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Ind. deputy shot during domestic

By Stephanie Mojica
The News and Tribune

NEW WASHINGTON, Ind. — A Clark County Sheriff’s Department deputy was shot late Monday night while responding to a domestic dispute in New Washington, and the conflict ended with the alleged gunman’s suicide, officials say.

At about 11:25 p.m., the deputy — whose name was not released as of this morning — responded to a residence along Ind. 62, said Clark County Sheriff Danny Rodden. At that time, Douglas Frakes Jr., 33, allegedly fired a gun several times toward the deputies at the scene, Rodden said.

Several bullets struck one of the deputies in the face, and two other deputies fired shots at Frakes and saved their colleague from further harm, Rodden said.

The deputy’s name is not being released until family notification is complete, Rodden said. As of 7:15 a.m. today, the deputy was in stable but critical condition at University Hospital in Louisville. Further information about the victim’s identity and the incident is expected to be released today.

Frakes, his wife, and other family members were allegedly arguing through the day, Rodden said. An alert was issued to people in the New Washington area to look out for strangers while Frakes was at-large.

At about 2:15 a.m., a search party found Frakes dead in a field close to the scene of the deputy’s shooting. Rodden said the cause of death was suicide by gun.

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