INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department released body-worn camera footage from an incident in which an officer was pinned against a wall during a welfare check, FOX 59 reported.
On Nov. 14, 2024, officers responded to a business after store employees reported a man was unresponsive in a vehicle parked in the drive-thru lane, according to the report.
Bodycam video released on Aug. 29 shows officers repeatedly knocking on the suspect’s window, flashing lights and activating sirens in attempts to wake him. At one point, an officer used a cellphone to peer through the tinted window and saw no visible firearm.
After several minutes, the suspect rolled down the passenger window and spoke to officers. He eventually exited the vehicle but declined to move away from it, telling officers he was “scared” and felt “more comfortable” staying nearby.
The suspect then re-entered the vehicle despite repeated commands to exit. When an officer attempted to prevent him from driving off, the suspect reversed the vehicle, pinning the officer between the van and the building wall. Another officer fired a single shot, hitting the suspect in the right arm.
Officers immediately rendered medical aid, applying a tourniquet to the suspect’s arm. Both the suspect and the injured officer were transported to the hospital. The suspect was listed in stable condition. The officer, whose injuries were not considered significant, was released later that day.
The suspect was later charged and accepted a plea deal. On Aug. 4, he was sentenced to seven years in prison, followed by two years of probation after pleading guilty to possession of a narcotic drug (Level 3 felony) and battery by means of a deadly weapon (Level 5 felony), according to the report. A separate felony count of battery against a public safety official was dismissed.
Following sentencing, IMPD Chief Chris Bailey released a statement expressing disappointment in the outcome.
“We believe that those who attack our officers should be held fully accountable and face maximum penalties allowed under the law,” a portion of the statement said. “The fact that this sentence is not consecutive adds no additional time for the defendant’s reckless behavior, which could have killed our officer, who was just trying to do his job.”
The department delayed release of the video until the criminal case concluded. The footage was collected from two officers involved in the incident.
