INDIANAPOLIS — Jurors found two IMPD officers not guilty of the in-custody death of Herman Whitfield III.
Officers Adam Ahmad and Steven Sanchez faced charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, and battery. They were determined not guilty of all charges.
During the five-day trial, the jurors heard from responding officers, the medic on scene, doctors, the pathologist, Whitfield's parents, watched body camera footage, and more.
The prosecution and defense both had an hour for closing arguments.
WHAT WE KNOW:
Whitfield died in April 2022 after police responded to his parent's home for a report of a man suffering from a mental health crisis.
Gladys Whitfield called 911 at about 3:20 a.m. on April 25 asking for help with their son who was suffering a mental health crisis at their home in the 3700 block of Marrison Place. Officers arrived shortly after.
"My son is having a psychosis," Herman Whitfield Jr. is heard on police body camera video telling the officers. "You guys should have called an ambulance."
Whitfield was stunned twice by a stun gun with six officers on the scene. The incident was captured on a series of 11 different body cameras.
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The Marion County Coroner's Office ruled Whitfield's death as a homicide caused by “cardiopulmonary arrest in the setting of law enforcement subdual, prone restraint, and conducted electrical weapon use."
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Shortly after Whitfield's death, there were calls for changes to the protocol surrounding mental health calls. In 2023, Indianapolis launched a clinician-led response team, a program that allows mental health clinicians and other experts to respond to 911 calls.
Herman Whitfield III was recognized as a loving man and a gifted pianist, whose love for music brought people together.
Closing arguments
Prosecution
In closing arguments, the prosecution reiterates that Whitfield's parents called the police because Herman needed help that day but instead, they lost their son.
Prosecutors said Officers Ahmad and Sanchez caused the death of Herman by keeping him in the prone position which did not allow him to get air.
The prosecution reminded jurors of the testimony of pathologist Dr. Oneal, who ruled the cause of death "cardiopulmonary arrest in the setting of law enforcement subdual, prone restraint, and conducted electrical weapon use."
The prosecution attributes his death to two main factors: a) Herman's large size and being in an agitated state that was heightened after being tased b.) Herman being forced into the prone position, which caused him to have a lack of oxygen and an elevated heart rate. This could have been prevented had the officers allowed him to roll over, the prosecution said.
"You can hear the officers breathing heavy," prosecutor references the body-worn camera footage. "Imagine what it had to be like for Herman — but he couldn't get a breath. Remember when Dr. Oneal told you when you're on your stomach you have the ability to put your hands down to give you some room so you can breathe? His hands were behind his back, he had no room. He couldn't get it out and he couldn't get it in."
The prosecution also denies the defense's claim that THC in Herman's system contributed to his death, using Dr. Oneal's testimony stating that it was not a factor at all and was not a cause of death.
"He didn't die when he was in Dad's shower, he didn't die when he tried to hug Mom, he didn't die when he was in the bedroom, he didn't die when he was in the hallway, he didn't die when he was in the kitchen, he didn't even die when he was tased. He died when they chose to put him in the prone position and leave him there while putting pressure on him, keeping him there for minutes, that's what killed him."
Defense
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"Nothing these officers did was rude or insulate," the defense attorneys said.
The defense reiterates to the jurors that the officer's behavior was reasonable. The defense said according to the state's Use of Force expert, that the officer's conduct that night "was actually really good."
He again points out the blood on Herman's lip and that it came from his father hitting him that day. He said this, and the fact that Herman was almost 400 pounds and behaving erratically, elicited the appropriate response from Officer Ahmad and Sanchez.
The defense said the officer's decision to tase and handcuff Whitfield was standard practice and claimed that Whitfield died while being handcuffed, not while he was in the prone position.
The defense said the officers chose not to roll Herman over because of the behavior he was displaying and that there is no evidence of Ahmad and Sanchez putting any pressure on his body.
Attorney Mason Riley points out Thursday's testimony from Dr. Smock who said Whitfield did not die of asphyxia and that he believes that he died from THC-induced cardiac arrest. Dr. Smock was an expert doctor for the prosecution in the case of George Floyd and former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin.
The defense asks jurors to consider whether Herman's death was "caused" or "associated" with law enforcement, stating that the autopsy only determined that his death took place in the setting of the officers, not caused by the officers.
IMPD's Chief of Police, Chris Bailey, released the following statement after the verdict:
First and foremost, I want to extend my deepest sympathy to the Whitfield family and all those who knew and loved Herman Whitfield III. His death is a devastating loss, and I recognize the impact this had on those who knew him.
I want to extend our sincere gratitude to the jury for their time, effort, and thoughtful deliberations in this case. We respect the judicial process and the care the jurors have taken in reviewing all the facts.
I also want to commend Officer Ahmad, Officer Sanchez and all of the officers and detectives who provided testimony for their professionalism and resilience throughout this process. As part of our standard procedure, both officers will complete refresher training to ensure they are fully prepared to return to work. Once that is finalized, they will resume their normal duties.
Cases like this are deeply difficult, and there are no true winners.
Mental health is an issue that impacts so many across our community. It is a complicated and sensitive topic that requires a thoughtful and holistic response. Law enforcement alone should not bear the responsibility of responding to situations involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
IMPD’s Mobile Crisis Assistance Teams (MCAT) continue to operate all across our city, pairing officers with trained clinicians to handle mental health-related calls. We also work daily with the City’s Clinician Lead Community Response (CLCR) Team. These teams bring a collaborative approach, allowing law enforcement to address safety concerns while trained professionals provide critical mental health expertise and resources. We also encourage community members to utilize the new 988 number for non-violent crisis emergencies, providing an alternative to calling 911 for situations that do not require a police response.
While today's outcome in court closes a chapter, it does not end our commitment to professionalism, empathy, continuous improvement, and building trust with our community.
We look forward to continued partnerships with our community to find solutions that prioritize safety, dignity, and well-being for all.
The Marion County Prosecutor's Office released the following statement:
In April 2022, Herman Jr. and Gladys Whitfield reached out for help, hoping that the police would protect their son in a moment of desperate need and the result of what ensued was an absolute tragedy.
While heartbroken for the Whitfield family, I want to recognize the jurors for their consideration of the testimony and evidence over the past five days.
The Black Church Coalition released the following statement:
Our movement is deeply heartbroken by today’s verdict, which feels like a profound failure of justice. Once again, a Black man is unjustly blamed for his own death at the hands of the police—a tragic and all-too-familiar pattern.
Our hearts go out to the Whitfield family and what is unspeakable grief. We applaud the prosecutor's office for bringing this case. It was the right move, despite the outcome. We'll continue our work to organize to make sure nobody is killed at the hands of law enforcement
