Ashton Hackman WTHR

A Frankfort police officer is facing charges months after video surfaced showing him allegedly throw his K-9 partner to the ground.

Ethan Cunningham, 24, is charged in Boone County with felony official misconduct and misdemeanor animal cruelty.

He has an active arrest warrant, but the sheriff’s office tells us they are communicating with Cunningham’s attorney.

The investigation started in March after a neighbor reported the incident to Lebanon Police. Boone County detectives handled the case to avoid a conflict of interest.

Court docs allege that Cunningham told investigators he was conducting off-duty training with K-9 “Taz” at home.

He said he corrected Taz because the dog turned toward his wrist when he attempted to grab its collar.

Detectives talked with witnesses, trained K-9 handlers and a veterinarian.

Purdue University vets documented Taz showed pain near the middle of his spine, “most likely caused by physical trauma.”

Frankfort PD Chief Scott Shoemaker sent us the following statement:

“I was notified that Frankfort Police Sergeant Ethan Cunningham was charged after an investigation conducted by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest stems from his actions during an off-duty incident on Saturday, March 21, 2026, involving K9 Taz.

Cunningham is the subject of an internal investigation by the Frankfort Police Department. That internal affairs investigation was paused pending the criminal investigation completion. The internal affairs investigators will review the information from Boone County and turn their final report over to me.

The Board of Public Works and Safety (Board) will call a special meeting to discuss the matter. Indiana Code 36-8-3-4 outlines rules and procedures for police officers who face criminal charges. The Board cannot act on the employment status until the disposition of the criminal charges in the trial court.

He is still employed but the Board can move him to unpaid leave now that charges have been filed.

Any further comment about the criminal charges and arrest need addressed to the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office.”

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UPDATE — Cunningham has turned himself into the Boone County Jail

An Indiana congressman is leading a national push to strengthen alerts for missing children, and named the legislation after Hailey Buzbee.

Congressman Rudy Yakym introduced the HAILEY Act on Wednesday.

The High-risk Alert Improvement for Locating Endangered Youth (HAILEY) Act would push law enforcement to issue AMBER Alerts for children believed to be high-risk missing persons, even if an abduction cannot be immediately confirmed.

Right now, AMBER Alerts can only be issued when police can confirm an abduction and that a child is in immediate danger.

That tragically wasn’t the case in Hailey’s disappearance.

Buzbee was allegedly lured away from her home in January this year by an Ohio man who met her through online gaming.

Her remains were found in February, but the man—arrested in her disappearance—has not been officially charged with murder.

"As a father of three kids, I cannot imagine the pain this family has endured. Hailey Buzbee deserved better, and so do the countless other children who fall through the cracks of an alert system that wasn't built for the threats they face today,” Rep. Yakym said. "This family is turning unimaginable tragedy into action to make sure no other child suffers the same fate, and I am honored to fight alongside them in Congress to make it happen.”

Hailey’s dad, Beau Buzbee, wrote the following on social media, reacting to the proposed law:
“The HAILEY Act seeks to modernize our response to high-risk missing children and ensure cries for help are amplified, but neglected or silenced.

UPDATE — We just got the redacted probable cause affidavit for the charges against a former volunteer deputy fire chief in Morgan County.

As we previously reported, Charlie Heflin is charged with 55 felonies, including child exploitation, possession of child s*x abuse material and voyeurism.

Heflin's girlfriend—Angela Vanmatre—is also charged. She's facing five counts of conspiracy to commit child exploitation and conspiracy to commit voyeurism.

Court docs say the couple secretly recorded women and girls for years using hidden cameras disguised as clocks and phone chargers at the Gregg Township Fire Department and in private homes.

The investigation began after a woman reportedly discovered a hidden camera in a bedroom she had moved into at Heflin's home.

Investigators obtained several search warrants and allegedly uncovered numerous videos and images of female firefighters changing clothes, showering or sleeping at the fire department bunk rooms and bathrooms.

The alleged scheme is said to have occurred between late 2021 and 2023.

Court docs say there are at least 10 victims, including a 17-year-old.

Many of the victims told police that Heflin would make s*xual comments, pursue them romantically or behave inappropriately while serving in a leadership role.

During a later interview, Vanmatre admitted knowing about hidden cameras, according to court docs.

Police also reportedly found child s*x abuse material of prepubescent girls on Heflin's hard drives.

Court docs say Heflin was previously arrested in Champaign County, Illinois in 2002 in a child po*******hy case, where Heflin admitted to photographing an underage family member.

The case was dismissed when the victim's mother asked the case to not proceed.

Heflin and Vanmatre had initial hearings Monday afternoon.