A multi-agency drug investigation has landed 17 people behind bars for their connection to a large narcotics operation spanning from Indianapolis to Muncie.

The investigation began in March of this year and led police to serve 14 search warrants earlier this week.

The search warrants were executed in a cooperated effort with the Muncie Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, The Deleware County Prosecutor’s Office, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Indiana State Police SWAT, Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Investigators and Troopers from both the Indianapolis and Pendleton Districts. 

As a result of this investigation, police seized:

• 1 pound of heroin
• 5 ounces of methamphetamine
• 20 grams of cocaine
• 15 pounds of marijuana
• $88,945 in suspected drug money
• 7 handguns (one of which was stolen)
• 3 rifles
• 1 shotgun

The Indiana State Police arrested 17 people in this case, most are now facing serious drug related charges. All suspects are from Indianapolis unless otherwise noted.

• Marcus Bennett, 37
• Cory Poore, 28
• Joseph Majko Jr., 63
• Michael Campbell, 45 (was wanted on an unrelated warrant)
• Tara Martin, 30
• Buddy Rutar, 32
• John Smith, 61
• Jaquise Reed, 18
• Dontae Lawrence, 19
• Broderick Bullock, 33
• Anton Holland, 31
• Danny Terry, 33
• Alysia Muir, 24
• Richelle Bennett, 39
• David Eads, 29 (Elletsville)
• Letha Kersey, 34
• Vera Kersey, 58

A Parallel investigation conducted by the Muncie Police Department Narcotics Unit resulted in the arrest of Deleware County Deputy Jerry Parks. For more information about this arrest please contact the Deleware County Prosecutor’s Office.

A Seymour woman was arrested today by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department on several charges stemming from investigations that started in 2016.

Teresa L Cantu, 50, of Seymour, IN, was arrested on a charge of perjury, insurance and bank fraud. 

In August of this year, Ms. Cantu attempted to get public assistance for a utility bill from the Redding Township Trustee in Reddington, IN. 

During her application process, Ms. Cantu failed to report all sources of income and property that she owns in Jackson County. 

The trustee’s office reported the incident to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.  Ms. Cantu was arrested on 9/17/17 for perjury a level 6 felony and welfare fraud a class A misdemeanor.

Ms. Cantu was also arrested for insurance fraud level 5 felony and theft a level 6 felony from an investigation starting in 2016. 

Ms. Cantu had received a settlement check from an insurance company from a crash she had been involved in.  She submitted the false information to the insurance company from her former place of employment, an attorney’s office in Seymour, IN.

Ms. Cantu was also arrested for fraud on a financial institution a level 5 felony from an investigation that also started in 2016 involving her application to have her house in Seymour, IN, refinanced through a mortgage company. 

Ms. Cantu submitted false income information from the same former employer’s office that was used to receive the refinancing on her home.

Reserve Deputy Scott Davis conducted the investigations and arrested Ms. Cantu.

Cantu is being held without bond in the Jackson County Jail.

An attempt to pull over a wanted Tell City man resulted in a lengthy vehicle pursuit and suspect in jail.

Arrested and Charged was Blake A. Hensley, 30, Tell City, IN
– Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, Level 6 Felony
– Criminal Recklessness while Driving Aggressively (x2), Level 6 Felony
– Resisting Law Enforcement, Class A Misdemeanor
– Reckless Driving, Class B Misdemeanor
– Operating While Intoxicated, Test Refusal, Class C Misdemeanor
– Warrant, Warrick County, IN, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer

Around 12:40 AM Saturday, Trooper Jeremy Galloway was patrolling 9th Street in Tell City when he watched a 2009 Pontiac G6 disregard a stop sign at 9th and Steuben Streets. 

Galloway recognized the vehicle as that belonging to Hensley. 

Galloway knew that Hensley had an active arrest warrant through Warrick County for battering a police officer. 

Galloway caught up to the Pontiac and attempted to pull Hensley over; however, Hensley accelerated, fleeing from Galloway towards Troy. 

Hensley led Galloway along State Road 66 to Troy, north to Saint Marks, and eventually east to Deer Creek Road near State Road 66.

Galloway had been told by assisting officers that they were in position on State Road 66 near Rocky Point in Perry County, should the pursuit lead back into that direction. 

