By John Estridge
For the second time in two months, a Lakeview man has called the police to report a theft, and in each instance has been arrested and charged with felonies and misdemeanors.
In the latest occurrence, Tuesday, December 8, Dwayne H. Littleton, 45, has been charged with Intimidation, as a Level 6 Felony, Criminal Mischief, Criminal Trespass and two counts of Resisting Law Enforcement, as misdemeanors.
According to an Affidavit of Probable Cause filed by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Tyler Ford, at 11:34 a.m., Tuesday, December 8, he, as well as deputies Jason Robinson and Brad Lecher, responded to an address on Lake Street in Lakeview on a Theft complaint.
They arrived about seven minutes later to find Littleton standing on the front porch of his parent’s home. Littleton told the deputies to stop as they approached his property. And that if the officers came onto his property, he would throw a cup of urine at them.
The three deputies stopped at the fence line and tried to calm Littleton. Ford asked for information on why they were called. Littleton told them a female neighbor had taken his Social Security checks. It was the same neighbor blamed for a theft on October 9 during the earlier incident.
When asked why he believed the woman had committed the theft, Littleton was unable to come up with “a coherent answer” but did call the female a name.
Again, the deputies tried to calm Littleton, telling him without information from Littleton, they would not be able to help Littleton.
At that point, Littleton became more hostile inviting the deputies onto his property to fight him.
Also, at that point, Littleton began describing the October 9 incident to the deputies. On that occasion, Littleton had reported the female neighbor came into the Littleton residence and stole $170.
Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy John Roberts was the investigating officer in the October incident. He was assisted at the scene by Indiana Conservation Officer Corey Norrod.
That incident resulted in the officers and Littleton wrestling around after Littleton touched Roberts. As a result of the October 9 incident, Littleton was charged with Battery on a Police Officer by Bodily Waste, a Level 6 Felony and Intimidation, as a class A misdemeanor.
Back at the December 8 incident, Ford and the other deputies told Littleton they could not really talk about the October 9 incident because none of the three were present when it occurred.
During the ensuing conversation, Littleton said descriptive and derisive things about a judge in Franklin County and what he would say to the judge the next time Littleton saw the judge. It was at that point, Littleton hopped over his fence, getting his belt loop stuck on the way over. Upon freeing himself, Littleton picked up a concrete rock off the ground and turned quickly toward Lecher.
Ford drew his taser. However, Littleton turned back toward his neighbor’s house and told the officers Littleton would go and get the money from the neighbor on his own.
Officers, in their vehicles, followed Littleton while keeping a distance in case Littleton threw the rock at their vehicles. Littleton crossed the road, walking by a large No Trespassing sign. Littleton hopped over a horse fence. Robinson and Ford exited their vehicles to apprehend Littleton, and Littleton ran. During the chase, Ford fell in mud and other substances in the horse pasture, getting up and resuming the chase.
Littleton hopped over a barbed wire fence that separated the horse pasture from the residence and then hefted the heavy rock before throwing it through the front window into the residence. Ford pulled his taser, ordering Littleton to the ground. Lecher secured handcuffs on Littleton while Ford kept his taser pointed at Littleton. Robinson went to examine the damage to the window and home.
Ford took Littleton to Ford’s vehicle. Littleton resisted being buckled into the seat while screaming obscenities at the judge and the neighbor. Ford then transported Littleton to the Franklin County Security Center for booking.
Ford was then called to the booking area about 2 p.m., as Littleton was kicking his cell door. After Littleton refused to heed several orders to stop kicking, jailers were forced to take a restraint chair into the cell, strapping Littleton onto the chair. Littleton continued to kick, which resulted in his legs being placed in shackles.
According to mycase.in.gov, Littleton pleaded not guilty to the Oct. 9 charges. He is represented by public defender Mark Jones. A jury trial has been set for 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 17, 2021, before Franklin Circuit Court 2 Judge Clay Kellerman. With the Dec. 8 case, no initial hearing has been set.
If convicted of a Level 6 Felony, Littleton could receive from six months to two and a half years in the FCSC.