Charges filed against Vauhxx Booker during alleged 2020 racist incident
Vauhxx Booker, the 38year-old Bloomington man that claimed to have been beaten and threatened with use of a noose during the 4th of July weekend in 2020, has had felony and misdemeanor charged waged against him for that same incident. Booker’s original story went viral and achieved national attention, which erupted further protests during a summer of widespread accusations of racism. The incident occurred on private property adjacent to Monroe Lake, in which Booker found himself arguing with the invitees of a holiday gathering.
According to witnesses, Booker had earlier been on the property, seen arguing with Sean Purdy, one of the two other individuals with charges stemming from the disturbance. Purdy had allegedly alerted Booker that the property was private and escorted Booker to the property line. Why Booker found himself back on the private property is not answered in the almost 70-page incident report drafted by the Indiana DNR. The investigation did reveal that there was no known usage of the word noose or rope from witnesses of the altercation, as Booker claimed during his subsequent interviews.
Jerry Edward Cox II is also charged with crimes arising from the incident.
A report from the Indiana DNR recommended charges against all three individuals. Monroe Prosecutor Erika Oliphant charged Purdy and Cox, but assigned Sonia Leerkamp, a Special Prosecutor who ultimately filed charges against Booker. Booker has denied wrongdoing.
Body of Indianapolis man recovered from Geist Reservoir
Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating after the body of an Indianapolis man was recovered from Geist Reservoir Sunday afternoon. Just prior to 3pm, personnel were dispatched to the Geist Marina, located near the 11700 block of Fall Creek Road, after a man went under the water and never resurfaced. Vincent Patton, 33, of Indianapolis, was located a short time later by Fishers Fire Department divers. He was transported to I.U. Health Saxony Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Witnesses stated that Patton was attempting to swim back to a boat after retrieving a clothing item. He was not wearing a life jacket. The incident is still under investigation.
ISP Trooper Portteus has busy weekend
Owen County Trooper Ian Portteus located an individual this past Friday, with an active warrant driving in Spencer, and with the assistance of the Spencer Police Department and Owen County Sheriff’s Department they conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle at the intersection of Morgan Ave. and Fletcher Ave. in front of a local restaurant. The two male occupants of the vehicle were detained and records showed that both had active warrants for their arrests. The men were traveling with a juvenile who was released to the Department of Child Services to await for their family to arrive. Further investigation by Trp. Portteus and his K-9 partner Czar resulted in locating controlled substances and paraphernalia by the two men. Both 47 year-old Jeremy J. Burch and 49 year-old Frederick Qualkenbush were identified and transported to the Owen County Jail and charged with both felonies and misdemeanors.
On Saturday afternoon at approximately 2:15 p.m., Trp. Portteus responded to the area of 2000 block of North County Line Road on a dispatch of two individuals slumped over inside their stationary vehicle. Upon arrival Trp. Portteus and Owen County EMS two men were found asleep inside the vehicle. With further from the Owen County Sherriff’s Department, Trp. Portteus and Deputy Charlie Hallem identified one of the men as Danny L. Slaybaugh, 54 years old from Indianapolis. The second man provided identifiers but was later positively identified as James Carr, 55 Years Old from Bainbridge. Furthermore, Carr was also found to have active warrants out of Monroe County. With the assistance of his Deputy Hallem’s K-9 Partner Chewy, The officers Portteus located controlled substances and hypodermic syringes either within the vehicle or in the men’s possession. Both 55 year-old James Carr and 56 year-old Danny Slaybaugh were transported to the Owen County Jail.