Parole Officer Arrested for Burglary and Official Misconduct

The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana Department of Correction has arrested an Indiana parole officer on charges relating to Burglary, Obstruction and Official Misconduct.

On April 30, 2020 the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office developed information indicating that Indiana State Parole Officer Michael S. Dodge planned and assisted in a burglary that occurred in early December of 2019. The Sheriff’s Office obtained evidence that Dodge participated in the burglary of a residence in the Lamasco area of Evansville. During the time the burglary occurred, Dodge was armed and had been working in an “off-duty” capacity as a law enforcement officer.

Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Correction arranged for Dodge to meet them at the Sheriff’s Operations Center Tuesday afternoon under the pretense of planning for a high risk warrant service. At the beginning of the meeting Dodge was placed under arrest and disarmed. During an interview, Dodge admitted to his involvement in the burglary and cooperated with investigators.

Dodge was booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail at 9:20 PM Tuesday evening and is being held on $10,000 bond.

“Anytime there’s an allegation of criminal action involving a member of the Department of Correction we assign our own investigative personnel to work directly with our local law enforcement partners”, said James Basinger, Deputy Commissioner of Operations for the IDOC. “This joint agency cooperation helps ensure a thorough investigation to identify those who violate the public trust and hold them accountable for their alleged criminal acts.”

The Indiana Department of Correction confirmed that Dodge had been employed as a parole officer since June of 2016 and will be suspended without pay, pending termination of his employment.

Sheriff Dave Wedding stated, “I would like to thank the Department of Correction for their assistance with this investigation. Our two agencies have always worked extremely well together, and that will continue. Thankfully misconduct such as this is rare. The public should have confidence that local and state law enforcement agencies will always hold their personnel accountable.”

ARRESTED:

Michael S. Dodge (pictured above), 41, of Fort Branch. Burglary as a Level 4 Felony, Official Misconduct as a Level 6 Felony, Attempted Obstruction of Justice as a Level 6 Felony, Theft as a Level 6 Felony

Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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