Pike Township deputy trustee, Democratic activist arrested in burglary

A Pike Township official and Democratic activist has been charged with burglary after an investigation spanning several counties.

Brishon Bond, 45, was arrested early Saturday morning. He and another man, David Gross, 45, are suspected of stealing a safe from a home in the 2000 block of Cassell Drive, just outside Anderson, and discarding it in a Marion County dumpster, Madison County Sheriff Scott Mellinger said.

That incident is the latest of about three dozen burglaries that police suspect Bond of across Marion, Hamilton, Madison and Boone counties, according to Fox 59. The Carmel Police Department took Bond and Gross into custody in Madison County, where they are being held on $500,000 bond. Prosecutors have not yet filed charges.

Bond is a Pike Township deputy trustee and community activist who has spoken out against violence and police abuse in Indianapolis. He also is a former campaign manager for Derris Ross, a candidate for the City-County Council.

Pike Township Trustee Annette Johnson in an interview said Bond has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of his case. She also noted Bond is responsible for building operations and community outreach and did not work with the township's finances.

"I'm very shocked, very saddened about what transpired over the weekend," Johnson said. "I saw it on social media like everybody else."

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Bond is active in Marion County politics, including a recent stint managing the campaign of Derris Ross, a City-County Council candidate who plans to run as an independent after the Democratic Party held him out of its primary contest. Ross plans to run in the east-side district represented by incumbent Democrat La Keisha Jackson.

"As this is an ongoing investigation I am not in the position to respond to accusations against my former campaign manager nor any one involved in this matter," Ross said in a statement.

Ross did not specify when he severed ties with Bond.

Bond has a record of prior convictions, including theft and armed robbery. Johnson said she factored that in when hiring him in Pike Township.

"I was trying to give a person that's been on the bad end of the law a second chance," Johnson said of her decision to hire Bond. "I feel very betrayed, but we have to move forward."

Call IndyStar reporter James Briggs at 317-444-6307. Follow him on Twitter: @JamesEBriggs.