Indianapolis pays $650K to family of slain unarmed black man
The city of Indianapolis has agreed to pay $650,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of an unarmed black man fatally shot last year by police officers during a traffic stop.
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Justices take jurisdiction from COA in ‘policing for profit’ case
A case challenging the constitutionality of Indiana’s civil forfeiture laws is heading to the Indiana Supreme Court, just as a separate Indiana civil forfeiture case will be heard next term by the United States Supreme Court.
Indiana trooper wins praise for stopping too-slow driver
An Indiana State Police trooper who tweeted a photo of a vehicle he stopped for driving too slowly in the left lane says he’s overwhelmed by the widespread praise he’s receiving online.
Anderson, former mayor to pay $30k in ballot lawsuit
The city of Anderson and its former Mayor Kevin Smith will pay $30,000 to a former city worker who filed a lawsuit alleging she was arrested for trying to deliver her mother’s absentee ballot. The city will pay $20,000, while Smith will pay $10,000 under a May settlement.
Elkhart inmate files wrongful conviction petition claiming Elkhart Police coerced his statement
Nearly 13 years after he was found guilty of a murder he claims he did not commit and following a subsequent series of failed attempts at appellate and post-conviction relief, a developmentally disabled man has petitioned the Elkhart Circuit Court to overturn his conviction on the basis of new evidence he says proves his confession was coerced and his counsel was ineffective. Andrew Royer filed a petition to vacate the judgment against him on Wednesday.
Anderson police recommend no charges in hot car death
The Anderson Police Department is recommending no criminal charges in the death of a 3-year-old who was left in a hot car for more than two hours.
Man charged with shooting Boone deputy seeks change of venue
A man charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a Boone County sheriff’s deputy wants his trial moved. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Anthony Baumgardt, who is charged in the fatal shooting of deputy Jacob Pickett.
Three defendants face federal charges related to killings of two police officers
Three individuals linked to the killings of Boone County Deputy Jacob Pickett and Terre Haute Police Officer Robert Pitts now face federal charges for the illegal purchase and possession of firearms used in those killings. Dawn Rochon, Tiffany Dean Levi Brenton have been charged for their role in illegally purchasing and possessing firearms eventually used to kill Pickett and Pitts earlier this year.
Gary man wants review of conviction in Indiana officer’s death
A Gary man who was sentenced to life in prison without parole for fatally shooting a Gary police officer is asking a court to review his conviction. Twenty-nine-year-old Carl Le’Ellis Blount has filed a post-conviction relief petition alleging Lake County prosecutors threatened him to get him to plead guilty to murder in the 2014 shooting death of Gary Patrolman Jeffrey Westerfield.
Fired black officer may expand lawsuit, judge rules
An officer who claims he was discriminated against at work and in his firing from the Whitley County Sheriff’s Office may expand his lawsuit to name former Sheriff Mark Hodges, a federal judge has ruled.
Indianapolis official announces halt to merit board changes
The Indianapolis City-County Council president has halted plans to revamp the city’s civilian police merit board in the wake of its recent vote clearing two officers of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black motorist.
Fort Wayne officers’ excessive force countersuit bid rejected
A federal magistrate judge has rejected a bid by four Fort Wayne police officers to countersue a woman who accuses them of racial profiling and excessive force.
Negligence suit from bicyclist hit by officer’s car remanded for trial
A negligence case against the town of Chesterton and the Porter County Drug Task Force must proceed to trial after the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled there was a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the plaintiff who brought the case was contributorily negligent in the bicycle-vehicle accident.
Justices to decide if bad search voids child molest convictions
The Indiana Supreme Court must decide if a Blackford County man’s child molestation convictions will stand despite an unconstitutional search of his home that led to his confession. The question will force the court to grapple with the relationship between two doctrines: attenuation and fruit of the poisonous tree.
Indianapolis meetings to discuss police-community trust
Members of the Indianapolis City-County Council will hold community meetings on a breakdown in trust between police and the community. Council President Vop Osili and six other Democratic and Republican councilors announced the meetings during a news conference Thursday, one week after a civilian police merit board cleared two policemen of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black motorist.
Lake County Jail deal seeks to curb turnover, overtime
A county in northwestern Indiana has ratified a jail contract that increases jailers’ pay in an effort to curb turnover and overtime among corrections officers.
Ex-officer pleads guilty but mentally ill after 2016 crash
A former Lake County sheriff’s officer who authorities say struck and killed a man with his squad car while intoxicated at the 2016 Gary Air Show has pleaded guilty but mentally ill.
Indianapolis police arrest protesters blocking traffic
Indianapolis police arrested several people who blocked a street outside the Statehouse as part of a nonviolent protest against poverty, racism and other issues. At least 14 demonstrators reportedly were arrested.
2 Indianapolis officers cleared in Aaron Bailey shooting death
The Indianapolis Civilian Police Merit Board has cleared two Indianapolis officers of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of unarmed black motorist Aaron Bailey following a pursuit.
COA upholds exclusion of drug evidence from car search
Evidence taken from the search of a car after a man was stopped in Jennings County on a traffic violation was properly suppressed by the trial court, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.