INDIANAPOLIS — The daughter of a 67-year-old man who was killed in a high-speed police chase of a suspect has filed a complaint for damages against IMPD.
Warren Morphis, 67, was killed in the crash, which happened the evening of July 7, 2023, in the 3200 block of North Keystone Avenue, a few blocks west of Washington Park.
Attorney Robert D. King, Jr. is representing Constance Ball, who is seeking "an amount that will reasonably compensate the Estate of Warren Morphis, for the costs of this action, for attorney fees, and for all other just and proper relief."'
The complaint alleges officers were not aware of any violent crimes or felonies committed by the suspect, later identified as Rodney Spells, nor did the officers believe he was armed. According to the complaint, an IMPD officer "breached his statutory duty to operate his police vehicle with due regard for the safety of all persons, including other drivers in the vicinity."
(NOTE: 13News is not naming the IMPD officer accused in the complaint since formal charges have not been filed by prosecutors.)
An IMPD spokesperson told 13News the night of the crash that a witness told police a southbound pickup truck, driven by Spells, ran a red light at East 34th Street and North Keystone Avenue, crossing into the northbound lanes.
Police said Spells stayed in the northbound lanes, where two northbound IMPD officers spotted Spells and flashed their lights to get his attention. Police said Spells tried to drive between the cars and struck them both, killing Morphis and injuring the other driver.
Vehicle data from Spells' truck showed it was traveling more than 100 mph three seconds before the crash, and 74 mph less than one second before the crash, the Marion County Prosecutor's Office said. The posted speed limit in the area was 35 mph.
Spells fled the scene after the crash before he was taken into custody by officers, who located multiple baggies on him with a large amount of cash.
Inside Spells' car, officers found "evidence consistent with dealing narcotics including more baggies, fentanyl and methamphetamine, a scale, and multiple cellphones," the prosecutor's office said.
In January 2024, Spells was sentenced to 50 years after he was previously convicted in October for the following felonies, along with multiple misdemeanor charges:
- Resisting law enforcement
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Causing death while operating a vehicle while intoxicated
- Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death
- Reckless homicide
- Dealing in a narcotic drug
- Possession of a narcotic drug.
- Possession of methamphetamine
- Possession of a narcotic drug
13News recently spoke with IMPD and Indiana State Police about their policies regarding police pursuits.
"Each and every one, all the way through a chain, through our command to include our training division," Indiana State Police Sgt. John Perrine said.
"There is a general order when it comes to vehicle pursuits. There are state-mandated requirements that we have to go by, too," IMPD Ofc. William Young said.
Young said just like ISP, supervisors are always listening in and can cancel that pursuit at any time — so can ISP troopers in pursuit.
"If we're in a vehicle pursuit, lots of times, that's some of the most dangerous criminals that we're after. We're not chasing folks for your minor traffic violations," said Young, with the department stopping those in 2020.
State police conducted 330 pursuits last year between 47 troopers.