HELMSBURG — A man from East Chicago was taken to a hospital for evaluation after police received reports of theft and disorderly conduct in Nashville and at the Helmsburg General Store.
Just before 1 p.m. March 20, Brown County Dispatch received a report of theft at a gas station in Nashville. Shortly after that report, a complaint was made about a disorderly black man at Main and Jefferson streets, according to an incident report by Lt. Mike Moore with the Brown County Sheriff’s Department.
It was later reported that the man was westbound on Helmsburg Road in a vehicle, and at around 1:15 p.m., dispatch reported there was a man acting strangely at the Helmsburg store.
Moore arrived at the store at 1:18 p.m. and saw a white vehicle in front of the store with a broken window and an open door. The vehicle matched the one that was reported to have been involved in the theft at the gas station in Nashville, and in the incident at Main and Jefferson streets, he wrote in his report.
Moore entered the store and found a black man in a hooded sweatshirt at the counter. He was making “odd statements,” the police report said.
The man told Moore that he was the president of the United States and the president of Indiana University. The man had an IU student ID, Moore wrote.
The man had a gas can in one hand and other items in his other hand. He told the officer he would not put the items down, and he said he had taken something from Speedway, the report states.
Moore drew his Taser. He told the man to put the items down and keep his hands where he could see them or he would have to use the Taser on him, the report said.
The man refused to follow directions and became more aggressive. He started yelling, “Don’t shoot me” and other things, and saying he was not the man whose name was on the IU ID. He also said the car in front of the store was not his, the report said.
Due to his “erratic behavior,” Moore told the man he was taking him into custody for his safety. He started to comply with Moore’s orders to put the items down and put his hands behind his back, but he began to struggle when Moore tried to handcuff him, according to the incident report.
Moore wrote that he had to restrain him and place him on the floor of the store to handcuff him. When backup arrived, the man continued to struggle and yell that he was the president, the report said.
While resisting arrest, the man bent back Moore’s right finger and cut Moore’s left thumb with his fingernails, the report said.
Moore was able to get the name of the vehicle’s registered owner. A photo on file with the license bureau matched the man inside the store, Moore wrote.
The man was taken to IU Health Bloomington Hospital for an emergency detention and evaluation, the incident report states.
While searching the man at the store, Moore reported finding a box of bullets, four lighters, a USB cigarette lighter adapter and stolen sunglasses on him. He also had money in his left sock that police left in his custody, along with his wallet and ID.
Moore said he was told that at some point while he was in the Helmsburg store, the man had tried to pay for items using ammunition.
While inventorying his car, police reported finding two handguns, a BB/air gun, a box of ammunition and marijuana. The vehicle was towed for safekeeping.
The case still is under investigation. At press time, no charges had been filed against the man.
