Deputies stake out funeral to nab wanted Muncie man, court docs reveal

MUNCIE, Ind. — A Muncie man with outstanding warrants is back in police custody after sheriff’s deputies staked out a funeral and pounced on the wanted man.

Nathaniel D. Franklin, 23, was arrested on Monday after a short foot pursuit broke out outside the funeral service.

Court records show that Franklin had an outstanding warrant for auto theft. Now he faces additional preliminary charges of resisting arrest and dealing in a narcotic drug.

According to court documents, deputies with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department were staking out Parson Mortuary and Cremation Center on Monday afternoon after receiving a tip that Franklin would be attending a funeral at the mortuary.

Franklin reportedly was spooked after arriving, however, and took off on foot after spotting a marked police vehicle.

A plain-clothed sheriff’s deputy reportedly gave chase. Franklin fled down an alley and through a residential yard before eventually surrendering himself to the police, court documents detail.

According to the deputies, a search of Franklin uncovered more than eight grams of suspected heroin.

Court records reveal that Franklin has an extensive criminal history. In addition to his outstanding warrants for auto theft and criminal confinement, Franklin has been charged with burglary, battery, theft, resisting law enforcement, residential entry, escape, intimidation, possession of meth and more in 14+ different cases filed within the last four years alone.

At the time of his arrest, Franklin was on probation. Court documents show that in November 2023 Franklin entered plea deals related to several of his charges and was ordered to serve 18 months on probation.

Any new charges related to Franklin’s arrest and alleged possession of heroin will be decided by the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office.

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