A former New Castle police lieutenant has been found guilty on charges of excessive use of force during arrests and in jail, with an additional conviction for witness tampering by actively attempting to obstruct an investigation into his own misconduct. Aaron Strong, a once-high-ranking officer, fell from grace following a federal jury trial documenting his abusive actions between 2017 and 2019; actions that left inmates with severe injuries and cast a long shadow over the police department charged to protect them, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release.
Strong's conviction is the culmination of multiple disturbing incidents, such as a July 12, 2017 event where he assaulted an inmate by stomping on the individual's head causing significant injuries, and then in a different event shooting another inmate in the back with a "bean bag" shotgun at near point-blank range, fracturing the victim's spine, the use of force and the injuries were both captured on video and other officers present were disturbed by Strong's conduct, they immediately reported the incident to supervisors. According to trial evidence, the pattern of abuse also included a 2019 event where Strong struck an arrestee, who had already surrendered, repeatedly with an expandable baton, leading to significant injury and then (Strong) sought to conceal these actions by providing false statements during the investigation, as detailed by the Department of Justice.
Strong's trial brought to light the tension between law enforcement's defensive role and the unforgivable breach of trust that occurs when power is wielded not as a shield but as a cudgel against those it's meant to protect. "Aaron Strong is not noble. He repeatedly and unlawfully abused his position of authority to inflict violence, injury, and pain—with no lawful justification. He then lied to cover it up," U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers pointed out, highlighting Strong's deviation from the principles typically upheld by law enforcement. This sentiment was echoed by Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke who emphasized that the unanimous jury verdict enforced the principle that officers are accountable before the law just as civilians are, as per the Department of Justice.
The cooperative efforts of the FBI and Indiana State Police, with aid from the New Castle Police Department and Henry County Sheriff’s Office, led to Aaron Strong's conviction, which could see him facing up to 50 years in prison, his sentencing is slated for January 7, 2025, as presided over by Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt, while former Henry County Reserve Deputy Adam Guy was acquitted of witness tampering in connection to the case. The outcomes of such cases are closely observed as barometers for the integrity of the justice system, particularly in relation to those who have sworn to uphold it, as officers like Strong are held to account for violating the community's trust and the oath they have taken to serve and protect, as reported by the Department of Justice.
