Also, Deputies make child molest arrest

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On October 8, 2026, the Kokomo Police Department initiated an investigation regarding an individual who was spitting on firefighters of the Kokomo Fire Department. Firefighters were collecting money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association near all of the Kokomo fire stations.

The investigation revealed that the suspect was pulling up to firefighters and acting as if he was going to donate money. As firefighters would approach his vehicle, he would then spit on them and drive away. Officers quickly identified the suspect as 66-year-old Brian Nelson of Kokomo.

On October 9, a warrant was issued for Brian Nelson for three counts of Battery by Bodily Waste Against a Public Safety Officer, Level 6 Felonies. At approximately 2 p.m. on October 9, KPD officers located Mr. Nelson and conducted a traffic stop. While taking Mr. Nelson into custody for the warrant, he resisted officers and battered one of them. Mr. Nelson was charged with additional counts of Resisting Law Enforcement and Battery Against a Public Safety Official.

Mr. Nelson was transported to the Howard County Jail without further incident. The Kokomo Police Department was assisted by the Howard County Sheriff’s Department during the traffic stop.

All defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Deputies make child molest arrest

In April 2026, a detective with the Howard County Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force began an investigation after receiving a CyberTip report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the suspected possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

The CyberTip was generated by Google and included images that were flagged and confirmed to be child sexual abuse material. Through the course of the investigation, 22-year-old Jarren Schmitt of Kokomo was identified as the suspected user associated with the account.

On September 3, 2026, a search warrant was executed at a residence in the 300 block of Walker Avenue in Kokomo. Several electronic devices were seized from the residence and were subsequently found to contain child sexual abuse material.

As a result of the investigation, Schmitt was taken into custody and faces charges of Child Molesting, a Level 1 felony; Child Exploitation, a Level 3 felony; and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, a Level 3 felony.

The Howard County Sheriff’s Office was assisted with the investigation by detectives from the Kokomo Police Department and the Indiana State Police.

This investigation was conducted by Detective Kysha Quirk, an affiliated member of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

The Indiana ICAC Task Force encourages Hoosiers to report online exploitation, solicitation, and enticement-type crimes against children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The NCMEC website can be accessed through the Indiana ICAC Task Force website. To report a crime involving a child victim and the Internet or other electronic means, please contact your local Indiana law enforcement agency. To learn more about the efforts of the Indiana ICAC Task Force, visit internetcrimesagainstkids.com.

The Howard County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that the filing of charges is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.