A series of videos that went viral on social media earlier yesterday has prompted the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) to issue a statement regarding the arrest of a man in downtown Indianapolis. The incident, which was captured in multiple videos, shows officers from the IMPD's Event Response Group (ERG) responding to a physical confrontation between two men as local bars were closing, causing large crowds to form in the area.
In a statement obtained by FOX59, IMPD details that one of the men involved in the confrontation attempted to flee after he "squared his shoulders" towards the officer and striking the officer's hand. Following this, according to IMPD's account, the officer deployed three projectiles from a high-pressure launcher, striking the man in the chest before taking him to the ground to restrain him.
Additional information revealed by a witness in an interview with 13News, alleges that police action led to pepper spray affecting bystanders, including those not involved in the initial altercation. The witness further claimed that the officers began hitting the man during the arrest process. The individual who was arrested is reported to have been found in possession of a semiautomatic pistol with ammunition and marijuana.
IMPD has acknowledged the circulating videos in their statement and emphasized the need for a comprehensive review to get a full understanding of the entirety of the incident. "It's important to note that the videos currently circulating capture only a portion of the incident and what was occurring in the area at the time," the department said. Meanwhile, as a video shared by the IndyStar shows, the man in question asked the officer why he approached with a weapon before making an attempt to back away, which led to the officer's response resulting in the shooting and subsequent tackling of the man to the ground.
