Multiple law enforcement agencies responded after receiving information at 10 a.m. Friday about the location of an Edinburgh man wanted on a Level 2 felony narcotics warrant issued out of Johnson County.
Investigators determined Jerel Barger, 53, Edinburgh, was located at a residence in the 13000 block of East County Road 900N in Bartholomew County, said Lt. Dane Duke, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.
The investigation was the result of multiple law enforcement agencies including the local Joint Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (JNET), Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Police Department, Indiana State Police and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. This investigation also involved the sheriff’s deputy from Bartholomew County who is assigned as a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) task force officer.
Due to Barger’s lengthy criminal history, the Columbus SWAT Team was utilized to serve the arrest warrant, Duke said. The Columbus SWAT Team is made up of officers from the Columbus Police Department and deputies from the Sheriff’s Office.
Barger was taken into custody then transferred to Johnson County.
Sheriff Chris Lane praised the multi-agency effort saying, “If you allegedly committed felony dealing crimes outside Bartholomew County and plan to come here to a remote part of our county that does not mean we won’t find you. Through cooperation with multiple agencies this individual was found and taken into custody. I’d like to thank all those involved in this effort.”
