HENRYVILLE,
IN (WAVE) – More than a dozen people were either cited or arrested after an
undercover sting at a southern Indiana state park.
Indiana Department of Natural Resource
conservation officers said recently they've received several complaints about
public indecency and drug use going on in broad daylight at Clark State Forest,
so they went undercover and that's exactly what they found.
Clark
County Prosecutor Steve Stewart said conservation officers set up an undercover
sting to try to catch criminals in action.
"I
would never fathom that anyone around here would be at this park doing
this," said Joshua Pierson, who came to the park with his family.
Other
park goers weren't that shocked. "It doesn't surprise me, I mean you walk
around here and you see some odd individuals that seem to just drive around for
no particular reason at all," said James Jordan.
It
didn't take long for those undercover cops to come in contact with Sonny McIntosh, 38.
"In
two different instances they were approached by people who made sexual advances
to them in," said Stewart. "One even so bold to grab his groin
area."
McIntosh
was arrested and charged with public indecency and battery. Court documents
state Allen Howard, 57, even warned an uncover officer that these type
of sting operations were going on. Officers said he then starting touching
himself and was arrested and charged with public indecency.
A
day later, two people were picked up after investigators say they were having
sex in a car and smoking marijuana.
In
all DNR arrested six people, and 13 others were cited. "It is hopeful that
the efforts by the conservation officers will help clean the area up,"
said Stewart.
Those
arrested have since bonded of out of jail. They are due back in court next
week.
Copyright 2012 WAVE News. All
rights reserved.
Allen Howard (Source: Clark County Jail)
Sonny McIntosh (Source: Clark County Jail)
The park where the arrests took place.
