A Warsaw man wanted in connection with a fight with a Warsaw police officer last fall was extradited from Kentucky to Kosciusko County Wednesday. His arrival back in the county so soon came as a surprise to local law enforcement officers.

Francis Charles Hamilton, 31, of 722 N. Cook St., was preliminarily charged with resisting law enforcement, probation violation and burglary. He is being held in the Kosciusko County Jail on $70,000.

Authorities reported earlier that Hamilton, in custody in Kentucky, was fighting extradition to Indiana. "We thought he was going to fight it all the way to the governor," said Kosciusko County Sheriff Al Rovenstine.

Hamilton was wanted in connection with a search for a suspicious person in the Valley Springs area.

On Nov. 19, Warsaw Ptl. David Morales allegedly spotted a man in a cornfield near the location of two suspicious person sightings. Morales attempted to apprehend the subject and a fight ensued.

Morales gained a good description of the subject during the encounter, authorities reported. At the time of the confrontation, police received reports from residents in the community that the suspect had bruises and cuts to his face.

The extradition occurred when the Huntington County Sheriff - who was sending an officer to pick up a prisoner for that county - contacted Rovenstine asking if he should bring back Hamilton, who had agreed to be extradited. KCSD did not expect Hamilton to be back in Kosciusko County until late this summer, Rovenstine said.

Officials said they have no reason to believe that Hamilton is connected with the "Bicycle Bandit" burglaries. [[In-content Ad]]