COLUMBUS, Ind. –Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies said a SWAT team callout led to the arrest of a local man on a petition to revoke pretrial release on a number of drug and other charges.
The sheriff’s office initiated an investigation into Chad Houchins, 48, of 518 South St., Hope who was wanted on a felony warrant, said Lt. Dane Duke, sheriff’s office spokesman. The warrant stemmed from a petition to revoke pretrial release on multiple charges including dealing in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and unlawful possession of a syringe.
During the investigation, deputies determined Houchins had tampered with his electronic monitoring device by removing his house arrest bracelet, resulting in an additional warrant being issued on Oct. 17 for escape, Duke said.
During the investigation information was developed by Deputy Dylan Prather in regards to Houchins’ location. As a result of the information gathered a search warrant was granted for a residence in the 500 block of South Street in Hope.
The Columbus Police Department SWAT team, a joint team made up of officers from the Columbus Police Department and deputies of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, were called to the scene to assist in the service of the arrest warrant/search warrant. Houchins was located concealing himself inside a vehicle on the property and taken into custody, Duke said.
Houchins was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail and remanded to the custody of jail on the outstanding warrants. He currently remains in custody at the Bartholomew County Jail held with no bond.
Assisting agencies include the Columbus Police Department and Hope Police Department.
