Atlanta, Ind. town council puts official on paid leave amid ongoing state police probe

Atlanta, Ind. — The Atlanta town council placed Building Commissioner and Utilities Superintendent Andy Emmert on paid administrative leave until further notice after Emmert’s property was raided by the Indiana State Police last week.

The vote was unanimous.

“I know everybody is here because they’re concerned and you all are here based on events of last week with search warrants being executed and we’re also concerned about that,” Council President Murry Dixon said.

Dixon said the council had limited information on the events at Emmert’s home but said based on the information they do have, the town’s concern is warranted.

Emmert’s property was raided by Indiana State Police on Oct. 2 as part of an investigation that the agency has said almost nothing about. Some believe it’s related to the 1992 disappearance of 24-year-old Tony Bledsoe, including Bledsoe’s son.

“My dad didn’t just leave,” Justin Robinson said the day after the raid. ”The ball is rolling now and I can give a big thanks to the Indiana State Police for that.”

Bledsoe was last seen in March 1992 driving out of town in an Oldsmobile Cutlass. Two of those types of cars were towed from Emmert’s garage last week. However, he’s not been charged with a crime or arrested.

ISP hasn’t said whether or not the search is related to Bledsoe’s case. However, some town residents don’t seem to care.

“The way I see it, he’s been a suspect on a 32-year-old murder case. He don’t need to be getting paid. I’m sorry. That’s the way I feel,” one resident said Monday evening.

Council members left out a side door of the town hall and ignored questions from reporters as they drove away.

Because Emmert is on leave, the council approved an agreement with the nearby town of Arcadia to help run its utilities and appointed an interim-building commissioner. Both of which were previously Emmert’s responsibilities.

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