Kirk Freeman
Grandmaster
Here is the latest on West Lafayette, Indiana's first police action shooting:
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Shooting review begins | jconline.com | Journal and Courier
Shooting review begins
By SOPHIA VORAVONG • svoravong@jconline.com • September 25, 2009
A panel made up of five members of the West Lafayette Police Department began meeting Thursday afternoon to discuss whether one of its officers was justified in shooting a criminal suspect.
Officer David Smith, an eight-year veteran, fired one round from his .40-caliber Glock duty weapon at Brandon "Bookie" Winters, 20, during a confrontation at Tapawingo Park.
The shooting took place minutes after an early-morning attempted armed robbery Sept. 17 on Wabash Heritage Trail, near the West Lafayette end of the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge.
It was West Lafayette's first police-action shooting.
"We will most likely meet through the weekend," said Capt. Chris Leroux, who is heading the shooting review board. "We do hope to finish sometime over the weekend."
Winters suffered injuries to his lower jaw. He has been at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis since Sept. 17.
The Lafayette man is a suspect in the early-morning attempted armed robbery and two strong-arm robberies Sept. 16 in Lafayette and West Lafayette.
He was arrested on suspicion of attempted armed robbery, robbery, dealing cocaine and possession of cocaine. Winters is under police custody at Methodist.
Leroux said the shooting review board had been waiting for parallel -- but separate -- criminal and internal investigations into the incident to be completed. Both were concluded Thursday.
Members of that panel are Leroux, West Lafayette's operations commander; Mike Francis, captain of special services; Sgt. David Lord, a patrol shift commander; and patrol officers Mark Ridge and Travis Morgan.
The meetings are closed to the public and media.
'Summary discipline'
The shooting review board will look at whether Smith's action was within the department's use of force policy and Indiana law. It will then make recommendations to Chief Jason Dombkowski.
Indiana law allows police chiefs to hand down "summary discipline," which is unpaid suspension up to five days. Any discipline beyond that would be a matter for West Lafayette's Police Merit Commission, which is made up of civilians.
Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Pat Harrington said Thursday night that his office has received the West Lafayette criminal investigation and is looking at whether charges will be pursued against Winters.
But the investigation into allegations involving Winters is ongoing, said Sgt. Cindy Marion, a West Lafayette detective.
One still-unanswered question is whether Winters was armed with a handgun during the attempted armed robbery or the confrontation with Smith.
No more water searching
A firearm has not yet been recovered.
About 50 police officers and firefighters spent nearly nine hours Wednesday searching the nearby Wabash River, based on fresh footprints found shortly after the attempted robbery.
Additionally, in his 911 call, the victim reported that someone tried to shoot him on Wabash Heritage Trail.
But another water search will not take place, Lt. Gary Sparger said.
"We searched as much as could be done," he said. "We discussed it and decided that we will be not searching again."
Sparger said another ground search of Tapawingo Park and nearby areas could be held, but none had been scheduled as of Thursday afternoon.
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Today the Tippecanoe County Prosecuting Attorney filed Robbery, Theft and Dealing in Cocaine charges against Brandon "Bookie" Winters=>
Public Access - Docket List
As reported by the media here, case has many twists and wrinkles to it and is far from "clear cut." Far too early to comment, but I thought INGO members would be interested in this matter.
*******************************************************
Shooting review begins | jconline.com | Journal and Courier
Shooting review begins
By SOPHIA VORAVONG • svoravong@jconline.com • September 25, 2009
A panel made up of five members of the West Lafayette Police Department began meeting Thursday afternoon to discuss whether one of its officers was justified in shooting a criminal suspect.
Officer David Smith, an eight-year veteran, fired one round from his .40-caliber Glock duty weapon at Brandon "Bookie" Winters, 20, during a confrontation at Tapawingo Park.
The shooting took place minutes after an early-morning attempted armed robbery Sept. 17 on Wabash Heritage Trail, near the West Lafayette end of the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge.
It was West Lafayette's first police-action shooting.
"We will most likely meet through the weekend," said Capt. Chris Leroux, who is heading the shooting review board. "We do hope to finish sometime over the weekend."
Winters suffered injuries to his lower jaw. He has been at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis since Sept. 17.
The Lafayette man is a suspect in the early-morning attempted armed robbery and two strong-arm robberies Sept. 16 in Lafayette and West Lafayette.
He was arrested on suspicion of attempted armed robbery, robbery, dealing cocaine and possession of cocaine. Winters is under police custody at Methodist.
Leroux said the shooting review board had been waiting for parallel -- but separate -- criminal and internal investigations into the incident to be completed. Both were concluded Thursday.
Members of that panel are Leroux, West Lafayette's operations commander; Mike Francis, captain of special services; Sgt. David Lord, a patrol shift commander; and patrol officers Mark Ridge and Travis Morgan.
The meetings are closed to the public and media.
'Summary discipline'
The shooting review board will look at whether Smith's action was within the department's use of force policy and Indiana law. It will then make recommendations to Chief Jason Dombkowski.
Indiana law allows police chiefs to hand down "summary discipline," which is unpaid suspension up to five days. Any discipline beyond that would be a matter for West Lafayette's Police Merit Commission, which is made up of civilians.
Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Pat Harrington said Thursday night that his office has received the West Lafayette criminal investigation and is looking at whether charges will be pursued against Winters.
But the investigation into allegations involving Winters is ongoing, said Sgt. Cindy Marion, a West Lafayette detective.
One still-unanswered question is whether Winters was armed with a handgun during the attempted armed robbery or the confrontation with Smith.
No more water searching
A firearm has not yet been recovered.
About 50 police officers and firefighters spent nearly nine hours Wednesday searching the nearby Wabash River, based on fresh footprints found shortly after the attempted robbery.
Additionally, in his 911 call, the victim reported that someone tried to shoot him on Wabash Heritage Trail.
But another water search will not take place, Lt. Gary Sparger said.
"We searched as much as could be done," he said. "We discussed it and decided that we will be not searching again."
Sparger said another ground search of Tapawingo Park and nearby areas could be held, but none had been scheduled as of Thursday afternoon.
******************************************************
Today the Tippecanoe County Prosecuting Attorney filed Robbery, Theft and Dealing in Cocaine charges against Brandon "Bookie" Winters=>
Public Access - Docket List
As reported by the media here, case has many twists and wrinkles to it and is far from "clear cut." Far too early to comment, but I thought INGO members would be interested in this matter.