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.
Riddle was set to be sentenced Sept. 21 in Johnson County Circuit Court, but had been in hiding for several weeks. When he is brought to justice he will face a 37-year sentence and possibly additional charges stemming from the chase.
For a case filed Jan. 29, he 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.
He 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.
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.
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.
As deputies were approaching the tent he was believed to be staying in, a witness saw Riddle flee on foot, Burgess said. The Johnson County deputies immediately gave chase and called in a multi-agency search party to pursue him, Burgess said.
Deputies, with help from Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, Greenfield Police, Indiana State Police and the U.S. Marshall’s Office, are pulling out all the stops to find Riddle, Burgess said.
From Johnson County alone, 15 officers, including some on horseback and others handling K-9s, are combing the rural area on the ground, while drones search the area from the air, Burgess said.
Riddle is considered to be armed and dangerous and the Greenfield Police have asked area residents to stay inside and lock their doors and windows, according to a Facebook post from the police department.
Anyone who sights Riddle, who was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt and black sweatpants, 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.
Riddle is described as a white male, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 165 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes, according to a Crimestoppers news release.
