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It appears that Kokomo doesn't have any serious crime problems.

Since the Kokomo Police Department began making arrests in their investigation of adult entertainment facilities, two in particular seem to be taking the brunt of the allegations.

KPD Chief Robert Baker said the department has been looking into all of the adult entertainment industries in the city, not just Big Daddy's and Little Daddy's.





“We looked at every location for violations for criminal acts, anything illegal going on, and this is where we are at right now,” he said. “In no way, shape, or form are we ever targeting one location. If they want to say there is illegal activity going on at those locations and that's why we are at those locations, absolutely. It just so happens that Little Daddy's and Big Daddy's seem to be taking the brunt of everything. But that's where we've observed and got the evidence as far as that illegal activity.

“If someone would want to provide information of evidence of illegal activity at other locations, those would be investigated as well. And I've said for years, ‘Bring me the evidence.'”

So far the police department has reported making seven arrests last week, and Baker said there will most likely be more to follow as the investigation continues.

“This investigation, of course, is an ongoing investigation,” he said. “It's been hearsay and accusation and innuendos for years, and we all know that. The evidence finally came forth as far as when we went out and started looking in on some of these locations.”

On May 22, the KPD Task Force arrested four individuals on arrest warrants.

Angel McClain, 18, of Peru, Ind., was arrested at Big Daddy's for one count of Public Indecency, a Class A misdemeanor.

Tonda M. Lockridge, 29, of Kokomo, was arrested at 817 N. Union St. #3, for Prostitution, a Class A misdemeanor.

Jasmine Neal, 21, of Kokomo, was arrested at Little Daddy's for four counts of Prostitution, a Class A misdemeanor.

Chelsey E. Smith, 22, of Kokomo, was arrested at 1530 E. Boulevard St. for two counts of Prostitution, a Class A misdemeanor.

On May 23, KPD arrested three additional individuals on warrants.

Christian M. Hurst, 21, of Anderson, Ind., was arrested on charges of Prostitution, a Class A misdemeanor, Public Indecency, a Class A misdemeanor, Possession of Marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor, and Reckless Driving, a Class B misdemeanor.

Amy L. Turbeville, 25, of Peru, Ind., was arrested on one count of Prostitution, a Class A misdemeanor.

Shayla M. Thomas, 18, of Claypool, Ind., was arrested on two counts of Prostitution, a Class A misdemeanor.

Baker said that at this point in the investigation, the police department is just starting to put everything together. He also said it took years for the initial investigation so the department could ask for warrants to be issued for further inquiry.

“The thing is the investigation is by far not over,” he said. “Who knows when it's going to be over. There is no ending date. We will continue to do what we are doing with whatever information that we gain every day, and that's why one facet is the evidence and gaining that evidence. There wasn't any judge or prosecutor that was going to give us any type of search warrant because there wasn't any evidence. So obviously we had to come up with that evidence first and to be able to take that paperwork to a judge for him to order a search warrant.”

If somebody brings forth evidence that something is going on at a certain location, then the KPD will investigate those claims, Baker said.

“Just understand that tomorrow is another day, and obviously if things happen tomorrow and we get the proper information, and it may not be this one or this one, it may be that one,” he said in reference to the raids at the two strip clubs. “It's kind of one of those open books right now, and until we shut it and say, ‘OK here,' it's up to the prosecutor to do the rest. And we will go from there.”

He said the department is trying to do what they can, and the city administration is doing what they can do to assist the KPD just like dealing with some of these other locations that aren't up to par.

“It's not just Kokomo, Ind., though. Code enforcement right now is huge across the country, and it's probably something that should have happened a long time ago,” he said. “Fortunately, we've got a great administration that wants this city to thrive and that's where we are at.”