BRAZIL — A former sheriff’s deputy was arrested on a charge of posting derogatory comments on social media while posing as a man from Georgia, according to Indiana State Police.
Andrew M. Longyear, 32, of Fisher, was charged with a felony count of identity deception and a misdemeanor charge of conversion. Master Trooper Detective Tom Hanks of the Special Investigations Section arrested Longyear on Wednesday at the Clay County Justice Center without incident and then released him on his own recognizance.
Longyear is a former detective and deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Department.
The Indiana State Police initiated a criminal investigation in February 2022, after receiving information from an individual living in Loganville, Georgia, that their identity was being used on social media by another individual.
The investigation revealed that Longyear had allegedly engaged in posting numerous derogatory comments to a social media account, “Brazil Indiana Chatter”. Longyear was using the cover photo and identity of a Loganville, Georgia, man while posting derogatory comments towards an individual.
The Georgia man provided police with information that led to an investigation.
After conducting interviews and executing a search warrant, Indiana State Police discussed their findings with Special Prosecutor, Ann Mischler of Sullivan County. Clay County Superior Court Honorable Judge Robert Pell granted an arrest warrant on August 17, 2022, for Longyear.
