LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ind. – A Bedford man was arrested July 7 after he was allegedly found trespassing at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds, despite being previously banned from the property.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, 55-year-old Tommy Cooper was arrested after reserve deputies spotted him on the fairgrounds property. Officers say Cooper had been formally trespassed from the location during last year’s fair.
Officer Thomas Porter, who responded to the scene, confirmed he was present when fairgrounds president Stephen Todd informed Cooper in 2024 that he was no longer allowed on the property.
Cooper was taken into custody without incident by Reserve Deputies Mike Hawkins and Michael Sciscoe and transported to the Lawrence County Security Center, where he was booked on a preliminary charge of criminal trespass.
The arrest was made on-site.
Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
