Andrew Dezelan, a candidate in the Senate District 31 race in Indiana, was busted earlier this year for possession of cocaine and resisting law enforcement, which is obviously not a good look for someone wanting to serve in public office. To make the situation worse, Dezelan was knocking on doors in a Fishers neighborhood for his campaign at the time of his detainment.
Dezelan is one of four individuals in the Democratic Party primary running for a seat on the state Senate, which includes parts of northern Lawrence Township and most of Fishers. Four GOP candidates are also running for the seat in their own primary. Information contained in a probable cause affidavit filed in a Hamilton County Court revealed that Dezelan was approached by a cop around 8 p.m. on April 26, 2026.
The officer was in the neighborhood responding to a call from a resident about an individual soliciting in their neighborhood. The officer approached Dezelan’s vehicle and began questioning him on the difference between canvassing and soliciting. Dezelan told the officer that he had been granted permission to canvas the area by a member of the HOA.
According to a report from WFYI, the report said that Dezelan started talking fast and was sweating profusely. The officer noticed that the aspiring senator had small, constricted pupils. All three were signs of someone being under the influence of narcotics. The officer then requested Dezelan to get out of his car to be taken into custody.
Instead of complying with the officer’s order, Dezelan put his vehicle in reverse. He did eventually exit the vehicle and after briefly struggling with the officer, he was taken to the ground and handcuffed. The officer conducted a search of the vehicle and discovered a clear Ziploc bag containing a small amount of white powder.
After the substance was tested with a narcotics field test kit, it was identified as cocaine. WFYI reached out to both Dezelan and his attorney, but neither responded. Dezelan is a resident of Fishers and had previously served as the policy director for the Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus. Shortly after his arrest, he was given a $10,000 bond during a court hearing in Hamilton County.
Dezelan’s campaign is built around prioritizing affordability and restoring control to local governments. He also said that he wants to create “sensible marijuana reforms that will drive dollars into needed services.” Dezelan is the second candidate to be arrested. According to a report published by The Indiana Lawyer, Dezelan made it clear he would not be dropping out of the race.
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“I have much to say. For those that know me this should come as no surprise. However, I have been advised by counsel not to discuss the details of the case, and I will respect that process as it moves forward,” Dezelan went on to say. “I know this raises concern, and I understand why. I ask for patience as the facts are addressed through the proper legal channels. I remain committed to this campaign and to the people of this district.”
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video