INDIANA – Today, a criminal investigation by Indiana State Police Detective Josh Maller has resulted in the arrest of Joshua B. Stam, 26, Columbus, IN. Stam was served a Miami Circuit Court arrest warrant alleging criminal charges for attempted murder, aggravated battery, attempted escape, and battery resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer. The warrant was served by Indiana State Police Trooper Tom Hanks, at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, where Stam is currently incarcerated.
On August 30, 2017, Stam, who was an inmate at the Miami Correctional Facility, near Bunker Hill, IN, was being transported back to the prison after having a court appearance in Decatur County, IN. As the transport car approached the prison, Stam was able to free himself from the handcuffs he was wearing and allegedly attacked Decatur County Sheriff’s Department Transport Officer David Weakley. Stam purportedly choked the officer and attempted to take his department issued handgun from the holster.
As the inmate was getting the upper hand on the officer, a passerby witnessed the struggle, and alerted two Indiana Department of Correction auto maintenance employees, who were working in a nearby building. The two employees ran to the officer’s aid, stopping the alleged attack, and preventing Stam from escaping. Officer Weakley was transported to a Peru hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Stam was transferred to the segregation unit at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility.
