Cincinnati man sentenced to prison after fighting ISP trooper

(LAWRENCEBURG, Ind.) – A Cincinnati man is going to prison after pleading guilty to an incident that involved an Indiana State Trooper being injured.

Last September, a concerned citizen reached out to police about a planned meeting through Facebook Marketplace at a St. Leon gas station.

An ISP Trooper was monitoring the gas station when 20-year-old Gregory Lucas arrived wearing a ski mask, jacket and long pants despite it being 90 degrees outside.

The trooper attempted to investigate and Lucas attempted to flee. A fight broke out between the trooper and Lucas. 

Lucas bit the trooper, scratched him and attempted to gouge his eye. 

“The trooper suffered injuries including a bite that broke the skin, injuries to his face and shoulder, and a facial injury that investigators later described as resulting in a permanent scar,” said Prosecutor Lynn Deddens.

After he was arrested, police say they found a loaded handgun in his jacket pocket along with an open Swiss Army knife near that area as well. 

A digital investigation of his phone revealed that Lucas sent messages stating he was going to rob the individuals through the Facebook Marketplace meetup, prosecutors said. 

Lucas was initially charged with Attempted Armed Robbery, Batter on a Public Safety Official, and Resisting Law Enforcement. 

Under the negotiated plea agreement, Lucas was convicted of Attempted Armed Robbery and the remaining charges were dismissed.

On Friday, Dearborn Superior Court II Judge Sally McLaughlin imposed a 10-year sentence in prison with no portion of the sentence suspended. 

Deddens said, “This was a dangerous situation that could have ended very differently. The quick and professional response of the Indiana State Police prevented an armed robbery from being carried out and protected an innocent citizen from ever being confronted by an armed offender.”