Center Township deputy police officer charged with rape

INDIANAPOLIS – The Marion County District Attorney’s Office has expanded charges against a Center Township deputy who has already been arrested on a number of domestic violence charges.

The auxiliary police officer now faces up to 16 years in prison after the charges against him were added to those of third-degree rape.

The indictment against Semorris Powell marks the fourth time in less than a year that an employee of the Center Township Constables Office has been charged with a crime.

Shortly before Powell’s arrest, another deputy police officer was arrested for illegal possession of weapons.

The office’s director, Center Township Police Officer Denise Hatch, is struggling with legal troubles of her own and is currently behind bars after being charged with abuse of office, a felony, and a number of other charges for the third time this year.

Hatches’ previous legal troubles include charges of theft and abuse of office, as well as attempting to hinder IMPD officers’ arrest of one of her deputies. That deputie, Craig Regans, was also charged with illegal possession of a firearm.

Previous reports describe Powell’s arrest in March following allegations of abuse and sexual assault by the mother of his child.

The victim told investigators that Powell had attacked her on multiple occasions and made death threats, often wearing the uniform of a Center Township deputy constable and carrying his service weapon.

Apparently the cases of abuse were so frequent that they could not be counted.

Powell’s abuse allegedly even extended to raping the victim. In August 2023, the victim said Powell dropped off a gift for her child’s birthday. After allegedly being asked to leave, Powell allegedly dragged the victim into the bedroom and raped her despite her protests.

Powell reportedly wore his full deputy uniform during the attack.

This is not the only time Powell is accused of forcing herself on the victim. The victim told police it was “hard to count” the number of times she had sex with Powell when she didn’t want to because she was too afraid to fight back.

In late February, police gained access to thousands of messages and communications between Powell and the victim.

In March, police spoke with a relative who told investigators that Powell was controlling and possessive of the victim. The relative had witnessed this behavior, with Powell allegedly yelling and cursing at the victim.

Powell was arrested in March on several domestic violence charges, including false imprisonment (a Level 5 felony) and domestic violence, strangulation and intimidation (all Level 6 felonies).

On June 4, the Marion County District Attorney’s Office added rape, a Level 3 felony, to the charge against Powell.

Powell posted bail on the first charge on March 31. He is due in court at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to hear his new rape charge.

The status of the Center Township Police Department remains unclear as Hatch is behind bars and several of her deputies or former deputies have been charged.

Hatch had previously claimed that the criminal proceedings against her and her office were intended to discredit her office.

“This is an attack on me because I represent the people,” Hatch said on February 23. “They will throw everything they can at me.”

At Hatch’s hearing in late May, where a judge revoked her bail, Hatch raised her shackled wrists and chanted “Release Denise! Release Denise!” as she was led into the courtroom.