Nearly two years of investigation of suspicious activity in the Warsaw area has led the Kosciusko County prosecutor to issue warrants for the arrest of 21 men.
According to the Warsaw Police Department, numerous complaints from citizens led the department to launch an investigation into alleged inappropriate activities, including indecent exposure and patronizing a prostitute.Police received complaints that sexual activity allegedly was occurring between men in public view at city parks, including Pike Lake Beach, Beyer Park, Lucerne Park and Oakwood Cemetery.
Through the spring and summer of 2007 and 2008, Warsaw Police Department detectives and undercover officers from the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force conducted undercover operations to determine if illegal activities, namely indecent exposure and sexual deviate activities, were occurring.
Throughout the investigation, 21 men were detained and released by officers after allegedly committing observed crimes.
Two men already have surrendered to police and been arrested for the charges. Both Larry Busenbark, Warsaw, and Ryan Neese, Warsaw, were booked into the Kosciusko County Jail for indecent exposure, a Class A misdemeanor.
As a result of the investigations, the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office has issued warrants for the following men:
- Elias Cantero, Akron, patronizing a prostitute, Class A misdemeanor
- Shawn Schwartz, Warsaw, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- Gregory Tann, Claypool, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- Dennis Kauffman, Claypool, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- Joel Aspinwall, Peru, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- Daniel Dye, Warsaw, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- Roger Dunn, Warsaw, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- John Mosure, Fort Wayne, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- Jerry Whitaker, Warsaw, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- Seward Guy, Warsaw, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- James Ambrose, Etna Green, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- Robert Whitesel, Converse, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- Bruce Chilton, Bourbon, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- Gregory Thomas, Wabash, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- Matthew Manuel, Wabash, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- Doyle Young, Bourbon, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- Randall Nelson, Warsaw, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
- James Nuell, Warsaw, indecent exposure, Class A misdemeanor
All the men detained and released allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversation or displayed a desire to engage in sexual activity with male undercover officers, while appearing in a state of public nudity.
Those listed above may surrender to police at the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and face the charges.
At the present time, no other warrants are pending, but the Warsaw Police Department plans to continue undercover investigations in area parks until the problem is resolved.
"As chief of police, I am committed to keeping our parks safe and aggressively pursuing those who violate state laws and city ordinances in our parks," said Warsaw Police Chief Perry Hunter. "The investigation will continue and we will not stop until the problem is vanquished."
Anyone with information about illegal activity is encouraged to contact the Warsaw Police Department at 574-372-9511. Callers may remain anonymous if they want.
All the men listed above are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
