Drug buy turns into armed robbery in Johnson County, two arrested

Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 2:20 PM

By Johnny McCrory

Two Indianapolis men were arrested after an armed robbery of juveniles in Johnson County.

Just after 2 a.m. Sunday, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the 400 block of San Marcos Drive in Greenwood, in response to a reported armed robbery. Three juveniles were victims of an armed robbery. The investigation revealed that two of the juveniles had arranged to meet an individual, known to one of them from a previous encounter last year, to purchase illegal narcotics. The meeting took place around the corner from one of the juveniles’ homes, explaining their presence on San Marcos Drive.

During the incident, two of the juveniles entered a vehicle operated by the suspected dealer. Inside the vehicle were two adult males. Inside the car, both suspects brandished firearms and proceeded to rob the juveniles. One of the suspects physically assaulted one of the juveniles by punching him in the face and forcibly taking his property.

Johnson County Sheriff’s Office deputies and detectives immediately began a search for the suspects. Their investigation led them to a residence on the west side of Indianapolis, near Morris Street. With the assistance of IMPD, after securing the appropriate search warrants, detectives executed a search of the home and successfully located both suspects, along with the weapons used during the robbery.

Joseph A. Goodwin, 20, was held at the Johnson County Jail on charges of robbery, battery, and theft. Cooper Nelson, also 20, was arrested for robbery and theft.

“These juveniles are incredibly lucky this situation didn’t end in tragedy. With the rising number of homicides and gun-related incidents occurring just north of Johnson County, we must remain vigilant. This kind of behavior is unacceptable in our community. We are committed to enforcing all laws, not just selective ones, to protect our residents," Sheriff Duane E. Burgess.

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