One of the people involved in the Fourth of July incident at Lake Monroe has filed to intervene in the case against Sean Purdy, who allegedly jumped Vauhxx Booker because of his race.
Caroline McCord, who is Purdy’s girlfriend and owns the property where the incident occurred, filed a motion Monday to intervene in the Purdy case and request a special prosecutor, according to court documents.
McCord Proposed Special Prosecutor by Indiana Public Media News on Scribd
Sean Purdy faces three felony charges: criminal confinement, battery resulting in moderate bodily injury and intimidation, after local activist Vauhxx Booker accused him and a group of his friends of jumping Booker on the Fourth of July and threatening to hang him. McCord does not face charges.
A report from the Department of Natural Resources listed charges that could pertain to Booker, including criminal trespass, but were not brought forward.
McCord’s request for a special prosecutor says Monroe County Prosecutor Erika Oliphant decided to “engage in the selective prosecution of Mr. Purdy and [his friend] Mr. [Jerry] Cox” and therefore is not fit to prosecute the case.
“Prosecutor Oliphant has an actual conflict of interest because she has put her own interests – specifically, her interest in maintaining her position as the elected Monroe County Prosecutor – above her duty to the State,” the petition reads.
McCord Limited Motion to Intervene by Indiana Public Media News on Scribd
Indiana’s Rules of Trial Procedure allow people to intervene in cases they are not a part of, depending on circumstances.
Cathy Knapp contributed to this story.
