Allegations of a Sexual Battery

Monroe County, Indiana — According to court filings on Friday, a Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy sexually attacked a lady in Bloomington while he was on the job.

Indiana State Police made an arrest of 29-year-old  Monroe County Deputy Sheriff Jeffrey L. Freeman last week. He was charged with the following offenses:

Sexual battery — a Level 4 Felony

Strangulation — a Level 6 Felony

Obstruction of justice — a Level 6 Felony

Official misconduct — a Level 6 Felony.

An affidavit for probable cause states that Deputy Freeman committed these acts on August 21, 2024. In an Indiana State Police (ISP) interview, a woman said that she had requested an Uber to the Aspen Heights Apartments in Bloomington on that particular date.

Rather than dropping her off where she wanted to, the driver of her automobile dropped her off at the 100 block of West 6th Street. The woman said she was lost when she spoke with a Monroe County Sheriff's deputy after being dropped off.

The woman informed ISP that although the deputy was off-duty, he would utilize his radio to contact another member of the law enforcement agency to the location. Deputy Freeman was the deputy who eventually arrived on the scene.

According to court documents, Deputy Freeman reportedly took the woman to Aspen Heights. Later, the woman informed police that Deputy Freeman had taken a bag out of the front seat of his car and had urged her to wait there.

The woman said that Freeman turned around and drove to the rear of the apartment complex after she got into the front seat of the vehicle. Following their turn around behind the structure, Freeman lightly touched the woman's leg.

Following the encounter, the woman informed police that Deputy Freeman stroked her leg and apologized, saying, "I didn't mean to grope you."

Police Body Cam

Additionally, the woman informed investigators that Freeman had switched off his body-worn camera throughout the event. Following their discussion with the woman, state police were able to confirm her claim.

Deputy Freeman started acting suspiciously after turning off his bodycam, according to court documents. According to reports, he took hold of the woman's phone and began browsing her camera roll, viewing personal images and recordings.

Then, according to the lady, Freeman started questioning her, "Is that your a** and your tits?" Additionally, the lady informed police that during the exchange, Freeman remarked, "I bet you like your a** slapped."

Freeman also ordered the lady to bend over and pull her shirt down during the incident, according to court filings. The woman turned down Freeman's advances.

The woman claimed in an interview with detectives that Freeman then began slapping her face, yanking her hair, and strangling her. The deputy, according to the victim, allegedly shoved his finger in her mouth.

According to the woman, Freeman exposed her breasts to him by running a portable breath test tube under her tank top, as reported by ISP.

According to the woman, the deputy questioned her if she would have a secret sexual relationship with a married individual. The woman went on to say that it would be improper for her to take part in a relationship like that.

The woman informed detectives that when she tried various keys to enter the building, the deputy followed her inside. Security camera footage later turned up by the police verified the deputy escorted the woman into the premises.

How the woman's contact with Freeman ended is not covered in depth in the affidavit outlining the police inquiry. The paper makes it clear that Freeman reportedly used his duty weapon and drove a fully marked police car while committing crimes against the victim while he was on duty.

On August 23, Freeman spoke with state police. The deputy acknowledged that he smacked the victim's face and kissed her during the interrogation. Deputy Freeman denied nearly every other accusation made against him, according to ISP.

Deputy Freeman acknowledged turning off his body cam during his encounter with the woman. 

The Indiana State Police said Deputy Freeman’s claims are, “false because the body camera footage ended shortly after they arrived at the Aspen apartment complex and is not turned back on when it is known that his time on scene at Aspen with the victim lasted longer than the body camera shows.”

Deputy Freeman then claimed that the victim was the aggressor as his interview with the investigators went on. He told the cops that the woman started the kissing and flirting. The woman allegedly wanted to show Freeman pictures of herself in her underwear on her phone.

None of the actions Deputy Freeman said the woman was displaying, according to the ISP, were captured on his bodycam.

The victim told authorities that the deputy texted her. Upon questioning Deputy Freeman over the text, he claimed to have deleted the message from his department-issued cellphone.

Indiana Civil Rights Lawyer

Civil Rights and Police Abuse Attorney Mark Nicholson said, “Before joining the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Freeman reportedly had much law enforcement experience. He worked at the Putnam County Jail and in the private sector. It would not surprise me if there were more victims of his sexual violence. I’m glad he no longer works for the Monroe County Sheriff.”

If you or someone you know has had any inappropriate sexual acts with Deputy Freeman, please call the Law Office of Mark Nicholson at 317-219-3402. Mention Monroe County Sheriff Deputy Jeffrey Freeman to get your Free Consultation.