Grant County deputies are asking residents to be on alert for a Marion man they say has failed to meet sex offender registration requirements, and they have a felony warrant in hand as they look for him.
The sheriff's office has identified the suspect as 51-year-old Douglas "Doug" Day, described as about 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds. A tipster told authorities Day had recently been staying in a camper near the intersection of 50th Street and State Road 9. Deputies went to check out the report but did not find him and are now publicly warning residents not to confront him. Anyone who spots Day or knows where he might be is being urged to contact law enforcement instead.
What the sheriff's office said
According to the Grant County Sheriff's Office, a public post laid out Day's age and physical description and noted that property owners reported he had been staying in a camper on their land. Deputies followed up at the reported location but were unable to find him that day.
The same notice clearly warned the public not to approach Day and asked anyone with information about his whereabouts to pass that along to law enforcement rather than trying to intervene themselves.
How to report tips
For emergencies or if there is an immediate threat, officials say to call 911. For non-emergency sightings, the county lists Grant Central Dispatch at (765) 668-8168 as the contact number for the sheriff's office, according to the county's official page.
Anonymous tips can be submitted through local Crime Stoppers or via the P3Tips portal, and local directories list a Grant County Crime Stoppers tip line at 765-662-8477.
What failure to register means under Indiana law
Under Indiana law, failing to register as a sex or violent offender is a criminal offense spelled out in Indiana Code § 11-8-8-17. It is typically charged as a Level 6 felony.
The sentencing guidelines in IC § 35-50-2-7 set the range for a Level 6 felony between six months and two-and-a-half years in prison, with potentially tougher penalties on the table for repeat violations.
Context
The Grant County Sheriff's Office has turned to social media before when it wants extra eyes in the community. Earlier this year, the department promoted a broader fugitive hunt that publicly named several people deputies were trying to track down.
In Day's case, deputies are again stressing that residents should not try to approach him. Instead, they want anyone with information to call it in so investigators and patrol units can handle the search and any potential arrest safely.
