left.)

    -- Posted by reckman on Mon, Mar 24, 2008, at 8:55 AM
    Response by Kevin - Banner Graphic:
    The use of "hopefully" was proper, see definition 2. However, even if it wasn't defined in Webster's or the Oxford English Dictionary as is the case, it is also accepted as colloquial which tends to skew definitions and spellings from their original meanings to something more contemporary. That is one reason the English language thrives, it is not static. Besides, dictionary definitions are often a couple years behind slang.

  • I think its great they are doing things like this! There are quite a few more houses in Greencastle they should raid, they might get somewhere! Crack down on this, get people scared!! They are selling to your children and everyone else.....

    -- Posted by sickofitall on Mon, Mar 24, 2008, at 9:46 AM

  • Why is it so wrong to go raid a house

    they get a tip of being used as a

    manufacturing drug lab. If you go to

    any major city in the U.S. it is being

    done everyday.

    I give kudos to the officers and the

    response team in their efforts to try

    to rid the town of drugs and crime.

    -- Posted by valdostas on Mon, Mar 24, 2008, at 11:32 AM

  • Dear Kevin:

    "Trives?" You mean the destruction of the lanuguange continues apace: "Ain't, we be going, they have went. . . "

    Regards

    -- Posted by reckman on Mon, Mar 24, 2008, at 11:40 AM

  • Because there is a Constitutional prohibition against it. Actually two, Indiana and Federal. That is why. It is illegal.

    Moreover, the obvious that anyone can phone in a phoney tip and one can be in for a very hard time. See "1984." Or, just see the above article.

    -- Posted by reckman on Mon, Mar 24, 2008, at 11:44 AM

  • "Lanuguange"?

    People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

    -- Posted by greengirl44 on Mon, Mar 24, 2008, at 1:10 PM

  • "Lanuguange?" Heck, misspelled "Thrives" also. Always appreciate people pointing out my errors. Or am I just changing the language as to suit me as suggested?

    -- Posted by reckman on Mon, Mar 24, 2008, at 2:39 PM

  • I love you too, reckman.

    I simply commented on the article as it was written. I'm all for police busting meth labs and meth dealers. I would be upset if they did not respond to information of drug manufacturing.

    As for ever seeing a search executed, I have not. But I have seen the devastation meth has done to people, and the residual effects to family, friends and businesses.

    Busted doors and walls can be repaired, apoligies can be made and humiliation can be overcome. Needless death to drug addiction is permanent.

    I am full of hope that there will be a capture story in this investigation. I am full of hope that it is not a friend or family member of yours. I am full of hope that the war on meth is victorious for the side of law enforcement. Which side are you on, reckman?

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Mon, Mar 24, 2008, at 4:52 PM

  • This is not the first time this crap has happened. I lived in northern Putnam county and back in march of 2006 a phoney call in to the police done my house in. One night my fiance and I were watching tv around 12:05 at night when I seen red and blue lights out of my window. So I went to the door and there was about 20 officers pointing shotguns, handguns, assault rifles at our head. There was state police( Jim Hayes), ( Charlie Boller) and about 18 of Putnam County's finest all gathered around my house. They put me in cuffs and read me a search warrant. I told them to search my house and property because I had nothing to hide. I gave them keys to my garage, cars, and so on but they never even used them. THEY KICKED IN MY GARAGE DOORS, RIPPED TRASH BAGS FULL OF TRASH AND THROUGH THE TRASH ALL OVER MY GARAGE, IN MY CARS, AND ALL DOWN MY STAIRS INTO MY BASEMENT. What was the point when I gave them all of the keys?????? They recieved a report that I was cooking meth and selling it. That I would have large amounts of Money. And that I would be armed and dangerous. My fiance and I were both 19 years old and just moved out on our own about 2 weeks prior to this. We only had maybe $ 5.00 to our name. After they searched our house and found ABSOLUTLY NOTHING, NOT EVEN ANY RESIDUE OR ANYTHING THEY LEFT AND NEVER SAID SORRY OR ANYTHING. WELL MY DOORS ARE STILL WAITING TO BE REPLACED AND THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE CLEANUP THAT HAD TO BE DONE. It is horrible that they can just walk in for no reason at all and search throughout your dresser and go through all of your personal belonging's.