As Hensley was nearing SR66, he crashed into Galloway’s police car, causing front end damage to Galloway’s vehicle. 

After crashing into Galloway, Hensley turned west onto SR66 and continued towards Rocky Point.

After passing Rocky Point and driving along State Road 166 into Tobinsport, Perry County Chief Deputy Eric Dickenson joined the pursuit as Hensley drove through campgrounds, a soybean field, and crashing into a shelter house. 

After getting back onto SR166, Galloway had pulled in front of Hensley in an attempt to slow him down and stop him. 

Hensley drove off the roadway, ran over a street sign, came back onto SR166 and crashed into the rear of Galloway’s police car. 

Hensley drove off the road again, and again when back on SR166, crashed into the passenger side of Galloway’s police car.

Deputy Daymion Marsh successfully deployed tire deflation devices across State Road 166 near Millstone Road, causing Hensley’s tires to deflate.  Hensley eventually drove off of the roadway and began running from officers into the woods.

Trooper Kurtis Blunk and Tell City Police officers chased after Hensley, catching him as he ran into the Ohio River.  After not complying with officers and fighting them as they tried to place him into custody, Hensley was tased by Tell City Police.  He was then handcuffed and walked back to the roadway.

Hensley was lodged in the Perry County Detention Center.

State Police was assisted by Chief Deputy Eric Dickenson and Deputy Daymion Marsh, and Tell City Police officers, Lieutenant Detective Roger Smith and Officers Heather Glenn, Ash Meserve, and Jeff Casebolt.

On Friday, September 15, 2017, the Indiana State Police arrested a Hanover, Indiana woman for numerous charges related to a burglary investigation that began ten days earlier. She had previously been arrested in April for credit card fraud. 

The investigation led to the arrest of Angela M. Edwards, age 37, Hanover.

Edwards was arrested on preliminary charges of:    

• Burglary, level 4 Felony
• Fraud, level 6 Felony
• Identity Deception, level 6 Felony          
• Theft, Class A Misdemeanor
• Possession of Stolen Property, Class A Misdemeaner

Edwards was transported to the Jefferson County Jail where she was incarcerated pending her initial court appearance.

The investigation by Trooper Michael Thiron began on September 5, 2017 when he responded to a report of a burglary that occurred at 3812 West Deer Bend Drive, Hanover, Indiana in which cash, credit card numbers, and other items were stolen. 

During the investigation, Trp. Thiron obtained information that ultimately led to a search warrant being served at 3800 West Deer Bend Drive on September 15. 

During the search warrant, Trp. Thiron and other troopers with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post located evidence which led to the arrest of Edwards.

Madison Police arrested Edwards back in April after she allegedly took another person’s credit card and used it to purchase hundreds of dollars worth of pre-paid credit cards at a local store.

Edwards faced Level 6 felony counts of theft and fraud following an investigation after the credit card account holder alerted police that someone had used the card for a purchase of more than $100. Prosecutors filed the charges under seal on April 25.

The account holder notified police on April 17 that he received a text notification about his wife’s credit card being used at a hilltop store for a purchase exceeding $100, the probable cause affidavit stated. The wife said she was not at the store and the credit card was missing from her purse.

Store records showed three transactions made with the card at 3:21 p.m., 3:23 p.m. and 3:24 p.m. Each of the purchases were for $200 Visa Debit gift cards and other miscellaneous items, the affidavit said.

Surveillance video from the store indicated a female made the transactions, but the account holder couldn’t identify the woman. His wife – a teacher – identified the female as someone who volunteered in her classroom earlier in the day and said Edwards could have had access to the purse and credit card.

The cashier at the store told police that the credit card was flagged after three transactions and she told the woman an identification would be needed to purchase additional gift cards. Edwards allegedly told the cashier that her identification was lost or stolen and couldn’t be provided at that time, so she left two more gift cards behind and exited the store.

Detectives and officers went to Edwards’ home to speak with her about the complaint.

The woman told police she had volunteered at the school during the day and allowed police to search her purse for the items. Police failed to locate the items in the woman’s purse, the affidavit said, but later discovered the missing credit card and gift cards in the home.

Edwards told police she had no recollection of stealing the credit card from the classroom or purchasing items at the store.

A warrant for Edward’s arrest was issued, and officers arrested her back in April.