The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana are asking for the public’s help locating six wanted suspects.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office posted a rare “Johnson County: Most Wanted” poster on social media this week, looking for five suspects wanted on drug charges, and another wanted on a burglary charge. Some of the wanted suspects were holdouts from previous warrant roundups, said Major Damian Katt, investigations division commander.
“We want to try to get these folks off the streets and ultimately save lives,” Katt said.
Michael Lyster, 42, of Indianapolis, was charged last year on two methamphetamine dealing charges, both felonies. If convicted, he faces up to 28 years in prison.
Sheriff’s deputies first became aware of Lyster in 2020. They gathered evidence that he sold drugs twice in August 2020 at locations in Greenwood and Franklin, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Johnson County Superior Court 2.
A warrant was issued for his arrest in July after he failed to appear for a hearing, according to online court records.
Jessica Danielle Johnson, 35, of Columbus, was charged last year on two counts of dealing methamphetamine, both felonies. If convicted, she faces up to 24 years in prison.
Deputies gathered evidence that Johnson sold drugs twice in July and August of 2020 in Franklin, according to a probable cause affidavit also filed in Johnson County Superior Court 2.
A warrant was issued for her arrest last December.
Chadwick Eugene Smoot, 39, of Whiteland, was charged last year with dealing cocaine, a felony. If convicted, he faces up to 12 years in prison.
Franklin police gathered evidence that Smoot sold 3.3 grams of cocaine, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Johnson County Circuit Court.
A warrant was issued for his arrest last December, according to online court records.
Terry Lee Thornburgh, Jr., 43, of Bargersville, was charged in January with possession of meth, cocaine, a narcotic drug and a drug injection device, all felonies, as well as possession of marijuana and carrying a handgun without a license, both misdemeanors. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
Sheriff’s deputies arrested Thornburgh during a traffic stop in January, when a K9 detected the presence of drugs in his car. Officers saw a glass smoking device through his window. They later found 59 hypodermic needles and about 2 grams of meth in a plastic baggie, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Johnson County Circuit Court.
Deputies also found a second baggie that contained 26 grams of meth, 5 grams of cocaine, 1.5 grams of heroin and 3 grams of marijuana. They also found a gun that was not registered to Thornburgh, court documents show.
A warrant was issued for his arrest in March, according to online court records.
Richard D. Hacker, 38, of Franklin, was charged in March with two counts of dealing a control substance, both felonies. If convicted, he faces up to 14.5 years in prison.
Deputies gathered evidence that Hacker sold drugs three times in April 2020 at locations in Greenwood and Franklin, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Johnson County Circuit Court.
A warrant was issued for his arrest in March, according to online court records.
Jawan Tattum Thompson, 23, of Indianapolis, was charged in March with burglary, a felony. If convicted, he faces up to six years in prison.
A warrant was issued for his arrest in March in connection with a 2019 robbery at a Greenwood gun store. Security footage showed a man matching Thompson’s description participating in the burglary with another man. DNA evidence found on a hammer used in the crime matched Thompson’s DNA, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Johnson County Superior Court 3.
Cell phone records also showed Thompson was in the area around the time of the burglary, court documents show.
The sheriff’s office decided to create the poster after a deputy in the narcotics division suggested it. Deputies know the wanted suspects are out there avoiding law enforcement, Katt said.
“While they’re out there, they’re likely continuing their crime of choice. They’re all criminals,” he said.
The sheriff’s office has not ruled out posting more wanted posters in the future. A lot of overdoses are occurring in Johnson County, and overdoses are one of the county’s top causes of death, he said.
Getting these people behind bars could save lives, Katt said.
“Even if it resulted in getting one of these folks (off the street), I think it’d be beneficial,” he said.
Anyone with any information about any of the suspects on the wanted poster is encouraged to contact the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch at 317-346-6336, and/or the sheriff’s office tip line at 317-346-4654. People can also contact Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477, online at crimetips.org or on their app, P3 Tips.
