DESPITE RECENT CLASHES WITH POLICE DURING RECENT PROTESTS, no one has filed a formal complaint against an Indianapolis Metro Police Department officer — INDIANAPOLIS — Despite recent clashes with police during recent protests, no one has filed a formal complaint against an Indianapolis Metro Police Department officer, records show.
Call 6 Investigates requested any complaints filed since May 29, the day protests began in downtown Indianapolis, through the Mayor’s Action Center or the Citizens’ Police Complaint Office.
The Citizens’ Police Complaint Office is an independent office that accepts and investigates complaints of improper conduct or procedural violations by IMPD officers.
CPCO Executive Director Gina Beaven told RTV6 since May 29 the Mayor’s Action Center received two possible complaint calls, and both residents were directed to the CPCO citizen complaint process.
“The CPCO practice for MAC referrals is to call the citizen and advise of the CPCO process,” said Beaven. “As of this writing, CPCO has not received any formal complaints against individual officers during the time period about which you have inquired.”
At times, police have clashed with protesters as well as people accused of looting.
Marion County prosecutors have filed formal criminal charges against five more people following interactions with police during recent protests over racial inequality.
- Zachary Kelly, Indianapolis — battery against a public safety official, resisting law enforcement, disorderly conduct
- Meredith Gable, Indianapolis — criminal mischief
- Jamie Bundy, Indianapolis — resisting law enforcement
- Randall Whited, Bloomington — battery against a public safety official, resisting law enforcement
- Gillian Huff, Indianapolis — criminal recklessness
Zachary Kelly is charged with battery against a public safety official, resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct.
Kelly is accused of picking up chemical riot control agents used by police and throwing them back at officers.
Kelly refused verbal commands to place his hands behind his back when arrested, court documents say.
Kelly’s attorney, Jonathan Little, said it’s not clear if someone in the crowd intentionally threw a tear gas canister back at police or if someone was trying to get it away from themselves.
“You don’t gas people because they’re still humans,” Little said. “When the cops promote violence they shouldn’t be surprised when people try to defend themselves. You’re treating people like you’re in a war zone.”
Little said he expects the issue to be a big one as the case moves forward.
“The state needs to justify why they’re using chemical weapons against their own citizens,” Little said.
As RTV6 reported last week, prosecutors also filed burglary charges against a dozen people in connection with looting and break-ins at businesses over the weekend of May 30 and 31.
The charges stemmed from burglaries at City Gear on East 10th Street, Finish Line at Washington Square Mall, as well as businesses downtown like Yolk Eatery, TJ Maxx and Circle Centre Mall.
Prosecutors accuse the suspects of trying to steal thousands of dollars in clothes, shoes, jewelry and liquor from local businesses
