Within the past month, police in two counties received at least four reports, possibly more, of threatening behavior by a Linton man toward more than one person. On Sunday, he allegedly threw a brick through a woman’s window after he said he was going to cut her up with a knife. Linton police officers put him in jail.

Derrick Christopher Harper, 33, of Linton, was taken into custody and arrested by Det. Paul Clark of the Linton Police Department on Sunday afternoon, November 4. Harper was transported and booked in to the Greene County Jail by LPD Officer Joe Riley around 5 p.m.

Det. Clark was on duty on that afternoon when the latest report came in, this one from a woman who is a sibling to Harper. In a probable cause affidavit prepared by Clark, he said the woman has made several reports about Harper over the past few weeks and on several occasions, she indicated Harper was becoming increasingly violent and she was terrified of him.

Det. Clark gave brief details about some of these incidents. On October 6, she reported Harper had become violent for no apparent reason and started hitting her in the face and head, causing injury. This incident is under investigation by another officer.

On October 14, she reported Harper was trying to break in to her house. She said she was afraid for her life and didn’t know if he was armed. Another officer investigated and advised him not to return or he would be trespassing.

On October 15, detectives from the Bloomington Police Department were investigating an alleged assault by Harper, with a knife, on another woman who was Harper’s girlfriend.

On the day of Harper’s arrest, this past Sunday, the woman who is Harper’s sibling reported Harper had just thrown a brick through a window of her house. Leading up to this incident, the woman had been exchanging text messages with Harper’s girlfriend about getting a ride to get a prescription filled. She later became aware that Harper was using the girlfriend’s cell phone and he was the one sending the messages. This escalated and the woman said Harper was demanding that she give him some of the medication from her prescription. She refused.

In the interview conducted by Det. Clark, the woman said a short time later, Harper’s girlfriend advised her that Harper had just threatened to go to the woman’s house and cut her up with a knife. The girlfriend allegedly advised her Harper was on his way to her house, riding a bicycle.

For safety reasons, the woman opted to leave her home but her boyfriend stayed at the house and was allegedly hit with a brick when Harper threw one through a window.

When Det. Clark arrived at the house, he reported there was shattered glass in the residence and a brick on the floor. The boyfriend allegedly said he saw Harper outside, saw Harper throw the brick then ride away on his bicycle.

Det. Clark reported when he located Harper at Harper’s residence, Harper was detained, and found with a fixed blade knife in a pocket.

In another incident at the jail with LPD Officer Riley, Harper allegedly asked for a meal tray when they arrived. When told one was not available, Harper said he wasn’t going to stay if he didn’t get a meal, then allegedly pulled away from the officer. There was a bit of a struggle before Harper was restrained.

A judge approved criminal charges against Harper on Tuesday and on Wednesday, November 7, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Keven McIntosh filed a criminal case against Harper in Greene Superior Court.

When Harper appears for his initial hearing, he will be charged with:

Stalking – where defendant threatens sexual battery, serious bodily injury or death, a Level 5 felony,
Intimidation – where the threat is to commit a forcible felony, a Level 6 felony,
Intimidation – the threat is to certain types of people, a Level 6 felony,
Criminal trespassing, a Class A misdemeanor,
Resisting law enforcement – knowingly or intentionally forcibly resists, a Class A misdemeanor, and
Criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor.

Additional charges or additional cases may be filed against him in connection with other investigations into the other incidents.