Joseph Bret Roland
HANCOCK COUNTY — Officials have issued a warrant for a Knightstown man who took off running from the Hancock County Courthouse Thursday after he found out his bond had been revoked and he was going to have to return to the Hancock County Jail.
Joseph Bret Roland, 34, 20 block of W. Grant Street, Knightstown, was originally charged with a Level 6 felony count of theft from an incident in April of 2022, court records show. Thursday morning he was in Hancock County Superior Court 2 for a 9 a.m. pre-trial conference with Judge Dan Marshall.
Roland had been out on a bond since Nov. 14, 2022 after posting a $1,000 cash bond court records show.
Officials from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department (HCSD), who handle security at the courthouse, say Roland showed up for the hearing in Superior Court 2, dressed in civilian clothes and must have thought he would be leaving after a scheduled pre-trial hearing. However, Judge Marshall had a different plan.
“The judge revoked his bond on his case,” Capt. Robert Harris, HCSD said. “I guess Mr. Roland didn’t want to go back to jail, so he waited a bit then ran out of the courthouse. He was not an inmate in our custody.”
As soon as Roland took off, courthouse security and a jail transport deputy gave chase to the southeast area of the courthouse to a nearby wood line.
A search of the area was unable to locate Roland. Due to the fact he currently resides in Knightstown, officials believe he has somehow made his way back to Henry County or is in the process of trying to do that.
Judge Marshall has since issued a warrant for his arrest. Court records show Roland has a hearing for a public defender slated for Wednesday, 1 p.m. Aug. 30. If anyone should see Roland or knows his whereabouts please call officials with the HCSD.
