Family claims Clark County sheriff's move to fire veteran sergeant is politically motivated

CLARK COUNTY, Ind. (WDRB) -- The Clark County Sheriff's office is facing more controversy as the sheriff moves to fire a veteran sergeant.

Thursday, Sheriff Scottie Maples said in a social media post he submitted a recommendation to terminate Sgt. Tom Higdon for what he called actions that don't reflect well on the department.

"This decision comes down to one thing: the safety of the men and women who put on a uniform to protect you," Maples said in the post. "It's the most important thing to me as your sheriff."

But Higdon's family said that's not the case, as Maples faces pushback from the community.

"There have been some people speculating blindly, and you deserve to hear the facts straight from me," Maples said in the post on his reelection campaign Facebook page.

The sheriff alleges deputies working under Higdon filed a complaint about an incident that happened Aug. 24. The post also included body camera footage of the incident.

Maples said the deputies were responding to a call with a person who had a history of fighting police and carrying guns, so they called Higdon in for additional support.

The deputies went into the woods, found the suspect and tased him. While he was down, they tased him again. Maples claims Higdon should have provided backup when he heard the loud pop from the taser, not knowing if it was gunfire or not.

"For all he knew, the suspect had grabbed a weapon and shot a deputy. But he didn't check," Maples wrote. "He didn't get on the radio, because he didn't have it turned on, to see if his team was hurt, and he didn't move to help them. He just stayed put — and eventually checked his phone. If a police officer isn't willing to run toward the sound of danger, they can't be a police officer."

But Higdon's brother, Curt Higdon, disagrees.

"I'm telling you, if anybody out there has ever fired a gun or those like my friends in the Military ... or other police officers heard a round go off, or a taser, they know the difference," Curt Higdon said. "But he's trying to manipulate them and that's what we can't have happen."

Maples said this infraction, along with two others Higdon received this year, led to his decision.

"This isn't just about a mistake; it's about a supervisor who's become a liability to the sheriff's office," he said.

Curt Higdon claims his brother didn't hear about the infraction from Aug. 24 until Oct. 17.

"If he really wanted to get rid of somebody because they were a coward and lost confidence, why would you allow them to remain on the street, in the supervisor position he's in, for 55 days before you ever told him about it," he asked.

Curt Higdon claims Maples' decision has to do with his brother's support of another candidate running for county sheriff.

"My brother is supporting another candidate," he said. "He saw him wearing shirts and hats, and that's when these things started."

He said he doesn't want this to be political, he wants what's right for his brother.

"I don't know if he's a criminal, I can't prove any of that, but I know he can't lead and I know what he's doing right now is wrong and I'm here to support Tom Higdon," Curt Higdon said.

Neither Maples or other members of the sheriff's office have responded to requests for comment. A hearing on Sgt. Tom Higdon's recommended termination is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m. in Clark Circuit Court No. 4, but his attorney said that hearing is being moved to a date that has not yet been determined.

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