Rushville, In. — In early April around 11:30 p.m., an off duty Carthage Deputy Town Marshal, Jonathan R. Hancock, 38, interrupted a burglary in progress at a local business in Carthage. Hancock, who lives near the business, confronted three suspects as they were coming out after breaking in, identifying himself as a police officer. The suspects began to flee on foot during which time the officer gave chase and fired shots, but none of the suspects were struck.
One juvenile suspect was caught and taken into custody, but the other two suspects fled and are still at large. The Rush County Sheriff’s Department is conducting the burglary investigation, and the Indiana State Police were requested by the Rush County Prosecutor’s Office to conduct an investigation into the shots fired.
After the shots fired portion of the investigation was completed by Detective Sergeant Scott Jarvis it was turned over to the Rush County Prosecutor’s Officer for their review. After their review, a warrant for the charges of Level 6 Felony Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon; Level 6 Felony Impersonation of a Public Servant; Level 6 Felony Official Misconduct of a Public Servant and Level 6 Felony Pointing a Firearm at Another was issued for John Hancock.
The Impersonation of an Officer charge stems from Hancock not completing his yearly Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) required training in 2018, to remain certified as a police officer in Indiana. Hancock turned himself in at the Rush County Jail today and later bonded out. This is all the information available for release, and any further questions should be referred to the Rush County Prosecutor’s Office.
