Former Michigan City police officer arrested on rape charges

A Michigan City police officer who resigned last month has been arrested on four counts of rape.

The investigation into 51-year-old Thomas K. Jackson of Trail Creek began after reports of inappropriate sexual contact between Jackson and an adult woman with "diminished mental capabilities."

Michigan City Police Chief Mark Swistek requested that La Porte County Sheriff John Boyd lead an investigation.

Each of the four rape charges is a level 3 felony. An arrest warrant was issued Monday.

On Tuesday morning, Jackson was spotted at a convenience store and taken into custody. He was transported to the La Porte County Jail where he is currently being held in lieu of a $25,000 cash only bond.

According to the La Porte County Sheriff's Office, Jackson resigned from the Michigan City Police Department on March 14.

From the La Porte County Sheriff's Office:

The La Porte County Sheriff’ and the La Porte County Prosecuting Attorney announced the arrest of 51 year old THOMAS K. JACKSON of Trail Creek on four (4) counts of Rape, all level 3 felonies. The investigation was initiated in March of 2017, after Michigan City Police Chief Mark Swistek requested that the La Porte County Sheriff John Boyd lead an investigation involving Michigan City Police Officer Thomas Jackson. The request for the Sheriff’s investigation stemmed from the report of inappropriate sexual contact between Jackson and the adult daughter of a La Porte County woman who was reported to have such diminished mental capabilities that she could not consent to such activity. Sheriff Boyd tasked veteran Detective Sergeant Brian Piergalski with the investigation which was conducted in close coordination with Prosecuting Attorney John Espar. On Monday, April 24, 2017, Det. Sgt. Piergalski and Deputy Prosecutor Catherine Hurst presented a Probable Cause Affidavit and a 4-Count Charging Information, alleging 4 counts of Rape, each as a Level 3 Felony to La Porte County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Alevizos. Judge Alevizos found probable cause for the charges and issued a criminal arrest warrant for the arrest of Jackson. At approximately 7:35 a.m. on Tuesday, April 25, JACKSON was observed at a convenience store near Trail Creek and was taken into custody without incident by members of the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau and members of the Michigan City Fugitive Apprehension Street Team (FAST). He was transported to the La Porte County Jail where he is currently being held in lieu of a $25,000 cash only bond. On March 14, 2017, Jackson resigned from the Michigan City Police Department. Prosecuting Attorney Espar commended the prompt investigative request of Chief Swistek and the thorough investigative efforts of Sheriff Boyd’s Detective Bureau, and in particular, the meticulous work of Det. Sgt. Piergalski. *The charges against the defendant are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.