Ex-Carmel cop faces felony charge over Facebook comments from fake account
A former Carmel police officer was criminally charged after investigators say he used a Georgia man's identity to create a fake social media account and post derogatory comments on Facebook.
Andrew Longyear, 32, of Fishers used the profile to post on a Facebook page called “Brazil Indiana Chatter.” Most of the posts were directed negatively toward a man who was running for sheriff in Clay County and the man’s wife, who is the Clay County Prosecutor, according to the probable cause affidavit for Longyear’s arrest.
Longyear began working for Carmel Police Department in June 2021 and resigned from the department on Thursday. He formerly worked for the Clay County Sherriff's Office.
Indiana State Police began a criminal investigation in February 2022 after receiving information from the Georgia man that his identity had been stolen. After interviews and executing a search warrant, ISP discussed their findings with a Sullivan County Special Prosecutor, and a judge granted an arrest warrant for Longyear on Aug. 17.
The Georgia man told investigators he did not want his name and photos to be used by someone else in discussions on Facebook, according to police.
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In an interview with investigators, Longyear stated he wasn’t familiar with the Georgia man but that he had created an account using the man’s name and photos several years ago to remain anonymous in discussions on Facebook, according to the affidavit.
The target of Longyear’s posts from the fake Facebook account, Josh Clarke, took third place out of four candidates in the May primary election for Clay County Sheriff, according to the Clay County Election Office.
Emily Clarke ran unopposed in the primary election for Clay County Prosecutor in May after she was elected to a first term in 2018.
Longyear was charged with identity deception, a felony, and conversion, a misdemeanor. He was arrested and released on his own recognizance, according to ISP.
His lawyer was listed as Thomas Clary, who was not immediately available for comment.
Longyear is the second Carmel Police Department officer to leave the department this week.
Joe Bickel, a former deputy police chief who was facing allegations of inappropriate behavior, retired on Monday. Bickel’s retirement came prior to a Police Department Merit Board meeting on Tuesday.
Bickel was removed from his position of deputy police chief in July after "multiple allegations of inappropriate behavior,” a city news release stated. At the time, former Police Chief Jeff Horner recommended to Carmel's Police Department Merit Board that Bickel be terminated from the department.
About a week after Horner removed Bickel as deputy police chief, Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard accepted the resignation of Horner as police chief. The city did not provide a reason for Horner's resignation.
Horner served as police chief for about a six months after the retirement of Police Chief Jim Barlow in January. Horner remains with Carmel Police as a lieutenant and Barlow has come out of retirement to once again fill the role of police chief.
Contact Phyllis Cha at pcha@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @phyllischa.
Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Ex-Carmel police officer faces charges tied to fake Facebook account
