Indiana police officer charged with 13 felonies including voter fraud

A Rising Sun police officer has been charged with 13 felonies following a lengthy an investigation conducted by Indiana State Police detectives.

Lowell Ross Colen, 42, was taken into custody at his home in Rising Sun Wednesday afternoon on a warrant containing 13 felony charges including ghost employment, official misconduct, forgery and voter fraud, a release from ISP said.

State Police detectives began investigating Colen four months ago, after discovering he may have been involved in criminal activity that took place during the 2015 primary election in Ohio County.

Police said Colen allegedly influenced individuals to vote in the Ohio County primary election and filled out absentee applications and ballots for people who were not eligible to vote in the county. The state police investigation found that Colen forged signatures on some of the applications and ballots and submitted them to the Ohio County Clerk’s Office.

Some of the criminal activity may have taken place while Colen was an on-duty Rising Sun police officer, the release said.

After the jail book-in process, police said Colen will be issued a bond and given an initial court date to appear in the Ohio County Circuit Court.

Call Star reporter Michael Anthony Adams at (317) 444-6123. Follow him on Twitter: @MichaelAdams317.