Staff Report

Jessie B. Haradon

Joseph R. Thompson

GOSHEN — Two men from Warsaw were recently arrested after allegedly robbing a man at the Walmart in Goshen.

Jessie B. Haradon, 40, 2605 E. Center St., Warsaw; and Joseph R. Thompson, 37, 622 E. Fort Wayne St., Warsaw, are each charged with robbery resulting in bodily injury, a level 3 felony; impersonation of a public servant, a level 6 felony; and theft, a class A misdemeanor.

On June 30, Goshen Police officers responded to the Goshen Walmart regarding a report of an auto theft in progress. Officers were provided with descriptions of two suspects, later identified as Haradon and Thompson, wearing black Batman shirts.

According to court documents, Haradon and Thompson were both found about a mile from the store.

A man said he was in his vehicle in Walmart’s parking lot when he was approached by Haradon and Thompson. The man told officers he didn’t know either of them and had never seen them before. He said Haradon and Thompson both told him they were police officers and ordered him to give all his belongings up. The man gathered his belongings and walked away from his vehicle.

Haradon and Thompson then got into the man’s vehicle and attempted to start it. However, upon realizing the man still had the vehicle’s key fob, Haradon and Thompson ran after the man.

Haradon and Thompson allegedly punched and kicked the man, who received scrapes on his right arm from the incident.

One witness said she saw the man get battered by Haradon and Thompson. She said one of the suspects told her to get away and said the man they were battering was under arrest.

A Walmart asset protection associate said Haradon and Thompson also stole merchandise from the store. Video surveillance showed both Haradon and Thompson leaving the store wearing different clothing than what they wore while entering.

Both Haradon and Thompson were booked in the Elkhart County Jail on June 30.