Charges of false informing have been filed against a Linton man after he allegedly made false accusations toward the Linton Police Department during a recent Linton City Council meeting. 

According to a probable cause affidavit written by Linton Police Chief Paul Clark and filed in Greene Superior Court on March 18, Craig Hendry – who presents himself as a “first amendment auditor”, makes videos of encounters with government officials and attempts to provoke government officials into arguments or improper actions – presented a prepared speech at the Linton City Council meeting on March 11. 

While reading his prepared speech, Hendry, according to the probable cause affidavit, made several allegations regarding the Linton Police Department. He also allegedly indicated his intent for making the complaint was to “abolish the terrorist organization that is sponsored by the taxpayers of the City of Linton, Indiana”. Per the probable cause, Clark wrote that Hendry made it overtly obvious he was referring to the Linton Police Department. 

Many of the allegations Hendry spoke about were false, Clark wrote. According to the probable cause, Hendry would have known the statements were false because he (Hendry) was present during the events. 

Hendry spoke of an event that occurred on July 26, 2022. He, according to the probable cause affidavit, said “armed thugs showed up at my home when I was not there.” He further stated, “they kicked in the door and searched my house looking for me. Not having any luck when they couldn’t locate me, they left.” According to the probable cause affidavit, body worn camera (BWC) footage from the event showed otherwise. 

According to the probable cause affidavit, BWC footage recorded on July 26, 2022, and police records indicate Linton Police Officer Janzen Franklin and former officer Cayden Walker arrived at Hendry’s residence at approximately 10:15 p.m. The officers were assisted by Greene County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Michael Stanley. The officers were at the residence to serve a warrant issued from Vigo County. When officers arrived at the residence, they knocked several times with no answer. Per the BWC, they make no attempt to open the door, forcibly or non forcibly. The door appeared to be wholly intact as officers withdrew from the front door back to the street to where their vehicles were parked. Before walking back, Officer Walker indicated he could hear a male’s voice from inside the residence. Officers also observed a television on inside the residence. The vehicle parked in the driveway is the one known to be driven by Hendry. Using that information, officers applied for a search warrant to enter the residence and search for Hendry. 

According to the probable cause, none of the officers left the scene, nor did they breach the door of the residence. Clark wrote Hendry’s statement claiming police “kicked his door and searched his house” is false as neither of those things were done. Clark also alleged Hendry’s statement alleging police left after they failed to locate him is also false as officers never entered the residence to attempt to locate him. 

During Hendry’s speech to the City Council, he alleged when he returned home around midnight, “the aggressors returned as well”. According to the probable cause affidavit, Hendry didn’t return home because he never left the residence. Officers didn’t leave the residence, they remained in the street in front of his residence to prevent anyone from entering or exiting the residence while awaiting approval for the search warrant. 

Per the probable cause affidavit, police records show that at 11:38 p.m., a search warrant was approved through Greene Superior Court. Hendry alleged officers banged loudly on his door and demanded them entry. He said they threatened to break into his home if he did not comply with their demands. Clark wrote the statement was true in substance as officers approached the residence, knocked on the door announcing themselves as officers and stated the existence of the warrant. Officers demanded the door be opened or it would be kicked in. Per the probable cause, Hendry complied and opened the door. 

When speaking to the Council, Hendry stated he was “kidnapped by them (officers) and to a concrete cage when they kept me against my will for a period of 45 days.” He indicated all of these actions were committed by the Linton Police Department. 

When Hendry opened the door of his residence on July 26, 2022, he was taken into custody under the authority of a valid arrest warrant, according to the probable cause affidavit. Officers explained there was a valid search warrant to allow them to enter the residence. They also explained there was a warrant for his arrest. During this time, per the probable cause, Hendry acknowledged that police had knocked on his door earlier, indicating he was at home during those events. 

Hendry knew that the statements he made to the Linton City Council were false, because he knew he was legally taken into custody, not kidnapped, per the probable cause. He also knew that he was not held by the Linton Police Department in a concrete cage but was transported to meet a Vigo County Deputy Sheriff to be taken to their jail. Officer Franklin's BWC shows that Hendry was transported to a location where they met with a Vigo County Deputy Sheriff, and Hendry was transferred into their custody. That transfer occurred at approximately 12:20 a.m. on July 27, 2022, about 30 minutes after leaving Hendry's residence in Linton.

Hendry told the Council the reason the events happened was because he “sold cannabis, a plant that grows from the ground, to consenting adults almost a year earlier,” per the probable cause. He said that was not a good reason for the police to interact with him. Clark wrote that when Hendry made this statement, he knew his action was a criminal felony under Indiana Code. 

A summons to appear in court will be issued to Hendry. He is being charged with false informing, a Class B Misdemeanor.