Kurt Randall Sheely
HANCOCK COUNTY — Officials from the Hancock County Prosecutor’s office are charging a local man with the most serious felony crime. The charge comes after officials with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department (HCSD) say the man provided another local resident with drugs that ended up causing an overdose death.
Kurt Randall Sheely, 37, 210 Sycamore Lane, Greenfield, was arrested by officials from the Greenfield Police Department Tuesday. He has been charged with a Level 1 felony count of dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death. The charge can carry anywhere from 20 to 40 years in prison.
According to a probable cause affidavit, officials from the HCSD were called to a possible overdose at 7851 East CR 250N, Greenfield around 4:34 a.m. Sept. 23. It was noted in the affidavit the deputy arrived and noticed a man laying on the ground next to a vehicle where life-saving measures were being performed.
The man on the ground was identified at Dustin I. Smith, 25, Greenfield. He was transported to Hancock Regional Hospital where he was pronounced deceased, the affidavit said. The deputy interviewed the three people who were with Smith that night who told officials they had been at the Sports Page Lounge in Indianapolis earlier in the evening before returning to Greenfield.
The affidavit stated after a night of drinking and returning to Smith’s house, Smith and two others then went to the Circle K gas station at 2243 N. Main Street for some drinks. The affidavit noted that Smith went inside for a while, came out and when the group started driving back to Smith’s house those with him told officials Smith became unresponsive.
The vehicle the people were in was searched and did not turn up any contraband, officials noted. However, one of the people with Smith told officials Smith had a drug problem but had not taken anything for a while since he had “overdosed a while back,” the affidavit said.
Smith’s family also informed officials he was a recovering addict who had been in treatment for over a year.
In an effort to figure out what happened to Smith, officials checked video footage from the gas station where it showed Smith met up with Sheely for a drug purchase. The affidavit noted officials saw Smith getting out of his vehicle at the gas station and then Sheely’s vehicle pulling into the gas station in the early morning hours. Officials stated in the affidavit Smith spoke with the suspect (Sheely) for a while and then Smith went into the gas station before eventually getting into Sheely’s vehicle.
Officials were also able to find text messages between Smith and Sheely discussing meeting at the gas station for an exchange. Officials noted a toxicology report showed Smith tested positive for Fentanyl.
The case against Sheely was officially opened in Hancock County Circuit Court Oct. 20. That’s when Judge Scott Sirk issued a warrant for Sheely’s arrest. He was taken into custody around 3 a.m. Tuesday morning from a home in Greenfield.
Court records note he is being held in the Hancock County Jail under “no bond” and has an initial hearing slated for 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26.
