LAWRENCE CO. – A month-long investigation into vandalism and harassment targeting a Bedford police officer and a probation officer has led to the arrest of a Bedford man.
Dalton Valencia, 32, of Bedford, is facing charges of criminal mischief, harassment, and stalking following a string of incidents between August 21 and September 20, 2025.
The investigation, detailed in a probable cause affidavit filed by Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department Officer J.A. Blackburn, outlines a pattern of targeted actions allegedly committed by Valencia, a former probation client of one of the victims.
The alleged harassment began on August 21, 2025, when LCPD was contacted by a Bedford police officer, who reported vandalism at his home on Old State Road 37 North. The officer discovered three pellet or BB gun indents in the passenger door of his 2024 Ford F350, which appeared to have been shot from the adjacent Judah Cemetery. Earlier that week, the officer also reported finding broken eggs in his mailbox. The damage to the truck was later repaired for $1,870.45.
The following day, the officer discovered a concrete block placed near the fence line, which investigators believe was used to gain height to shoot over the five-foot privacy fence.
The incidents intensified over the following weeks. On August 25, the officer’s wife, who is a probation officer, received a voicemail with a male voice using explicit language. She suspected the voice belonged to Dalton Valencia, a former probation client of hers.
In late August, the officer reported that someone was driving by his house and pointing a laser at it, and that his wife received two more derogatory voicemails.
On September 6, the word “snitch” was spray-painted across the officer’s driveway.
On September 20, the family’s mailbox was vandalized with pink spray paint.
Investigators quickly focused on Valencia. On August 21, an LCPD officer had observed a silver Buick SUV at the Judah Church near the officer’s residence late at night. The driver fled after seeing the marked patrol car. The license plate returned to Dalton Valencia.
Crucially, on September 17, an Indiana State Police Cyber Crimes Division trooper investigated the phone number used to make harassing calls and found it linked to a Cash App account operated by Dalton Valencia, whose picture was on the phone.
The investigation culminated on September 21, when the officer reported that his mailbox had been vandalized again, but this time the crime was captured on video. The footage reportedly showed Dalton Valencia pulling up in a silver Buick and spray-painting the mailbox pink.
On September 22, LCPD officers executed a search warrant at Valencia’s residence. Upon arrival, Valencia was standing by his silver Buick and initially disregarded commands before being detained.
During the search, officers located items linking Valencia to the vandalism, including the pink spray paint, a green laser flashlight, a hardball impact pistol that shoots pellets and BBs, and rounds, and Valencia’s iPhone was seized for forensic exam.
According to the affidavit, when questioned about his involvement, Valencia became paranoid, stating that listening devices had been placed in his eardrums and surveillance contacts on his eyes, and he denied the allegations. Due to his “mental state of paranoia and anger,” Valencia was transported to IU Health Bloomington Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
A subsequent forensic examination of Valencia’s phone by Indiana State Police reportedly connected his phone records to the harassing calls made to the probation office and also uncovered media showing his “infatuation with her.”
LCPD is requesting that Valencia pay $584.58 in restitution for costs, including paint thinner, a replacement mailbox, and an insurance deductible, in addition to $1,770.45 to Travelers Insurance for the damage repair to the truck.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
