Putnam County—Preliminary investigation revealed at approximately 2:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon (June 18), a Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy and a Cloverdale Police Officer accompanied the Putnam County Department of Child Services (DCS) to a business with an apartment on Market Street just west of US 231. The scope of the visit was for DPS workers and law enforcement to execute a Putnam County Circuit Court Order for DCS to take custody of the two week old infant female. Once inside the apartment, the father allegedly became agitated and brandished a handgun. The DPS workers exited the apartment as did the officers to not elevate the risk for the infant. Remaining inside the apartment were the father, mother, and two week old infant. Putnam County Sheriff Scotty Stockton then requested assistance from the Indiana State Police.
Indiana State Police and Putnam County Sheriff negotiators established a dialogue with the male that lasted until approximately 4:45 am this morning. During the event, Indiana State Police SWAT team members from teams “C”, “N” and “S” secured a perimeter around the affected area. On medical standby at the scene during the nearly 15 hour stand-off were Paramedics from Putnam County Operation Life and members of the Cloverdale Township Fire Department. The father, mother, and infant were taken into custody without incident around 4:45 this morning and no injuries to the three or law enforcement occurred. Two handguns were recovered at the scene.
Arrested: James E. Kirby, age 33, of Cloverdale, IN.
Preliminary Charges: Criminal Confinement, Resisting Law Enforcement w/Weapon,
Neglect of a Dependant
The infant was transported by Putnam County Operation Life Paramedics to the Putnam County Hospital for evaluation. After the evaluation, the Putnam Circuit Court will determine placement of the infant.
The investigation is ongoing; but at the time of this release, the mother has not been charged.
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The lead investigator is ISP Detective Don Anglin. Assisting were many troopers and detectives from the Putnamville Post, ISP Hostage Negotiators, ISP SWAT teams, ISP Crime Scene Investigations, Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office, Putnam County Sheriff Scotty Stockton and deputies, Cloverdale Police Department, Putnam County Operation Life , and Cloverdale Township Fire/Rescue.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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