A Solsberry man is facing a charge of resisting law enforcement. He refused to stop running as he was trying to flee on foot through a field with a trooper cruising along beside him in a patrol vehicle.

Ethan Robert Thomas, 22, Solsberry, was arrested by Indiana State Police Trooper Richard Klun last Monday, May 3.

Thomas was wanted on a warrant that was issued in criminal case pending against him involving domestic battery and on Monday, May 3, Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy James Carpenter requested assistance from Trooper Klun in serving the warrant at a location on North Howe Road in the Solsberry area. Other deputies also responded to assist as well. At the time, Trooper Klun was on duty, driving a fully-marked Tahoe patrol vehicle with his K9 partner Loki on board. Trooper Klun and the deputies arrived at the residence around 11:38 a.m.

When Trooper Klun pulled in at the location, he was able to identify Thomas who was sitting in the passenger seat of an SUV with the door partially open. When the trooper pulled in, Thomas allegedly looked directly at the trooper then turned and looked at the GCSD vehicles that were pulling in behind him, then looked back at the trooper. And then Thomas took off running.

Trooper Klun reported that Thomas ran westward into a farm field but as he was running, the trooper was able to drive down the farm path and drive alongside Thomas.

Trooper Klun said he gave loud verbal orders for Thomas to stop running but Thomas continued to run and the trooper continued to drive.

Trooper Klun tells the story best in a probable cause affidavit: “As Thomas was running and I was driving along side of him, I know Thomas was able to hear me because when I gave my second verbal command for him to stop and advised him that if he did not stop, my K9 would be deployed, Thomas looked back over his shoulder at me but chose to continue running.

“I gave a loud and third verbal command for Thomas to stop or I would be deploying my K9, in which Thomas chose not to obey my commands and continued running.

“As I stopped my patrol car and exited in order to deploy K9 Loki, Thomas stopped running, put his hands in the air and surrendered.”

Thomas was then taken into custody and during a search, was found to be in possession of a substance known as marijuana “butter.” Marijuana butter is the street name for a buttery or wax-like substance containing THC that has been extracted from marijuana plants. This substance is more concentrated and allegedly gives the user a more powerful and quicker high.

Thomas was booked into the Greene County Jail at 12:28 p.m. He has since posted bond and been released. Thomas is facing charges of resisting law enforcement – knowingly or intentionally forcibly resists, a Class A misdemeanor, and possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor.