law enforcement - The Indiana Lawyer

Mother: Indiana family will sue cruise company over toddler’s death

July 22, 2019 | Associated Press

There are “a million things” the cruise company could have done to prevent the death of an 18-month-old Indiana girl who fell to her death from an open window on a cruise ship in Puerto Rico, the toddler’s mother said in an interview broadcast Monday. Speaking publicly for the first time since Chloe Wiegand died, her mother, Kimberley Wiegand, told NBC’s “Today ” show that her family will sue Royal Caribbean Cruises for “not having a safer situation on the 11th floor of that cruise ship.”

South Bend police to get body camera upgrades after shooting

July 22, 2019 | Associated Press

The Indiana city where Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is mayor is updating its police officers’ body camera technology following the recent fatal police shooting of a black man. The technology upgrades will mean officers’ body cameras can be activated manually or automatically when a squad car door is opened.

Father of Indiana teen killed in pursuit crash sues police

July 17, 2019

The father of a 15-year-old boy who was killed in a car crash during a police pursuit is suing two police departments and an officer, alleging that “careless and negligent acts” on their part led directly to his son’s death.

COA: Dog sniff didn’t unlawfully prolong traffic stop

July 16, 2019

A traffic stop that led to a man’s marijuana convictions was not unlawfully prolonged by a dog sniff, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled, so evidence found as a result of the sniff was not improperly admitted at trial.

South Bend police officer who fatally shot black man resigns

July 16, 2019

A white Indiana police officer who fatally shot a black man, sparking protests and roiling the presidential campaign of South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, has resigned, the local police union announced Monday.

Divided COA upholds drug, firearm convictions, can’t solve gun ‘conundrum’

July 15, 2019

Though the warrantless search that led to a man’s drug- and firearm-related convictions was lawful, a divided panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals was stumped on how to resolve the “conundrum” of when or if the man’s gun can be returned to him.

Prosecutor calls for demotion of Anderson police chief

July 15, 2019

A central Indiana prosecutor is calling the demotion of Anderson’s police chief over a confrontation with state troopers who were arresting the chief’s son. Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings said state police told him Anderson Chief Tony Watters came physically close to investigators and put a finger in their faces during the June 7 arrest.

Carjacking suspect hits police cruiser, killing police dog

July 12, 2019

State police say a northern Indiana police dog died after an officer’s cruiser was involved in a fiery collision with a car driven by a carjacking suspect.

Indianapolis to pay $2M to man paralyzed in police shooting

July 12, 2019

The city of Indianapolis has agreed to pay more than $2 million to a man left partially paralyzed when a police officer shot him during a struggle.

Elkhart man revives efforts for new trial in 2002 murder

July 11, 2019

A mentally disabled man serving a 55-year prison sentence for an Elkhart murder 17 years ago that he maintains he did not commit is reviving his efforts for post-conviction relief, presenting new evidence in a petition he claims exonerates him.

Motion to suppress properly denied in domestic violence case

July 11, 2019

Motions to suppress evidence against the defendant in a Gibson County domestic violence case were properly denied, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday, finding the aggressor’s rights were not violated during the initial police response to the domestic violence call.

Hobart baseball fan charged with putting officer in chokehold

July 11, 2019

A northwestern Indiana man allegedly put a police commander in a chokehold when the officer intervened in a fight among baseball fans who had just returned from a game in Chicago.

Special prosecutor: Probe of black man’s shooting won’t be rushed

July 9, 2019

The special prosecutor who’s investigating a white police officer’s fatal shooting of a black man in the Indiana city where Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is mayor said Tuesday that his probe won’t be rushed and will take “as long as it takes.” A St. Joseph County judge named Ripley County Prosecutor Richard Hertel last week to oversee the investigation into South Bend Sgt. Ryan O'Neill's June 16 shooting of Eric Logan.

Indiana town settles 2 harassment suits against ex-officer

July 9, 2019

A northwestern Indiana town has paid two women more than $200,000 to settle their lawsuits accusing a former police officer of sexually harassing them. An attorney for the Lake County town of St. John released the two settlement agreements last week.

Man’s 17½-year sentence upheld for dealing meth

July 8, 2019

A sentence of 17½ years for a man convicted of dealing methamphetamine has been upheld, after the Indiana Court of Appeals found he was dealing in amounts “well above the statutory requirement.”

11 counties testing Indiana’s bail bond relief pilot program

July 8, 2019

Officials in Porter County and 10 other Indiana counties are testing a risk-assessment program to determine whether people who have been arrested should be required to post bail while awaiting trial. The pilot is expected to roll out statewide next year.

Woman faces DWI charge after wrong-way crash into ISP patrol car

July 8, 2019

A southern Indiana woman is facing a drunken driving charge after she allegedly drove the wrong way on a highway and crashed into a trooper's patrol car.

Friends, family remember South Bend man fatally shot by police

July 2, 2019

Friends and family of a man fatally shot by police in South Bend are recalling him as caring and thoughtful.

Northern Indiana couple charged with animal cruelty

July 2, 2019

A northern Indiana couple is facing animal cruelty charges after authorities say three dozen dogs were found living in deplorable conditions at their rural property.

Divided Supreme Court upholds civil forfeiture reimbursement of law enforcement

June 27, 2019

The practice of diverting civil forfeiture proceeds away from the Common School Fund to reimburse law enforcement costs is constitutional under Article 8, Section 2 of the Indiana Constitution, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled, answering the longstanding question of whether the constitution requires all forfeiture proceeds to go to the Common School Fund.

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