Indiana Conservation Officers arrested a Pittsboro man this afternoon after he repeatedly ignored commands from authorities to exit the flood waters and leave the property of an ongoing effort to rescue multiple horses from a flooded area.
Charles Knights Jr., 56, of Pittsboro is facing multiple charges including resisting law enforcement, criminal trespass, refusal to leave an emergency incident area and public intoxication after the incident.
Multiple agencies were called to 6310 E. County Road 350 N in Brownsburg this afternoon to assist with the rescue of as many as 16 horses that had become trapped in the rising flood waters in the area.
While authorities were enacting the rescue, Knights, who had seen the ongoing incident on television arrived at the scene and entered the water. He then began swimming toward fire personnel while attempting to call to the horses. Knights repeatedly disregarded commands from fire personnel, landowners and Indiana Conservation Officers to exit the water and leave the scene. He was not wearing any type of protective gear or personal flotation device.
Once out of the water, Knights resisted arrest before finally being taken into custody. While speaking with Knights, a strong odor of consumed alcohol could be smelled on his breath. He was transported to Hendricks Regional Health Hospital and then booked into the Hendricks County Jail.
All horses were eventually removed from the flood waters with no injuries reported.
All individuals charged with crimes are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
