INDIANAPOLIS — Nearing a year since the death of Herman Whitfield III in IMPD custody, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced charged have been filed against two officers involved in the incident.
Whitfield died on April 25, 2022, after police responded to his parents' home for a report of a man suffering from a mental health crisis.
He was stunned twice by a TASER with six officers on the scene.
In July 2022, the Marion County Coroner's Office has ruled that Herman Whitfield III's death while in police custody was a homicide, according to the family's attorneys.
On Thursday, the office of Ryan Mears announced there would be charges against the officers involved.
Officers Steven Sanchez and Adam Ahmad were indicted on multiple charges including Involuntary Manslaughter, Reckless Homicide and Battery.
The officers were indicted by a grand jury of Marion County residents who reached a majority decision to indict.
The charges follow months of litigation by the Whitfield family to have body cam footage released to the public and
IMPD issued the following statement following the indictments.
Earlier today, Chief Randal Taylor learned the grand jury decision regarding the death of Herman Whitfield III. Chief Taylor respects the grand jury process.
As with anyone under indictment, the officers should be considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The officers involved, including those indicted, remain on paid administrative duty status while the internal process continues.
Mr. Whitfield’s death was a tragedy for all involved, and our thoughts continue to be with those impacted by his loss.
Whitfield's family also responded to the release of the indictments, thanking the Marion County Prosecutor and Grand Jury.
"The family is grateful that the criminal process will proceed and hope that justice for their son will prevail," their statement said.
The family is also planning to hold a press conference Thursday evening.
You can read the family's full statement below.
"The family of Herman Whitfield, III, thanks the Marion County Prosecutor and members of the Grand Jury for indicting two of the officers who were responsible for Herman Whitfield III’s death. The family is grateful that the criminal process will proceed and hope that justice for their son will prevail.
The family also supports the calls from concerned members of the public for the U.S. Department of Justice to also investigate their son’s death and examine how the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department interacts with minority communities and responds to mental health crisis.
The family continues to press the federal civil case against the City of Indianapolis and all six officers involved in Herman’s death.
Herman Whitfield, III, did not present a danger to the officers, and there was no need to taser him. Mr. Whitfield, who was in his family home, needed professional mental health care, not the use of excessive deadly force. Moreover, the officers violated their own training in keeping Mr. Whitfield handcuffed face down after he was restrained; after he told them he couldn’t breathe; and when he was not moving or breathing, which led to this death. As the Marion County Coroner has ruled, Herman’s death was a “Homicide,” caused by “cardiopulmonary arrest in the setting of law enforcement subdual, prone restraint, and conducted electrical weapon use."
In court Friday, Ahmad and Sanchez had their charges explained to them. In typical fashion, the two were explain they would not be allowed to have firearms outside of their homes and they cannot have contact with members of the Whitfield family.
The officers were given $15,000 bonds.
Both defendants are due back in court on June 3.
