ATLANTA, Indiana — Atlanta is a town of just 700 people.
Indiana State Police added to the population significantly Wednesday, Oct. 2 with a large presence at several locations across town. Townspeople told 13News reporter Rich Nye that the number of police vehicles and investigators was even greater in the morning before he arrived.
Another Atlanta town official confirms that police are investigating Utility Superintendent and Building Commissioner Andy Emmert, who is on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues. The official said Emmert has been in that position for years and served on the town council before that.
The town hall was closed Wednesday as investigators searched for evidence there and at a few other town buildings.
State police are not saying what this investigation involves, but investigators were at Emmert's house at the corner of North Walnut and Meridian streets all day. They loaded two different classic Oldsmobile Cutlass cars off his property and onto flatbed trucks and eventually obtained warrants to haul them away.
There was no crime tape visible at any of the investigation locations, and state police said Emmert is not under arrest at this time.
Residents said Emmert is also a longtime resident of the town, about 40 miles north of Indianapolis.
Nye sent Emmert an email, called him and got his voicemail, and texted him, but has received no responses as of Wednesday evening.
An attorney representing the Town of Atlanta sent the following statement to 13News Thursday, Oct. 3:
"The Town of Atlanta is aware of the ongoing investigation by the Indiana State Police and is fully cooperating with the investigation. It is the Town's understanding that it is not the target of the investigation. The Town is awaiting further information from law enforcement as to the result of the investigation. Until the Town has additional information, Utility Superintendent and Building Commissioner Andy Emmert will be on administrative leave."