    -- Posted by tickedoffguy on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, at 12:10 AM

  • Ticked, here is your first apology. Sorry about your incident. Your post echoes this story to a T. And like this story reported by Mr. Crafton, it is only part of the whole picture. You stated that they damaged your home for no reason. Well, I beg to differ. They had a warrant, they read it to you and your fiancee. Then they carried out the warrant.

    You also wrote that their report stated you were cooking meth, had cash and was armed and dangerous. How do you expect them to carry out a raid? Have you ever known a tweaked-out meth-head to be reasonable? In both cases mentioned, the police did the proper thing and I applaud their actions.

    You weren't a victom of the police's actions, you were a victom of someone's tip. Perhaps that person is the one you should squawk about. Try making a list of your friends, relatives and enemies and see who qualifies for actions like this and steer your anger that direction.

    Honestly, if you are 100% innocent in ANY involvement with meth, then I'm sorry you went through such a raid. As far as anyone involved with the manufacturing this poison, I'm all for the police wiping them out of our county, our state, and our country.

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, at 5:25 AM

  • I'm sorry, can someone point out where the article mentions meth? I didn't pick up on that part.

    It would seem that a lot of conclusions are being jumped to, based on a very short story. Let's see what is printed next, before getting carried away.

    -- Posted by peachsac on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, at 8:40 AM

  • You're right peaches, the story only mentioned drug actvity. The comments mentioned manufacturing. The action of the police steered toward more serious operations than what the paper stated. Tickedoffguy stated the warrant for his house was over meth, money and guns. If you notice, the comments started out applauding the police actions and went from there. Like I said in the first comment, I hope the next story includes a capture.

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, at 2:46 PM

  • Sickofitall said it best,..."get people scared". I for one am sick of terror tactics. The problem exists but no one is selling to my kids or anybody that I associate with. My only fear in this matter is that a witch hunt is going to result in the destruction of my home and personal posessions, possibly even death or personal injury. There was a time when law enforcement needed something more than pointing and shreiking to obtain a warrant. If they could not come up with something substantial, the warrant was denied or the city could be held liable for violating a person's constitutional rights as well as any resulting property damage, personal injury or defamation, etc, etc... Remember those days? Back then, this headline would have read something like "Innocent man's home raided by police" or perhaps they would have used the word "ransacked" or "vandalized". Even the word "innocent" seems strange nowadays, as in "presumed before proven guilty". Perhaps the story should have ended with "Police are still hopeful of a full confession from the suspect as the President vetoed a proposed ban on waterboard torture last week."

    Here's a quotation that I believe has more significance today in light of the war on drugs, the war on terror and yes, even the local smoking ban.

    "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"

    Anyone care to guess who, when or where this came from?

    -- Posted by westforty on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, at 6:25 PM

  • So The Police dont know how to ID someone and now they pick a drug house with NO drugs. Dos GPD need help with finding a drug house. 1, Lots of people in and out 2,Find someone who has bought from there 3,Smell of pot or meth 4,Get better snitchs = Drug House

    -- Posted by rhoover1615 on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, at 7:22 PM

  • Westforty

    That would be attributed to Ben Franklin. Jefferson also had a similar quote.

    -- Posted by TheJoker on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, at 7:40 PM

  • reckman - Why weren't you home Sat. night? I heard some folks were looking for you?

    As you can see those statements can be misleading. Warrants are granted on more substantial information then the statements above. I think you should go back and read peaches comments as she recognized jumping to conclusion quite quickly. HOPEFULLY you won't be so quick to "serve a warrant" againist law enforcement by jumping to conclusions.

    I agree with Blue6.

    -- Posted by gingb2 on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, at 7:42 PM

  • What I was pointing out is that this story is talking about officers jumping to conclusion's and not doing the proper investagation. They should have proof of drug activity or criminal activity prior to busting in doors and going through people's private belongings. I now live in Montgomery County and have witnessed other raids but they actually have evidence of a crime prior to busting in. I have read and heard alot about Putnam County's police officers doing as they please and something needs to be done about it.

