Grant County – Yesterday, a criminal investigation by Indiana State Police Detective Mike Tarrh resulted in the arrest of former Sweetser Town Marshal Chris Tarlton, 33, Marion, IN. Tarlton was arrested at his current place of employment when deputies, from the Grant County Sheriff’s Department, served him with a Grant Superior Court III arrest warrant. The warrant alleged two class D felony counts of official misconduct. Tarlton was incarcerated in the Grant County Jail with a bond of $6,000.
Tarrh started an investigation after receiving information that Tarlton had allegedly provided false information when purchasing a handgun for an acquaintance. Tarlton had purportedly written an official letter to a gun supply company identifying the acquaintance as a police officer. This information was false. It was allegedly a ruse to buy the gun at a discounted law enforcement rate for the acquaintance.
During the investigation, Tarrh also learned that Tarlton was certified as a drug recognition expert (DRE). To remain certified as a DRE Tarlton was required to complete two exams a year. On multiple occasions Tarlton allegedly requested that a Sweetser man smoke marijuana, so Tarlton could perform the required exams on him. The man refused. Indiana standards do not require a person to be high or over medicated in order for exams to be conducted for certification. Exams should always be conducted in a controlled environment.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law
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