MONROE CO. — Court documents filed on Friday revealed that a former Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy was on duty when he sexually assaulted a woman in Bloomington.
Jeffery L. Freeman, 29, was arrested by Indiana State Police last week on charges of sexual battery, a Level 4 felony, strangulation, obstruction of justice, and official misconduct, all Level 6 felonies.
A woman alleges Freeman sexually assaulted her on Wednesday, August 21. She reported ordering an Uber to Aspen Heights Apartments in Bloomington that day. Her car driver dropped her off in the 100 block of West 6th Street instead of her desired location. The woman spoke with a Monroe County Sheriff’s deputy, indicating she was lost. The deputy stated he was off-duty but would use his radio to call another law enforcement official to the area. The deputy who responded was Freeman.
Freeman took the woman to Aspen Heights. She told investigators Freeman moved a bag out of the front seat of his car and indicated she could sit there and wait. The woman claimed that, once she moved to the car’s front seat, Freeman pulled around to the back of the apartment building. Once there, he allegedly brushed his hand on the woman’s leg. He then stated, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to grope you,” after touching her leg.
The woman said Freeman then turned off his body camera. State police verified the woman’s claim after interviewing her.
The woman reported that Freeman then began to act strangely. He grabbed her phone and went through her camera roll, looking at private photos and videos and asking her personnel questions. He then said, “I bet you like your ass slapped.”
He then ordered her to bend over and pull her shirt down. The woman refused. That is when he choked her, pulled her hair, and slapped her in the face. He then ran a portable breath test tube under her tank top to see her breasts.
He then asked her if she would engage in a relationship with a married man and keep it quiet. The woman said no because it was wrong.
The woman told investigators Freeman escorted the woman inside, and investigators confirmed that via security camera footage.
Investigators did not provide any information about the interaction inside the building between Freeman and the woman.
Investigators confirmed Freeman was on duty, in a police vehicle, and armed with his service weapon.
During an interview with Freeman on Friday, August 23, he admitted he had kissed the victim and slapped her in the face. He denied the other allegations. But police confirmed he also turned off his body camera.
Freeman claimed the woman, who was the aggressor, saying she initiated the flirting and kissing. He also claimed the woman showed him nude photos of her on his cell phone.
This is not the first allegation against Freemen; the Columbus Police Department notified ISP that it took a report of a sexual battery from a woman alleging Freeman had assaulted her. The police department forwarded that report to Indiana State Police.
ISP informed Monroe County Sheriff Ruben Marté of the incident. After a second policy violation was discovered, Freeman was fired.
Freeman was arrested without incident on Friday, August 23. He was detained at the Monroe County Jail and then transferred to the Morgan County Jail.
Detectives ask anyone with “questionable or inappropriate interactions” with former Deputy Freeman to call state police at 812-332-4411.
