Vigo County—At the request of the Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office and Vigo County Sheriff Greg Ewing, ISP Detectives from the Putnamville Post are currently investigating allegations against as many as four Vigo County Sheriff’s Office Special Deputies.
On August 23rd, the non-payroll special deputies were allegedly performing traffic control functions within the Vigo County Fairgrounds for an event. The special deputies are alleged to have issued citations to motorists for various offenses. The motorists were allegedly told a cash payment in lieu of the citations being submitted to the court was an option. Some of the victims are reported to have taken the cash option and then summoned law enforcement to report the alleged improprieties. The special deputies were reportedly wearing tan deputy sheriff T-shirts, driving their personal vehicles with the sheriff signs attached to the exterior and utilizing red and blue lights.
If anyone was approached by the special deputies inside the Vigo County Fairgrounds, written a traffic citation, and offered the chance to pay cash to the officer(s), in lieu of the tickets being submitted to the court, they are urged to contact ISP Detective Tony Guinn, Putnamville Post, at 765-653-4114.
Some of the victims reside outside the State of Indiana, so this investigation is expected to take three to four weeks before the report is submitted to the Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office. The Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office will then review the case and determine any possible charges.
The alleged acts were not endorsed by Vigo County Sheriff Greg Ewing and did not involve any of the full-time payroll deputies. These alleged acts occurred contrary to the professional standards of the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation is ongoing no other information can be released.
Direct ISP investigation questions to Sergeant Joe Watts.
Direct special deputy or sheriff’s office protocols to Vigo County Sheriff Greg Ewing at 812-462-3226.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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