A Bartholomew County man remains at large after he fled police investigating a report of an attempted burglary Monday morning in northwestern Jackson County.
Residents were warned of a possible active shooter situation. After WSLM called the Sheriff’s Department at 2:10p, an employee said the all-clear had been given.
Nathan Shepherd, 31, of Columbus and another Bartholomew County man were seen breaking into a garage in the 3700 block of West State Road 58 in Freetown, police said. That incident was reported to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department at 8:13 a.m.
The second man, Travis Mitchell 32, of Columbus, was later found and arrested after hiding in the garage.
Police convinced him to surrender four and a half hours later, Jackson County Sheriff Mike Carothers said.
Indiana State Police assisted Jackson County Sheriff deputies apprehend one suspect and continue to look for another after a burglary in Freetown this morning.
The incident happened on State Road 58 near Freetown.
“The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department is the primary investigating agency and will be sending a news release out soon,” said ISP Sgt. Stephen Wheeles. “One person was taken into custody at the scene of the burglary. One person remains at large. We don’t have reason to believe the public is in any danger.”
Police are asking the public if they see anyone suspicious in the Freetown area to contact police. Anyone with information about Shepherd’s whereabouts can call the sheriff’s department at 812-358-2141. Reports can be anonymous.
Mitchell was charged with intimidation, burglary, criminal trespassing and resisting law enforcement.
He was also charged with false informing when he gave the Jackson County Jail the the wrong.
Shepherd was last seen around 8:30 a.m. Monday in a camouflage shirt and pants.
Carothers said Shepherd is about 6 feet tall and has dark hair, a thin frame and a dark-colored, thin beard.
“He’s not thought to be dangerous, and we think he’s probably already out of the area,” Carothers said.
Police briefly detained a man thought to be Shepherd just before 2 p.m. in the 11000 block of State Road 135 near the Jackson-Brown county line 4 miles away from the incident.
The man turned out not to be Shepherd and was released, Carothers said.
He said Shepherd fled from inside the garage through a wooded area after police arrived and threatened to shoot at police as he ran.
Carothers said there was no evidence to confirm whether Shepherd or Kinworthy was armed.
“No weapon was ever seen,” he said.
Carothers said officers heard loud noises coming from the garage but could not confirm whether they were gunshots.
“It might have been things falling in the garage,” he said.
Police did prepare as though the two men were armed as they called for armored vehicles from the Seymour Police Department and Indiana State Police.
Mitchell was booked into the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown at 2:05 p.m. without bond.
The Brownstown Police Department also sent officers to the area.