    -- Posted by tickedoffguy on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, at 11:34 PM

  • tictockguy - in all my years, and they are many, I have never even driven by a police raid and here you are witnessing several in various counties. Did you have a front row seat? I find it strange now that you live in Montgomery County you are in interested in our fair county.

    Unless you have first hand knowledge of what the police have, how would you know? I would think it would be illegal to get a warrant under false information. I have no doubt if the police "flubbed" their investigation with weak and/or incomplete information the Judge would not have granted a warrant. Its one step in the check and balance system used here in the United States.

    I firmly believe the police did their job well even though they know people around this type of activity are not always truthful as you have so well demonstrated.

    -- Posted by gingb2 on Thu, Mar 27, 2008, at 5:27 PM

  • Wow, are we still living the U.S.A. or is this now the Communist Republic of Putnam County? KGB or Gestapo? Who do these guys think they are? No wait, never mind. Most anyone with half a clue already knows the answer to that question.

    So say my neighbor ticks me off, his dog lays a fresh "tootsie roll" in my yard and I step in it. It would seem that all I have to do to get back at him would be to make an anonymous phone call to the Good 'ol Boys club on the south end of town and mention drugs, possibly armed and maybe dangerous. Never mind that John Doe neighbor is a model citizen and has never been in any kind of trouble whatsoever his entire life.

    Then I can sit on the front porch while drinking a cold one and chuckle while the local gung ho boys show up with all their toys and bust down his doors, frisk and handcuff him, ransack his home, destroy his personal property and violate his rights.

    There are a couple of good Deputies on the force, too bad there are more than that who shouldn't be. I hate to lump all of them together but I agree with ticked off. The law enforcement agencies in this county are getting out of control and yes something does need to be done.

    -- Posted by duallydriver on Thu, Mar 27, 2008, at 6:25 PM

  • Now dually, did you even read the article? That is quite an imagination you have. Just to bail you out I make the request to the Banner to please move your comments to a more appropriate forum. Does Lil' Abner actually have a blog?

    -- Posted by gingb2 on Thu, Mar 27, 2008, at 9:01 PM

  • Well now gingb2, I can sure tell you that I have never dealed drugs, made drugs, or took drugs so there sure wasn't any reason to come to my house. I tell you what there is a guy named Jim Hayes he is an officer and he can tell you that with one person saying you are a drug dealer then your house will get raided. I am sure I still have a copy of my warrant from where they read it to me. It states that because they recieved a tip that there was drug activity at my location they got a warrant signed by Judge Headley and had the right to go through my house. I might live in Montgomery county now but I do still own a house is Putnam county and pay taxes there so I am still keeping informed. Anywho all I am saying is that Putnam County needs to fire all of the police officers and start over with new. Get some officers in there that have recently within 5-7 years gone to college and now know a little bit about the Law.

    -- Posted by tickedoffguy on Thu, Mar 27, 2008, at 10:11 PM

  • duallydrinker, you sure have some outrageous comments about the process. I'll never believe that one phone call can spark a raid. If you ever do such a thing to a neighbor, maybe you should be jailed for false reporting. There are laws for that tootsie roll left in your yard and a process for that problem.

    In a sober state of mind, one will find that we are in the USA. The land where you CAN sit on that couch on your porch, chew your snuff under a confederate flag with a cold one in one hand and the remote in the other (flipping back and forth between NASCAR and pro wrestling).

    God bless the USA and to hell with drug dealers.

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Sat, Mar 29, 2008, at 6:19 AM

  • One point we haven't touched on is why police use such tactics to catch criminals.

    Every year thousands of people graduate from law school. A fresh batch of lawyers looking for work. Up to date on recent law changes, and many of them will represent "accused drug dealers". Many of them will help their clients get aquitted of their crimes. It makes it harder and harder for the police to put these guys away. The rights of accused criminals are protected more solidly than ever before.

