On Tuesday, May 18th, the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section and the ISP Bloomington District A.C.E.S. (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Section) obtained information that Harold E. Leatherman, 35 years old of Mitchell, was involved in dealing methamphetamine. In addition, they had the belief that Leatherman was in possession of several grams of methamphetamine at that time.
At approximately 12:45 pm, Sgt. Greg Day met Leatherman driving a Mitsubishi Eclipse northbound on 3rd Street, near Warren Street, in Mitchell. Sgt. Day knew that Leatherman had a suspended driver’s license.
As Sgt. Day began to turn around in an attempt to initiate a traffic stop, Leatherman accelerated and fled. Leatherman disregarded Sgt. Day’s emergency lights and siren, refusing to stop. Sgt. Day pursued Leatherman onto Meridian Street, then east on Mill Creek, eventually onto Pumphouse Road.
Leatherman continued to refuse to stop, driving at high speeds on the rural county roads. There was no traffic in the area, but as speeds continued to get faster, Leatherman started driving off the roadway near Camp Rivervale. At that time, Sgt. Day terminated the pursuit to prevent it from escalating further into a dangerous situation for the public.
The Mitsubishi was later located abandoned in a cornfield on Rivervale Road. A canine track was unsuccessful. The ISP Aviation Section responded, but also could not locate Leatherman. However, inside the vehicle, troopers located marijuana and approximately 10 grams of methamphetamine.
ISP requested and obtained arrest warrants on Leatherman for the following charges,
- Dealing Methamphetamine (Level 3 Felony)
- Attempted Dealing Methamphetamine (Level 3 Felony)
- Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 5 Felony)
- Possession of Marijuana (Class B Misdemeanor)
- Resisting Law Enforcement in a Vehicle (Level 6 Felony)
On Monday, May 24th, ISP utilized a variety of investigative techniques and discovered that Leatherman was at the 6000 block of SR 60 West. DES Detectives, along with Sgt. Day and Troopers Chance Humphrey, Caleb Garvin, and Richard Klun went to the residence. Leatherman was found to be hiding in a nearby wood line, but as he attempted to jump up and run, troopers had him surrounded. Leatherman was taken into custody without further incident.
Troopers located a baggie of approximately 20 grams of marijuana and another baggie of approximately 1 gram of methamphetamine in the weeds where Leatherman had been hiding.
Leatherman was arrested and incarcerated at the Lawrence County Jail on the warrant stemming from the May 18th incident, as well as additional new charges of,
- Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)
- Possession of Marijuana (Class B Misdemeanor)
ISP was assisted by both the Bedford Police Department and the Lawrence County Police Department during and after the vehicle pursuit.
Anyone with illegal drug activity information is requested to call the Indiana State Police Bloomington Post at 812-332-4411, the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office tip line at 812-545-4700, or send an email to drugactivity@
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
