HANCOCK COUNTY — A homeless man who officials say stole a Buck Creek Township Fire Department grass truck and led police in two counties on a chase is now facing charges in both Hancock and Henry counties from the incident.
Thomas Grant Longstreet, 45, is facing a Level 5 felony count of burglary and a Level 5 felony count of theft in Hancock County Superior Court 1 stemming from an incident June 2.
Longstreet is also facing a Level 6 felony count of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, a Level 6 felony count of impersonation of a public law enforcement officer and a Class C misdemeanor count of reckless driving in Henry County Circuit Court 2 stemming from an incident on June 2.
According to the probable cause affidavit from Henry County, an officer with the Knightstown Police Department was at the Speedway gas station in Knightstown buying coffee with staff around 5:20 a.m. June 2 when they noticed a department truck from Buck Creek Township Fire Department pull in with the red lights on.
The driver, (later identified as Longstreet) officials said, came into the gas station and asked the officer, “which way is nap town,” the affidavit said.
The officer noted the driver had slurred speech and was wearing flip flops and a child-sized sweater. The officer let the driver leave but had concerns, so he followed the driver on U.S. 40 heading West. As the driver increased speed, the officer decided it was time to pull the truck over, so he activated his lights but the driver of the truck did not stop and increased his speed to between 90 to 100 mph, the affidavit said.
Both Henry and Hancock County officials pursued the truck, and as the group approached the eastern edge of Greenfield, deputies from Hancock County parked their vehicles in front of U.S. 40 by the Hancock County Jail, and the driver stopped, the affidavit said.
The driver, then identified as Longstreet, according to the affidavit, said “dumb*** cops left it unlocked with the keys in it.” He went on to say the window was down so “of course he was going to take it.” Longstreet also told officials he was the mayor and worked for the police department, which were both incorrect statements.
An official from Buck Creek Township Fire Department told police they had reported their vehicle being stolen, and they had video of Longstreet taking the truck, the affidavit said.
As for the charges in Hancock County, according to a probable cause affidavit, officials with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department were called on June 2, to 6610 West 100 North Greenfield, Buck Creek Township Fire Department, Station 72.
Officials at the fire station told the deputies they were missing a 2019 Ford F-350 grass truck. The stolen vehicle was parked inside the garage area of the fire department and was facing north when it was taken, the affidavit said. Upon investigation, officials determined the north door of the fire station was left unlocked and advised video evidence was available.
According to the affidavit, the head official at the Buck Creek Township Fire Station had an app on his phone which notified him of a garage bay door being opened at 3:52 a.m. June 2 and then closed at 3:56 a.m. The official told deputies he woke the remaining fire station personal, who were sleeping within the fire station, to make sure nothing else was missing from the fire station as well as their personal vehicles.
Officials said a male can been seen on the video walking eastbound on CR West 100N then walking onto the property at 6610 West 100N at approximately 3:45 a.m. The male then walked north onto the property. After a few minutes, the male gains entry into the fire station through the north door and leaves shortly thereafter in the vehicle.
Officials with the prosecutor’s office in Hancock County also have documentation identifying Longstreet as a habitual offender, citing criminal convictions in Marion County prior to the events of June 2. A look at Longstreet’s criminal records show he has been involved in at least 15 different criminal cases throughout the state.
Longstreet has yet to appear in Hancock County to face the charges, although court records show a warrant was issued June 12. Court records also show he made his initial appearance in Henry County Court June 7 where a judge there set a $10,500 surety bond plus a $850 cash bond. While court records do not show that he bonded out, Longstreet is not officially listed as an inmate in the Henry County Jail.
