A Jasonville man is accused of intimidating a police officer in Greene County. He was supposed to be in court today but he failed to appear because he’s in jail in Monroe County where he’s accused of battery on two officers.

John Luke Petrassi, 21, Jasonville, was arrested by Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Davis Aerne and booked in to the Greene County Jail on Sunday, July 7.

Petrassi was taken into custody on a warrant that was issued for his arrest on July 3 following an investigation by GCSD Deputy David Elmore. Elmore was dispatched to the scene of a crash after Petrassi called the sheriff’s department and said he wrecked his vehicle into a tree.

When Petrassi called, he allegedly told dispatchers his ex-girlfriend had grabbed the emergency brake handle and made him spin out and hit the tree.

The crash was located at 15305 West County Road 500 North in the Jasonville area.

While Deputy Elmore was on the scene, he reported Petrassi punched his vehicle, became emotional and was verbally abusive. Elmore asked for back-up assistance and officers then arrived from the Jasonville Police Department, Linton Police Department and Worthington Police Department.

Deputy Elmore indicated Petrassi was very upset that his vehicle was going to be towed and threatened to harm himself. When Petrassi was handcuffed, Deputy Elmore told him he was going to ask for immediate detention due to his comments.

Elmore asked Officer Russell Walls of the Worthington Police Department to transport Petrassi to IU Bloomington Hospital because Walls was driving a patrol vehicle that was equipped to transport a hostile person. At that time, Petrassi had been hostile to Deputy Elmore but not to other officers.

Officer Walls then left the scene with Petrassi but he soon pulled and stopped to contact Deputy Elmore to inform him Petrassi had threatened Officer Walls. Walls then completed the transport to Bloomington.

A criminal case was later filed against Petrassi on a preliminary charge of intimidation – threat was to commit a forcible felony, a Level 6 felony. A warrant was issued, Petrassi was arrested, then later the same day, he bonded out of jail on a surety bond.

When Petrassi was released, he was given a court date. He was scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court today, Monday, July 22, for his initial hearing. He didn’t show up and another warrant was issued for his arrest this afternoon.

Petrassi didn’t show up because he was in jail in Monroe County.

According to records, Petrassi was arrested in Monroe County on Saturday, July 20, and booked into the Monroe County Jail.

Today in Monroe County, another criminal case was filed against Petrassi. In this one, he’s facing preliminary charges of:

Two counts of battery against a public safety official, both as Level 6 felonies,
Criminal mischief with damage between $750 and $50,000, a Class A misdemeanor, and
Criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor.

Petrassi is currently scheduled to appear in court in Monroe County for his initial hearing tomorrow afternoon, July 23. Eventually, he’ll be transported back to face the felony charge in Greene County.