(SPRINGVILLE) – Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department investigators are looking for 27-year-old Richard McDonald.
McDonald remains at large and wanted a felony warrant for petition to revoke and new charges of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, resisting law enforcement by fleeing, possession of meth, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
McDonald should be considered armed and dangerous.
According to Sheriff Mike Branham, on Wednesday at approximately 3:45 p.m. an undercover deputy from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office was in an unmarked car conducting surveillance on a mobile home at 11 Wells Lane in Springville due to reported alleged drug activity.
The investigation had been ongoing for ten days during which time it was learned that Richard McDonald was staying at the mobile home and was wanted on a Level 5 felony for petition to revoke stemming from a prior drug charge.
At approximately 4:10 p.m. McDonald exited the front of the mobile home and began walking toward the deputy who was approximately 80 yards away. McDonald allegedly pointed a handgun in the direction of the deputy and fired a single round and ran back into the mobile home. The deputy immediately called for backup, proceeded to the end of the driveway at 11 Wells Lane, and monitored the front of the mobile home until backup arrived. Seven on and off-duty deputies, two Indiana State Police troopers, and Sheriff Branham arrived within twenty minutes, set up a perimeter and began calling for McDonald to surrender over a P.A. system.
After several warnings, gas was deployed into the mobile home. After approximately 20 minutes McDonald had not exited the mobile home, and it appeared that he may have possibly fled out the back door prior to backup arriving.
Officers entered and cleared the residence to make the area safe and a police K9 was called in to track McDonald. The K9 tracked for approximately one mile north through fields and woods and lost the scent.
A search warrant was obtained to search the mobile home and police found handguns and ammunition. Detectives found three pellet guns (one long gun and two handguns), methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.
Anyone with information on McDonald are asked to call the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department at 812-275-3316.
