This story has been updated.
HANCOCK COUNTY — A fugitive who had fled rather than face a long prison sentence for drug dealing turned himself in early Saturday morning.
Michael Paul Riddle, 37, of Edinburgh, was the subject of a manhunt on Thursday in Hancock County after he was spotted by members of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office who were tracking him.
A post on the Greenfield Police Department’s Facebook page announced that Riddle had surrendered at the Johnson County Jail early Saturday (Oct. 10).
Members of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office had attempted to apprehend Riddle, 37, at 10:37 a.m. Thursday at Heartland Resort, an RV and camp resort at 1613 W. County Road 300N, after receiving a tip he was living in a tent there.
Riddle was set to be sentenced on drug charges Sept. 21 in Johnson County Circuit Court, but had been in hiding for several weeks. He faces a 37-year sentence for cases involving dealing methamphetamine and possibly additional charges stemming from Thursday’s chase.
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Maj. Damian Katt with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said detectives spotted Riddle at Heartland Resort from a distance and that he ran, initiating a foot pursuit and call for area law enforcement agencies to assist in the resulting search.
Capt. Chuck McMichael with the Greenfield Police Department said along with the GPD and Johnson County deputies, he was also aware of assistance from the Indiana State Police, New Palestine Police Department and the Shirley Police Department.
Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess said U.S. Marshals were involved in the search as well.
There were likely about 25 to 30 officers involved at the peak of the search efforts, McMichael said, which included K-9s, at least three drones and Johnson County officers on horseback.
McMichael said the search perimeter eventually extended east to Franklin Street in Greenfield and that officers were posted along County Road 300N as well. They searched woods, cornfields, creek beds and along the perimeter fencing of I-70 to the south as well as barns, sheds and other outbuildings throughout the area.
Riddle had plenty of ways to interrupt his pursuers’ sight lines.
“This part of the county right here, the north end of town, is very wooded,” McMichael said. “I didn’t realize that until today — how much standing timber there is around here. Plus the cornfields; there’s still several cornfields that have not been plowed yet.”
At around 2 p.m., McMichael said the active search for Riddle had been called off. He said it had gotten to the point where the dogs began to tire and were not picking up on any scents that would assist in tracking the fugitive.
“We will still have officers in the area as well as Johnson County (officers) just trying to see if the guy were to poke back up, but at this point, the full-out grid search has been terminated,” McMichael said.
Law enforcement is considering Riddle armed and dangerous. Katt said the detectives who attempted to take Riddle into custody Thursday morning did not see him with a gun, but that he’s often had a handgun on him in the past.
“Every time we’ve had an interaction with him, he has been armed,” Katt said. “His past history would be a good indication that he’s probably armed again.”
Residents in and around the search area were initially urged to stay inside and lock their doors and windows. McMichael said after the active search was called off Thursday afternoon that such precautions were no longer necessary, but that people should be remain vigilant and cautious of their surroundings.
Riddle was last seen wearing a blue T-shirt and black sweatpants. He is described as a white male; 5 feet, 7 inches tall; weighs 165 pounds; and has brown hair and blue eyes.
There is a $1,000 reward for information leading to Riddle’s arrest.
Tips may be submitted to Crimestoppers with the P3Tips mobile application, by phone at 317-262-8477, or online at crimetips.org or p3tips.com.
The public may also submit tips directly to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office by calling 317-346-4654.
Those who see Riddle or anyone matching his description should not approach him, but call 911 immediately.
For a case filed Jan. 29, Riddle was sentenced to 22 years for conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony, all executed, with credit for 243 days served, according to court documents.
For a separate case filed April 30, Riddle was sentenced to 17.5 years for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, also a Level 2 felony; six years for possession of a handgun with an altered serial number, a Level 5 felony; and one year for possession of a handgun without a license, a misdemeanor, court documents show.
He was released on $66,000 bond Sept. 18, and was told to report back to the jail on Sept. 21 to appear via video for his sentencing hearing, according to online court records. He didn’t show up.
On Sept. 21 Circuit Court Judge Andrew Roesener sentenced Riddle in absentia and ordered that the time for both cases be served consecutively, or one after another, according to court documents.
A warrant for failure to appear was issued Sept. 22.
Burgess said deputies have been following up on several tips from friends, family and associates in the weeks since Riddle’s disappearance. It was one of those tips that lead deputies to the tent in rural Greenfield, he said.
