An Edinburgh man sentenced to nearly 40 years for meth dealing surfaced Thursday in rural Greenfield after the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office received a tip he was living in a tent there.
Johnson County deputies attempted to apprehend Michael Paul Riddle, 37, at 10:37 a.m. Thursday in the area near County Roads 300 North and 125 West in Hancock County, said Duane Burgess, Johnson County sheriff.
Michael Paul Riddle, 36, was set to be sentenced Sept. 21 in Johnson County Circuit Court, but is now on the run.
For a case filed Jan. 29, Riddle was sentenced to 22 years for conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony, all executed, with credit for 243 days served, according to court documents.
For a separate case filed April 30, Riddle was sentenced to 17.5 years for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, also a Level 2 felony; six years for possession of a handgun with an altered serial number, a Level 5 felony; and one year for possession of a handgun without a license, a misdemeanor, court documents show.
Maj. Damian Katt with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said detectives spotted Riddle at the Heartland Resort, a campground and RV park, from a distance and that he ran, initiating a foot pursuit and call for area law enforcement agencies to assist in the resulting search.
Capt. Chuck McMichael with the Greenfield Police Department said along with the GPD and Johnson County deputies, he was also aware of assistance from the Indiana State Police, New Palestine Police Department and the Shirley Police Department. Burgess said U.S. Marshals were involved in the search.
From Johnson County alone 15 officers, some on horseback and others handling K-9s are combing the rural area on the ground, while drones search the area from the air. In total there were about 25 to 30 officers involved at the peak of the search efforts, McMichael said.
Officers searched woods, cornfields, creek beds and along the perimeter fencing of I-70 to the south as well as barns, sheds and other outbuildings throughout the area.
At around 2 p.m., the active search for Riddle had been called off, after the K-9 officers began to lose Riddle’s scent, McMichael said.
“We will still have officers in the area as well as Johnson County (officers) just trying to see if the guy were to poke back up, but at this point, the full-out grid search has been terminated,” McMichael said.
Riddle is considered to be armed and dangerous. The detectives who attempted to take Riddle into custody Thursday morning did not see him with a gun, but that he’s often had a handgun on him in the past, Katt said.
“Every time we’ve had an interaction with him, he has been armed,” Katt said. “His past history would be a good indication that he’s probably armed again.”
Residents in and around the search area were initially urged to stay inside and lock their doors and windows, but now residents are advised to stay vigilant and cautious of their surroundings, McMichael said.
When Riddle is brought to justice he will face a 37-year sentence and possibly additional charges stemming from the chase.
On Sept. 21 Circuit Court Judge Andrew Roesener sentenced Riddle in absentia and ordered that the time for both cases be served consecutively, or one after another, according to court documents.
Roesener also ordered that Riddle’s altered Taurus Millennium G2 9mm handgun be forfeited to the sheriff’s office for destruction, documents said.
Riddle was released on $66,000 bond Sept. 18, and was told to report back to the jail on Sept. 21 to appear via video for his sentencing hearing, according to online court records.
A warrant for failure to appear was issued Sept. 22.
Burgess said deputies have been following up on several tips from friends, family and associates in the weeks since Riddle’s disappearance. It was one of those tips that lead deputies to the tent in rural Greenfield, he said.
Anyone who sights Riddle is asked to reach out with information.
Tips may be submitted to Crimestoppers with the P3Tips mobile application, by phone at 317-262-8477, or online at crimetips.org or p3tips.com.
The public may also submit tips directly to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office by calling 317-346-4654.
He is described as a white male, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 165 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.
Mitchell Kirk of the Daily Reporter in Greenfield contributed to this report.