    While some of the commenters here are complaining about the powers of police, the criminals are gaining power themselves. Some commenters say that "no one is selling to my kids or anybody that I associate with". What if you return home from an evening of dining out to find your HD flatscreen, stereo, pc, gun collection, jewelry, and other personal items have been taken, only to be traded to a drug dealer for more of his product? Addicts don't bother to get a theft warrant from a judge, they break in unannounced, sometimes while you may be home. How is that for terror?

    I agree with tippedoff only about the fact that there are good cops and some bad ones, tose problems can be weeded out but I still want the law to be able to overcome crime.

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Sat, Mar 29, 2008, at 7:05 AM

  • Xgamer, not even in the ballpark. You have no clue. Your profiling skills are very poor.

    Changing others screen names, how immature is that? How old did you claim to be again?

    Put down the controller and step away from the video game. Read a book, get out in the real world and educate yourself.

    -- Posted by duallydriver on Sat, Mar 29, 2008, at 1:15 PM

  • Oh my gosh droolydiver, you really make me laugh!! No one profiled you at all. Maybe you should get someone else to read these comments to you, because I think someone is leading you astray. Have them also read to you what they are posting under your screen name because your comments are wild!!

    By the way I am 16, very immature and online with an Xbox about 11 hours per day. I own a game of Clue, Monopoly, and Life. So you profiled me perfectly- lucky guess.

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Sat, Mar 29, 2008, at 3:08 PM

  • ZZZZZ....yaawwnnnnnn. Are you still bumpin' your gums Xgamer?

    -- Posted by duallydriver on Sun, Mar 30, 2008, at 8:35 PM

  • Xgamer.... Isnt it called "WRASSLIN" in the south. I think that is the only mistake you have made on this whole blog. Everything else is pretty accurate. Keep fighting the good fight.

    -- Posted by concerned3 on Sun, Mar 30, 2008, at 11:57 PM

  • "bumpin' gums", that is definitely a term from the land of the toothless. Maybe some commenters of this story are offended about raids because their ancestors were victims of raids themselves while making moonshine.

    Those raids were also dangerous and required many armed officers to carry out successfully. In fact, there are some similarities between the two offenses. Stills were known to blow up from time to time- like meth labs. Moonshiners and meth-heads often lack proper hygiene. They both have large client bases and many times fall victim to their own product.

    corncernedIII, you know if you ag me on I won't stop!

    Adam Coates, I'm trying my best to stay on topic.

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Mon, Mar 31, 2008, at 6:08 AM

  • please, don't encourage xgamer, enough is enough

    -- Posted by strings on Mon, Mar 31, 2008, at 5:21 PM

  • Xgamer... I am only agging you on because I agree with you on this topic 110%. You have been more accurate in your posts than nearly most of the others. Keep up the good work. I see you are a very officer friendly person like myself.

    -- Posted by concerned3 on Mon, Mar 31, 2008, at 9:41 PM

  • cool, care to join me on an on-line game of halo? lol (sorry Adam)

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Tue, Apr 1, 2008, at 6:09 AM

  • It's all good Xgamer, you don't bother me a bit. Some of us understand your need to be the center of attention, to try to be one up on everyone and to toot your own horn. So puff up your chest and crow like a rooster if you like, if that makes you feel better lol.

    BTW I have more of a personal interest in law enforcement than you know. I'm really not a hater but I do believe in doing things the right way. G'day, I'm done with this one.

    -- Posted by duallydriver on Wed, Apr 2, 2008, at 7:08 PM

  • Good form dually, good form!! You're a good sport, thanks for not getting me in trouble! Last December I got carried away on here and was grounded from the pc for a month, I had to write apology letters to 3 folks in Putnam County and 1 to the Civil Liberties Union before I could get back online.

    My need for attention has my folks squabbling over me, my ma says I should be a journalist and my pa thinks I will end up in porn, either way my future sounds bright.

    Just to stay on topic, I hope judges will always be smart in granting warrants, and police be safe in executing them. Maybe "executing" is a bad term, how about "carrying them out"?

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Wed, Apr 2, 2008, at 7:47 PM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: