Mitchell, IN – An early morning traffic stop in Mitchell led to shots being fired, leaving two police officers wounded and a suspect deceased. On February 4, 2023, at approximately 3:15 a.m. a Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled over a vehicle in the 4800 block of SR 37 for a traffic violation. A second Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputy and his K9 partner, along with a Mitchell Police Officer arrived to assist. The traffic stop evolved into a drug investigation after the police K9 conducted an open-air sniff and gave a positive indication of the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.
After officers searched the car and found narcotics, they attempted to put the man in handcuffs, he then fled from the officers on foot and ran west across SR 37 into a grassy area. As the officers caught up to the man he physically began to resist arrest. During the apprehension attempt, he drew a handgun and began firing at the officers at point blank-range. Two officers were struck by gunfire, and at least one of the officers was able to return fire, wounding the man. More officers arrived, as well as personnel from the fire department, and provided emergency medical aid to both officers as well as the suspect. The two officers were transported by ambulance to a local hospital and then airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital from there. The suspect was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Both officers received non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and are in stable condition. The Indiana State Police were asked to conduct the investigation and are currently on the scene. At this time neither the name of the suspect nor the officers are being released. The families of the suspect and the officers have been notified.
Indiana State Police Crime Scene Investigators are still processing the scene. The officers involved were equipped with body cameras and the footage is being reviewed by detectives.
ISP
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