Docs: Music video helped IMPD identify man who tried to carjack undercover officer’s vehicle

INDIANAPOLIS — A music video helped the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department arrest a man who allegedly attempted to carjack undercover officer’s vehicle.

According to court documents filed Tuesday, an undercover IMPD officer was conducting surveillance from an unmarked vehicle in the 5800 block Costino Lane around 1:40 p.m. on Aug. 14. While he was sitting in his car, the officer saw a red Kia Optima drive by him multiple times.

The vehicle slowed down each time it passed the officer’s car. The officer’s car was running and did not have a tinted windshield, so the subjects could observe that someone was in the vehicle.

Court records indicate that the undercover detective eventually observed three men walking toward his car. The officer reported that individuals were wearing baggy clothing and hooded sweatshirts, despite the outside temperature being 85 degrees.

The men were armed and wearing latex gloves, pointing guns at the officer’s car several times. The officer also indicated that he heard the slide of an AK pistol, indicating a round had been chambered into a firearm.

Because of the behavior the men were exhibiting, the undercover officer fled the area at a high rate of speed. The officer, however, later figured out the red Kia Optima he had observed earlier was following him.

The passengers in the Optima appeared to be the same individuals who had approached his vehicle with guns earlier.

Police reporting on the incident indicates a marked IMPD car entered the fray shortly after the undercover officer realized he was being followed. After they spotted the marked car, the driver and passengers in the Optima pulled off on Candle Court and stopped following the undercover officer.

IMPD later attempted to conduct a traffic stop with the Optima. The suspect vehicle initially pulled over.

As the stop progressed, however, two individuals bailed from the Optima and the car then sped away.

Court records show that police saw the individuals who ran out of the car place guns in a nearby trash can. One of the individuals was found in the 5100 block of Moller Road and the other was located in a tree line near the 5800 block of West 52nd Street.

The man found on Moller Road was identified as Jenariss Davis. The suspect police located in the tree line was Ernest Poston.

Police recovered the two firearms Davis and Poston had dumped in the trash can. According to court documents, law enforcement discovered one of the guns had been reported stolen in Shelbyville.

Investigators later found the Optima in the 5200 block of Lakeside Manor. A live round of 9mm ammunition, a hoodie, blue latex gloves and a black holster were located inside the car. Officers did not initially find the third suspect who allegedly tried to carjack the undercover detective.

Court records indicate police later received a tip about the red Optima involved in the incident. Officers obtained security camera footage that showed a man exiting a silver Jeep and entering the Optima. The Jeep observed in the video was registered to Davis.

Previous reporting indicates Poston was preliminarily charged with attempted robbery, theft and intimidation. Davis faces preliminary charges of attempted robbery, unlawful carrying of a handgun and intimidation.

Detectives later listened to a jail call Davis made. Via a check of their records, police determined the number Davis called belonged to Charles Johnson, who had previously been implicated in an assault report made to IMPD. He was also convicted of possession of cocaine in 2021.

During his call with Johnson, Davis said he believed the person they had run into on Aug. 14 was “twelve,” which is slang for an undercover officer. Davis also referenced the vehicle the undercover officer was using the day of the attempted carjacking during the call.

Davis advised Johnson to get an attorney during the call. Johnson then indicated that he didn’t need to get a lawyer.

Johnson then inferred that he returned to the scene of the crime, saying, “I came, I came back to that maf**** and it was turned up.” Johnson later said he drove past an officer who was using a drone in the area.

On Aug. 22, police discovered a Facebook account under the name “OG Chuck.” Officers subsequently identified a YouTube channel belonging to “OG CHUKK.”

Police reported that the owner of the Facebook account appeared to be Johnson, based on a photo they found attached to it.

While they were looking through the OG CHUKK YouTube channel, police observed an AK-47-style pistol in the music video “762.” The undercover officer who was nearly carjacked on Aug. 14 indicated that he believed the gun in the video is the same one he saw the day of the incident.

After they discovered the OG Chuck Facebook page and the OG CHUKK YouTube channel, police monitored GPS data tied to the phone number that Davis and Poston called from jail. Court records indicate the data showed that the person who owned the phone stayed at a residence in the 4900 block of Flame Way most of the time.

Police then conducted a records check that revealed Johnson had previously indicated that his primary residence was located in the 4900 block of Flame Way.

According to court documents, the undercover detective involved in the attempted carjacking had observed a green Dodge Challenger without a hood on it before the men approached him.

The Challenger had also been previously observed near the 4900 block of Flame Way. The records check police conducted on the vehicle revealed it belonged to Johnson.

Police later obtained a search warrant for the car. It was located at an area casino.

Law enforcement ultimately detained Johnson, and a search warrant was executed on his vehicle in the casino’s parking lot.

Officers also searched the residence in the 4900 block of Flame Way. They discovered an AR platform rifle, a loaded magazine and 20 live rounds.

Johnson was arrested for attempted robbery, intimidation and unlawful possession of a firearm.

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