RISING SUN – On Monday, November 13, 2023, the former police chief of the Rising Sun (IN) Police Department was arrested on seventeen felony charges.
The arrest came after a four-month investigation by detectives with the Indiana State Police-Sellersburg and Versailles Districts.
In July of this year, Indiana State Police Detectives David Mitchell and Grant Martin began an investigation after a concerned citizen reported that he was possibly defrauded by Harlis Steven Hoover, Jr, 37, of Lawrenceburg, Indiana.
In December 2021, Hoover allegedly borrowed $10,000 from the individual to purchase an automobile. There was no evidence that Hoover ever purchased the automobile. He then convinced the man to forgive the loan while in his role as the Rising Sun Police Chief.
Through the investigation, it was determined that Hoover also borrowed money to purchase other vehicles, although there was no evidence that the automobiles were purchased, and the money was not repaid.
In two cases, Hoover allegedly purchased and sold vehicles for profit without signing the titles. Other instances of fraud, theft, and official misconduct were uncovered during the investigation.
Multiple instances of ghost employment by Hoover were uncovered during the investigation where he was allegedly taking care of personal business, often outside of Ohio County, while claiming to be on duty in Rising Sun, Indiana at the time.
After the investigation, the case was presented to the Dearborn/Ohio County Prosecutor’s Office for review, a warrant was issued for Harlis S. Hoover Jr., on seventeen felony charges of bribery, official misconduct, fraud, theft, and ghost employment. Hoover was arrested Monday evening without incident and transported to the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center where he was incarcerated pending his initial appearance in court.
Hoover was placed on administrative leave at the Rising Sun Police Department in July 2023, when the investigation commenced.
