Indy Cops are Fien Upstanding Citizens... NOT
Metro officers and a Marion County deputy are in trouble, some facing criminal charges. The metro police chief wants them all fired.
"I'm going to give you an option," officer Anthony S. Smith reportedly told a woman with an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. "I can lock you up, but I really don't want to . . . or you can ride with me for an hour."
Marion County prosecutors filed charges of rape, criminal deviate conduct and other crimes, saying Smith later forced the 19-year-old woman to have sex with him or go to jail.
"Things don't get much worse than this case," Police Chief Michael Spears said during a news conference with Prosecutor Carl Brizzi. "These allegations are horrific. . . . This officer used his authority and position, allegedly, to satisfy his own desires."
The charges made public against Smith, 36, ended days of speculation fueled by a tight-lipped Police Department that refused to release many details. Smith turned in his gun and badge Aug. 15 -- the same day as the alleged rape -- and the chief recommended his termination Monday.
Public Safety Director Scott Newman said the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's openness to investigating its officers had been proved repeatedly this year. Ten officers have been charged, jailed or investigated for alleged wrongdoing.
"If what has been going on for the last several months is an attempt to cover up police misconduct, it is the most spectacularly unsuccessful cover-up in history," Newman said.
The affidavit in Smith's case says the officer first denied the allegations but then asked to revise his statement. He then admitted to investigators that he engaged in sex with the woman. But he said it was consensual and denied threatening her with arrest.
Spears said investigators aren't done with Smith's case. They will look at other traffic stops by Smith to look for any patterns of conduct.
Among the evidence recovered from Smith's patrol car were condoms kept in the trunk.
The Indianapolis Star generally does not identify victims of sexual assaults.
Smith faces seven felony counts of rape, criminal deviate conduct, sexual misconduct and official misconduct and two misdemeanor counts of intimidation. The rape and deviate conduct counts each carry a penalty of six to 20 years in prison.
The incident began shortly after midnight at an Eastside gas station, where the officer discovered the woman's warrant for criminal conversion, a form of theft.
She accompanied Smith on several runs, a probable cause affidavit says. When the officer was outside the car, she made several cell phone calls to her boyfriend to tell him she was scared, the document says.
Police checked dispatch sheets to verify that Smith's runs that morning matched those described by the woman. Also, they confirmed the woman's phone calls to her boyfriend, the affidavit says.
Public safety officials said they would review whether investigators attempted to conceal the fact that one of their colleagues had been accused of rape after The Indianapolis Star inquired about the lack of details released in the Smith case.
Ten year veteran officer James Ingalls was assigned to the southwest district's late shift. An internal investigation found he may have broken the law instead of enforcing it.
"The accusation is that he did not do his job properly and he has been involved with a person who has been identified as a prostitute and that has criminal implications," said Sgt Paul Thompson of the Indianapolis Metro Police Department. He was accused of soliciting a prostitute while on duty. Ingalls has not been arrested, but the investigation is continuing.
IMPD officer Christopher Poindexter is charged with false reporting. His fiancé, Kelli Ball, a former civilian IMPD employee, faces charges in a hit and run.
"Mr. Poindexter made the decision to let Miss Ball operate his IMPD issued vehicle which is prohibited," said Sgt. Thompson.
While driving the marked patrol car, Ball hit another vehicle and didn't stop. Court documents state Poindexter was in the passenger seat at the time, but lied to investigators about the damage to the car.
Ingalls and Poindexter are suspended without pay.
Marion County Sheriff's Deputy Joey Smith Junior resigned Monday when officers arrested him for various felony charges including intimidation and contributing to the delinquency of a 13 and 14 year old girl.
According to court documents, the two teenage girls were walking along the sidewalk and Smith in an unmarked car pulled up next to them. He was wearing a uniform and he flashed a badge. He told them a story about how he was investigating two girls flashing in the neighborhood.
The court documents state Smith asked the two girls to pull up their shirts to see if he could identify them as the two suspects.
Alos making a name for themselves were narcotics Detective Jason S. Barber who was charged with selling a handgun to a convicted burglar serving as a drug informant. The following week, Patrolman Jeremy Lee was charged with aiding in promoting prostitution.
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Where have all the SW's gone?
Been out 4 times in the last 10 days, east and west strolls, virtually nothing going on. Last weekend did see a couple older ebony gals near the BK on e 10th but they weren't for me. Just this past Saturday saw a long haired blonde in daisy dukes and a bright pink top, age unknown only saw her from behind, on Sherman south of New York st but a guy in a grey pick up got to her before I did. Yesterday found Lacy near w 10th & Centennial but didn't try to see her. Guess the current pressure form LE has the gals in jail or extra cautious about obviously strolling.