Cassius Aaron Rovenstine

WARSAW — The special prosecutor’s investigation into indictments against Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine approved a recent search warrant request for evidence into alleged “retaliatory investigation” into Warsaw Police Officer.

The Indiana State Police had seized laptops, phones and tablets owned by the county and issued the search warrant to members of the sheriff department including: Don Wiesehan, Rovenstine, Matt Rapp, JD Ayres, Chris Rager, Mike Speigle, Josh Spangle, Todd Sautter, Chris McKean and Joe Money. It is believed these items taken have evidence related to the investigation into Warsaw Police Detective Paul Heaton.

The warrant covered photographs, videos, address books, incoming and outgoing text messages, owner and cell phone information, browser cookies, bookmarks, call logs, SIM card data and memory cards.

ABC 57 News, South Bend, reports Warsaw Police asked the sheriff’s department to record all phone calls and visits to Kevin Bronson in March 2015, and that his special privileges be revoked. Despite this request, unrecorded calls and visits continued until he was moved to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department.

Documentation alleges Rovenstine threatened Heaton twice. The first threat was made on July 2, 2015, when Rovenstine allegedly stated he could “paint a story” making Heaton look like a “crook.” The second was on Aug. 14, 2015, when Heaton was told he, Rovenstine, had investigators too and Heaton did not want World War III.

Allegedly ISP investigators spoke with Speigle, Mooney and Rager on Oct. 14, 2015 and confirmed an investigation into Heaton was opened between July 30 and Oct. 5. Rager told ISP investigators the investigation was conduct based, not criminal. ISP officials documented five of the eight detectives in the sheriff’s department were participating in the investigation.

It is believed the electronic devices seized will have the information regarding “communications between Rovenstine and the detectives as it relates to the retaliatory investigation of Heaton.