Ill-conceived fishing trip lands dad in jail

Monday, November 26, 2018

Hoping to be "the cool dad" and take his kids fishing, a 45-year-old Greencastle man instead wound up in hot water.

And as a result, William Ray Jordan Jr. is facing multiple criminal charges -- among them neglect of dependents -- following his arrest at 5 p.m. Saturday at Jaycee Park by Sgt. Ed Wilson.

Ford Explorer impaled on pole at Jaycee Park after William Ray Jordan, 45, Greencastle, lost control of vehicle Saturday. Courtesy photo

Wilson was called to Jaycee Park, 1681 E. CR 225 South, after Jordan reportedly called his wife and told her he had been injured in an accident. She, in turn, called Putnam County Dispatch.

When Wilson arrived, he found Jordan and his two children, ages 8 and 10, at the front entrance to the rural Greencastle park that had come under some scrutiny earlier this year for other nefarious incidents reported by neighbors.

Seeing the police officer, Jordan suggested he was about to be arrested. Asked why he thought that, he reportedly said, "because I'm intoxicated."

A portable breathalyzer test confirmed exactly that, producing a .24 percent blood-alcohol result -- three times the legal limit of intoxication -- for Jordan.

Originally taken to Putnam County Hospital by Operation Life ambulance, Jordan was subsequently arrested at the hospital and then lodged at the Putnam County Jail for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, reckless driving, endangerment with a vehicle/neglect of a dependent and criminal mischief.

When police arrived at the closed city park, Jordan's red Ford Explorer was found wedged against a power pole inside the locked gate of the secluded park, the pole damaging the passenger side in what was termed a violent collision.

Wilson's investigation showed that Jordan apparently had done a doughnut-style burn-out in the rear gravel parking lot before fishtailing into the grass as he drove toward the entrance. Tracks in the grass and mud were consistent with the vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed and fishtailing, Wilson reported.

Sgt. Wilson was assisted by Officers Darrel Bunten and Josh Smith.

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  • "rural Greencastle park that had come under some scrutiny earlier this year for other nefarious incidents"

    Sad statement. Used to be a beautiful park. The Parks Dept. needs to step up and clean it up. Maybe a private business can take it over again if the Parks want to ignore it. Have been to several weddings, cook-outs and family time years ago. Can be beautiful again.

    -- Posted by kids03 on Tue, Nov 27, 2018, at 4:27 AM
  • This guy is a true gem. ...

    -- Posted by GRNT on Tue, Nov 27, 2018, at 7:28 AM
  • No mention of injuries to the kids. Looks like whoever was in the passenger front seat took a hard hit. What a moron.

    -- Posted by Ben Dover on Tue, Nov 27, 2018, at 8:46 AM
  • This park increasingly seems to be a place to avoid.

    -- Posted by Prince of Stardust Hills on Tue, Nov 27, 2018, at 7:33 PM
  • im the son and there was know one in the passanger seat

    -- Posted by joshua jordan 13 on Fri, Sep 24, 2021, at 1:30 PM
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