A Delaware County sheriff's deputy was arrested Thursday night after Muncie police drug enforcement agents served a search warrant at his home, according to a press release from the Delaware County sheriff's office.
Jerry Parks, 37, is preliminary charged with two counts of aiding, inducing or causing dealing heroin and marijuana, attempted dealing in marijuana and neglect of a dependent, according to court documents.
Jerry Parks Delaware County Jail, Photo Provided
The arrest was part of a months-long investigation between the Muncie Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Indiana State Police. One of the first instances involved a confidential informant with Muncie police who conducted a buy at Parks's home where he was heard talking about Muncie narcotics officers.
Investigators later intercepted a phone call between Danny Terry and Parks where Parks provided information to Terry about an undercover narcotics officer, according to court documents. Terry was arrested in Indianapolis on a string of drug charges along with 17 other people, according to a release from Indiana State Police.
During his interview with police, Terry said Parks gave him information about undercover narcotics officers, took possession of drugs for "safekeeping," provided Terry with narcotics and gave Terry his Sheriff's department service weapon to use for "protection."
Police then arranged for Terry to meet up with Parks at his home. Terry was equipped with an electronic hearing device and during the interaction Parks is heard discussing a bag containing marijuana.
Parks was also heard making multiple phone calls trying to find a place to store the marijuana and told his wife, Bridgette, to take the bag out to their car.
Bridgette was arrested on Thursday and preliminary charged with attempted dealing of marijuana, a Level 5 felony and two counts of neglect of dependent, a Level 6 felony.
During the entire interaction, the Parks's 6-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter were in the home.
Bridgette Parks Delaware County Jail, Photo Provided
Parks has been placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately and his department-issued police equipment has been taken from his possession.
"We are all saddened by this recent turn of events as any time a police officer disgraces himself it reflects negatively not only on his department, but on the entire law enforcement profession," Sheriff's Deputy Joe Krupa said in a statement. "The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to maintaining the highest of ethical standards in its dedicated service to the citizens of Delaware County and the State of Indiana, and is taking immediate administrative steps to help prevent any similar future occurrence."
These arrests were a part of a larger investigation with the Muncie Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, the Marion and Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, ISP SWAT, ISP Drug Enforcement and ISP Troopers of both the Indianapolis and Pendleton Districts.
ISP arrested 17 people from Indianapolis and one from Elletsville, all now facing drug-related charges as a part of the investigation, which began in March.
During the investigation and raids, police seized:
- One pound of heroin.
- Five ounces of methamphetamine.
- Twenty grams of cocaine.
- Fifteen pounds of marijuana.
- $88,945 in suspected drug money.
- Seven handguns, one of which was reported stolen.
- Three rifles.
- One shotgun.
Both are being held in the Delaware County Jail. Bridgette is being held on a $15,000 bail and Jerry is being held without bail.
There are no other officers under investigation at this time.
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