Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Charged With Sexual Misconduct With a Minor

A former Cass County Sheriff’s deputy was booked into jail Friday night on a charge of sexual misconduct with a minor after waiting hours to exit his residence and surrender to police.

Travis Lee Evans, 42, Logansport, was booked into the Cass County Jail at 10:23 p.m. Sept. 22, according to information released by the jail.

Logansport Police Lt. A.J. Rozzi said Evans was charged with sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 4 felony.

Rozzi said the charge stemmed from a Grant County Sheriff’s Office investigation. He said the Grant County Sheriff’s Office began its investigation on Sept. 15 after a female juvenile living in Grant County reported Evans had sexual relations with her in Logansport.

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Logansport Police Department about the investigation Friday afternoon, Rozzi said.

Officers with the LPD and Cass County Sheriff’s Department went to Evans’ residence in the 100 block of West Miami Avenue, Rozzi said.

Law enforcement officers made contact with Evans and established a “loose perimeter” near his residence, according to Rozzi.

Evans became aware of law enforcement’s presence near his residence at about 6 p.m. and initially refused to exit the residence, Rozzi said.

“It was a very fast-moving situation,” Rozzi said.

The LPD’s SWAT team then established a perimeter around the residence, Rozzi said, adding precautions were taken based on the knowledge Evans owned weapons.

Evans never displayed weapons or threatened officers and there was no indication anyone else was in the residence with him, Rozzi said.

“Our very last option is to tactically enter a house,” Rozzi said, adding officers’ main goal continued to be to get Evans to come out on his own safely.

Evans did just that about two to three hours after his initial refusal, Rozzi said. He added neither Evans nor any officers were injured and that Evans was alone in the residence.

Rozzi said Evans was questioned at the LPD before being transported to the Cass County Jail.

Cass County Sheriff Randy Pryor said Evans was later transported to the White County Jail. He said he felt it was best because Evans used to be a Cass County Sheriff’s deputy.

Evans resigned Jan. 1, 2017 after working for the Cass County Sheriff’s Department for about eight to nine years, Pryor said.

Officers executed a search warrant at the residence late Friday and into early Saturday, Rozzi said.

Rozzi said the investigation is ongoing.

Source: http://www.pharostribune.com/news/local_news/article_28bec62e-a05e-11e7-9b4e-637f62e87687.html