Sheriff's Son, An IMPD Cop, Arrested for Drug Dealing

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Corrected and updated: Jan. 13, 5:07 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Marion County Sheriff John Layton says his son's arrest for drug dealing is "heartbreaking." Layton's son is also a veteran Indianapolis police officer.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department arrested Nikolas Layton along with 33-year-old Christopher Reed and 41-year-old Veronica Purdy Tuesday on charges of dealing cocaine.

Wednesday afternoon, Layton submitted his resignation from the police department.

The investigation into him and the two others lasted two months, IMPD said:

In November 2015, detectives with IMPD’s Special Investigations Unit initiated a narcotics investigation from information received from an outside agency. ... All three individuals are alleged to have participated in narcotics distribution over a period of several days.

The younger Layton, 35, is a 10-year veteran of IMPD, working hit-and-run cases. He was released on bond early Wednesday morning.

"This is obviously a heart breaking moment as a parent, especially as a parent who is also the Sheriff, and even more as the father of a police officer," his father, the sheriff, said in a statement. "I have never tolerated this kind of alleged behavior in law enforcement. I have full faith in the criminal justice system, and I feel certain that justice will be done."

New Indianapolis police chief Troy Riggs suspended Layton without pay and called for his termination. The county prosecutor's office is still reviewing the cases for criminal charges and had no more information.

Correction: IMPD originally misidentifed the first name of one of the suspects arrested. Her name is Veronica Purdy, not Victoria.

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