Bremen man arrested at Grovertown Truck Stop after 2 hour stand-off

A Facebook post by Starke County Sheriff Jack Rosa provides details of an incident that started late Sunday night, October 13^th, as an unwanted guest at a residence in the 6,000 North block of 1100 East in Starke County and ended at the Grovertown Truck Stop on U.S. 30 Monday morning, October 14th.

The report states that 30-year-old Richard Maher III of Bremen forcibly entered the residence Sunday night at about 11:40 central time, waved a gun, and started breaking things in the home.  He left the residence and drove westbound on U.S. 30 without the headlights on.  A Starke County deputy responding to the initial call observed the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop.

Maher pulled into the Grovertown Truck Stop and was uncooperative with deputies who believed he had several weapons.

Deputies tried for approximately two hours to get Maher to exit the vehicle.  They then used pepper spray to gain compliance and K9 warnings but were unsuccessful.  A Marshall County K9 was deployed, and Maher was taken into custody without incident and transported to Northwest Health Hospital in Knox for treatment of injuries.           

Due to possible explosive material inside the vehicle, the South Bend Bomb Squad was contacted to respond.  While waiting for their arrival, Starke County’s explosive K9 dog was deployed and indicated a positive alert for explosive materials. Police say members of the South Bend Police Bomb Squad and the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Division arrived on the scene and took custody of the evidence inside the vehicle.

The Grovertown Truck Stop was closed for several hours.

The suspect, Richard Maher III of Bremen, was taken into custody on preliminary charges of domestic battery, resisting law enforcement, intimidation, and residential entry. Additional charges are expected once the investigation is complete. 

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by Knox City Police, Starke County EMS, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, the South Bend Police Bomb Squad, and the ATF.

Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings, entitled to be represented by counsel, and entitled to a trial jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made.