Staff Report

John Micheal Walsh

CLAYPOOL – A Claypool man was arrested for allegedly possessing a firearm as a felon and fleeing from police officers.

John Micheal Walsh, 29, 9037 S. Dale Lane, Claypool, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a level 4 felony; and resisting law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor.

On Oct. 24, officers with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office and Indiana Department of Natural Resources responded to a report of shots fired at a residence in Claypool. A person reported that Walsh was revving vehicles and discharging firearms even though he was prohibited from possessing guns.

According to court documents, two nearby hunters said they heard the loud engine revving and a small drone flew over their location. When the hunters signaled the drone’s operator to stop flying the drone over them, they said they heard a full magazine of handgun rounds fired from the direction of Walsh’s residence.

Officers asked Walsh to exit his home, but Walsh fled on foot from the officers. At one point, Walsh entered a body of water and attempted to swim away. However, he agreed to return to shore due to the cold-water temperatures.

Walsh said he fled from police because his encounters with law enforcement “don’t end well.” He admitted to revving the vehicles and flying the drone but denied discharging firearms as he was prohibited from owning guns.

At the scene, officers located multiple firearms. A witness confirmed Walsh discharged a handgun.

Walsh is classified as a serious violent felon, having been convicted of burglary in Kosciusko County in April 2018.

Walsh has already been arrested and released on bond. He has an initial hearing at 8:15 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, in Kosciusko Superior Court One.