Andrew Dezelan, a Democratic candidate for Indiana Senate District 31, was arrested Sunday in Fishers after officers say they found a small bag that tested positive for cocaine in his vehicle. Fishers officers also charged Dezelan with resisting law enforcement and took him to the Hamilton County Jail. The arrest comes less than two weeks before next Tuesday's primary for the open District 31 seat, landing right in the middle of the campaign's final stretch.
Police account
According to WIBC 93.1 FM, Fishers police were called Sunday about a person soliciting and found Dezelan in his vehicle at a neighborhood clubhouse. The station reports that, in a news release, the Fishers Police Department said officers saw signs he was under the influence, and that when they asked for identification, he tried to leave.
Officers said Dezelan resisted being put in handcuffs several times before finally complying. They reported recovering a small bag that field-tested positive for cocaine.
Dezelan's campaign and the field
Dezelan, who has worked as an insurance broker and consultant and previously served as policy director for the Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus, had filed to run in the Democratic primary, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Local reporting shows he is one of four Democrats on next Tuesday's ballot alongside Kerry Forestal, Lasima Packett and Catherine Torzewski, per YouAreCurrent. The race was already competitive before an arrest suddenly turned one candidate's weekend into headline news.
Political context
The open District 31 seat, which covers parts of northeast Marion County and eastern Hamilton County, has drawn competitive interest and could be pivotal in the general election, WFYI reports. With early voting already underway in Hamilton County, campaigns were in a late push when Dezelan's arrest entered the conversation.
What the charges mean
Under Indiana law, possession of cocaine is charged under IC 35-48-4-6 and is typically a Level 6 felony. Penalties can increase for larger quantities or if other enhancing factors are present. Resisting law enforcement is usually a Class A misdemeanor but can be elevated to a felony if a vehicle, a weapon or serious injury is involved, per IC 35-44.1-3-1.
WIBC 93.1 FM's report did not include a statement from Dezelan or his campaign. Formal charges and any arraignment information would be recorded in court filings or by the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office if prosecutors decide to file; those records typically appear in the days after an arrest.
