UPDATE: Sheriff, state agencies, initiate investigation of animal shelter funds

Putnam County Sheriff Scott Stockton on Wednesday morning announced an investigation has been launched into funds paid out for the Putnam County Animal Shelter.

According to a press release from Stockton, the matter involves funds allegedly paid out to a third party to compensate contractors for services provided for the shelter.

"For reasons yet to be determined," the release stated, "some of the contractors have been waiting months to be paid for their work."

The irregularities were found as a result of the internal change of command audit Stockton promised during his 2014 campaign.

The unnamed party at the center of the investigation is not associate with the Sheriff's Department, the Humane Society of Putnam County or Putnam County government.

While the funds involved are not part of the Sheriff's Department's budget, they were reviewed in the audit because the animal care and control director is supervised by the sheriff.

"As a result," the statement continues, "Sheriff Stockton has asked Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter to work in concert with the State Board of Accounts to conduct a forensic audit of the Animal Shelter accounts."

Stockton met with representatives of both agencies on Wednesday morning to officially begin the investigation.

"I'm going to let the investigation take its course, as it should," Stockton told the Banner Graphic. "This is just something that I noticed, along with my staff."

If any violations of law are found, the results will be turned over to the Putnam County Prosecutor's Office.

While this development may seem like a setback to reopening the Putnam County Humane Shelter, Stockton said officials are still determined to accomplish that goal as soon as possible.

"This is not going to impede our mission to get the shelter open," Stockton said. "We want to still work in concert with members of the Humane Society and others in the community because it is a great need. This is just a bump in the road and we're going to keep moving forward."

County Commissioner David Berry said Stockton informed him of the irregularities and possible investigation several days before. Berry encouraged Stockton to do what needs to be done and said the county would cooperate fully with the investigation by the two state agencies.

"Whatever they need and wherever they need to look, that's what we'll do," Berry said.