A jury trial will begin in Starke Circuit Court today. John Loftus Jr. was arrested on August 19th by the Starke County Police and the Prosecutor’s office has filed five charges against him for which he has plead not guilty. He is charged with Attempted Robbery, a Class C Felony; Domestic Battery with a Child Present, a Class D Felony; Resisting Law Enforcement, a Class A Misdemeanor; Battery, a Class A Misdemeanor; and Battery, a Class B Misdemeanor.
On August 19th, Loftus Jr. allegedly attempted to take a purse containing the belongings of Joanna Elder. He also allegedly threw her down to the ground and drug her on the ground in the presence of her children. When Officer Jeremiah Patrick was trying to place Loftus Jr. in custody, he resisted. He also has two other charges of Battery in this incident.
