(BEDFORD) – A Bedford man was arrested after Indiana State Police say he intimidated public officials.
Last July, Indiana State Police Trooper Robert Whyte was contacted by a North Lawrence School Board member regarding an alleged threatening email received from a person who identified themselves as James White.
Trooper Whyte says White threatened the school board member to public ridicule if the board member ran for re-election and he would ruin the board member’s life and reputation.
Investigators found evidence that James White had communicated a threat to expose the school board member to contempt, disgrace, and ridicule to discourage an attempt for re-election which was against the board member’s will.
After the criminal investigation began, a second school board member came forward and told investigators of multiple emails received from White threatening them if they ran for re-election or “face consequences.” The emails dated back to 2016.
Jade Ritter
The investigation continued over the next several months, and via many subpoenas and search warrants, investigators found 40-year-old Jade Ritter of Bedford sent the threatening emails.
Ritter was arrested Thursday night on felony counts of intimidation of a public official and synthetic identity deception, and misdemeanor charges of harassment.
