Indiana Rep. Jim Lucas jailed on OWI, leaving scene charges after early morning crash

Jake Allen and Kayla Dwyer, Indianapolis Star
Updated ·2 min read
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Rep. Jim Lucas looks at documents on his computer while at his desk as the Indiana House meets on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, inside the temporary chamber at the Government Center South in Indianapolis.
Rep. Jim Lucas looks at documents on his computer while at his desk as the Indiana House meets on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, inside the temporary chamber at the Government Center South in Indianapolis.

Indiana state Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail early Wednesday morning, according to police.

Lucas, who represents House District 69, is facing preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing endangerment, leaving the scene of a crash and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, booking records from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office show.

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Lucas’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The representative’s district includes portions of Bartholomew, Jackson, Washington and Scott counties.

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Lucas was arrested after crashing his vehicle at State Road 11 and Interstate 65 just north of Seymour around midnight, according to the Indiana State Police.

He left the crash scene in his vehicle. The vehicle was then found by the Seymour Police Department a short time later at a different location and Lucas was found nearby, said Sgt. Stephen Wheeles of ISP. Lucas was arrested by a trooper from ISP's Versailles Post.

Lucas' bond was set at $705, jail records show.

Lucas, who lives in Seymour, was first elected to House District 69 in 2012 and previously served on the Seymour City Council, according to his biography.

He is a conservative lawmaker known for his outspoken support of Second Amendment rights. This legislative session, he authored House Bill 1177, a bill establishing an optional standardized firearms training curriculum for teachers that the General Assembly approved along party lines.

Outside the Statehouse, he owns a graphic design and awning business in Seymour.

Lucas has run into hot water with various racially divisive social media posts during his time in office, particularly involving posts and memes that are derogatory toward Black people. A Facebook post in 2020 of Black kids dancing with the words "We gon' get free money!" earned him a sanction from House Speaker Todd Huston, who removed Lucas from two committees and demoted him in another.

Lucas then deactivated his Facebook page but insisted his posts weren't racist.

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Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Rep. Jim Lucas jailed after early morning crash