COLUMBUS — A Columbus Police Department investigation into a serious violent predator living near an elementary school has resulted in the arrest of three individuals on felony charges.
The investigation began after a tip about suspicious activity at a home in the 200 block of S. Brooks Street. Detectives discovered that the resident, Phillip Vennie, a registered serious violent predator, was prohibited from living at the location because it is within 1,000 feet of CSA Fodrea Elementary School.
On August 5, officers arrested Vennie on the preliminary charge of unlawful entry by a serious sex offender, a Level 6 felony, after they witnessed him on the school property. He is being held in the Bartholomew County Jail, with additional charges possible.
Later, while executing a search warrant at Vennie’s residence, officers stopped a white SUV that had left the home. They detected the smell of marijuana and searched the vehicle.
The driver, Jordon Bryant, was arrested for cocaine possession while carrying a handgun. A passenger, Stephanie Hudak, was also arrested on a charge of assisting a criminal as a result of the ongoing investigation.
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.
