Warrick County Commissioners issue statement after arrests
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The Warrick County Commissioners, through their attorney, issued a statement ahead of their regular meeting Monday night. It was the first meeting after all three were arrested last week on multiple charges, including official misconduct.
Our partners at WEHT-TV report attorney Anthony Long issued two statements, the first of which was on behalf of the commissioners.
“As everyone is now aware, on Thursday, February 8, all three of your Warrick County Commissioners were arrested and charged with crimes related to their activities as office holders. Each Commissioner voluntarily submitted himself for processing and was immediately released after placing a $500. bond. The Commissioners then returned to their duties, and began preparing their response to these charges.
Because the investigation is ongoing and litigation is pending, specific response to the matter is inappropriate at this time. However, the Commissioners maintain that all of their activities as office holders were performed in good faith, with unassailable ethical standards, and for the benefit of the citizens of Warrick County.
The Commissioners believe that while governance and leadership are noble pursuits, politics is unfortunately often less so. They look forward to being able to tell their story to the courts and the Warrick County populace. They feel confident that they will be totally exonerated once all facts are known.
The Commissioners will continue to faithfully execute their duties of office without interruption.”
Commissioners Terry Phillippe, Dan Saylor, and Robert Johnson were arrested last Thursday by Indiana State Police following an investigation involving a former supervisor at Warrick County Animal Control, who is accused is misappropriating funds.
They also face allegations of firing the supervisor of the Warrick County Health Board after the board refused to reopen several restaurants and a pool that were closed due to failed health inspections at the commissioners’ request.
All three face charges of official misconduct and false informing, while Phillippe faces an additional felony charge of perjury.
In his own statement ahead of Monday’s meeting, Long said:
“Report truth, investigate, don’t be lazy and step back and listen to what somebody said in, an unknown secret witness said. Get out and find the facts, what’s going on in the community…what red flags pop up. It’s going to come out, I can tell you that.”
“There’s enough on the record now for what we know and I will tell you now, we do not have availability, other than probably what you’ve seen, and that’s the probable cause affidavit, with a bunch of clandestine secret witnesses, who say ‘I think’, ‘they thought’, ‘we wished’, ‘who said’, and misunderstandings…I think under serious scrutiny that the probable cause affidavit would not withstand legal scrutiny. My present plan is not to attack it, we’re going to take it head on and deal with it in that fashion.”
“I have instructed not to answer any questions…I expect my clients to follow my advice. I’m not a very pleasant person to deal with when they don’t. I’ve done this many years and we’re not going to try this case in the media.”