Charles Norris

A Cromwell man was arrested late Saturday night by an Indiana Conservation Officer after he was caught illegally hunting.

Around 5 p.m. Saturday, an Indiana Conservation Officer on patrol came across a vehicle near Durham Lake, which directed his attention to a hunter coming out from the woods.

The hunter, identified as Charles E. Norris, 29, of 9925 E. Camelot Rd., Cromwell, was discovered to be wanted on a warrant out of Whitley County.

The Conservation Officer requested back up before attempting to place Norris in custody. Two additional Conservation Officers arrived to assist with the arrest, but  Norris fled prior to being handcuffed. After a short foot pursuit, Norris continued to resist Conservation Officers who fought to place him in handcuffs.

Once Norris was detained, he was transported by North Webster EMS to Kosciusko Community Hospital for medical examination. Norris was medically cleared and transported to the Kosciusko County Jail. Upon arrival at the jail, Norris attempted to escape by jumping from the slowly moving police vehicle and running away on foot while his hands were handcuffed behind his back.

Norris was chased down a second time by Conservation Officers and escorted back to the jail. During the booking process, Norris claimed to have ingested balloons containing methamphetamine earlier in the day so he was transported back to Kosciusko Community Hospital for an additional medical examination.

Norris was medically cleared again before finally being incarcerated at the Kosciusko County Jail at around 11 p.m.

A search of Norris’ criminal history today finds that he was wanted on a warrant out of Whitley County which stemmed from a probation violation. Norris was convicted on 17 counts of burglary in Whitley County and, most recently, a warrant for his arrest was issued earlier this month for the violation of probation.

On the 17 burglary charges, Norris pleaded guilty and was sentenced to serve a total of 19 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. His sentence was eventually reduced to be served in the Whitley County Jail and then Work Release. After more than 14 motions filed by Norris for a sentence modification, he was finally released on probation in November 2009. Norris violated the terms of his probation, however, and a warrant was re-issued for his arrest just this month on Nov. 14.

In addition to being held on the outstanding warrant, Norris was arrested for resisting law enforcement, escape from lawful detention, possession of cocaine, failure to procure a resident hunting license, and being a felon in possession of a handgun.

On the Whitley County warrant, Norris’ bond was set at $30,000 surety. On the local charges, bond is $5,000 surety.