MONROE CO.– A Bloomington man was arrested late Sunday night after allegedly firing a handgun at a Monroe County Sheriff’s Department Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Deputies responded to a call in the 6400 block of South Fairfax Road at approximately 11:45 p.m. on March 31st regarding a report of an unknown male screaming and cursing on private property.
Upon arrival, the deputies spoke with the property owner, who expressed concern about an abandoned building on the premises. Deputies deployed a Monroe County Sheriff’s Department UAV to assess the area and conduct an aerial survey.
While deputies were utilizing the drone, they observed a vehicle pull into the 6900 block of McCormick Lane, roughly three-tenths of a mile from the South Fairfax Road location. The vehicle backed up, and the driver, later identified as Issac Crouch, 36, of Bloomington, exited and allegedly fired three rounds in the direction of the UAV.
Deputies swiftly moved to the McCormick Lane location and were able to detain Mr. Crouch without further incident. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Crouch stated that he fired at the drone because he believed drones were stalking him. He also reportedly told deputies that he had been walking on the South Fairfax Road property searching for his dog.
Issac Crouch was subsequently arrested and charged with Criminal Recklessness with a firearm, which is a Level 6 Felony in Indiana.
The incident highlights law enforcement agencies’ increasing use of technology and the potential for unexpected interactions. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office has not yet released further details regarding the condition of the UAV. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
