NEW CASTLE, Ind. — A former New Castle Police lieutenant was found guilty last Friday of using excessive force against people in custody and obstruction of justice by witness tampering.
Aaron Strong, 47, physically abused a suspect and two pretrial detainees and made false statements to an Indiana State Police detective, who had been assigned to investigate an allegation against him — all while being a lieutenant.
In Aug. 2019, the DOJ said then-lieutenant Strong responded to another officer's report of a foot chase. When Strong arrived, the suspect put his hands up and said "I'm done" and lowered himself to the ground. While another officer was walking toward the suspect to take him into custody, Strong ran up and hit the suspect "at least 12 times" with a metal baton. During this, he also almost hit the fellow officer.
The DOJ said other officers reported this incident and ISP was called to conduct their own investigation.
When being questioned by an ISP detective, the DOJ said Strong minimized his own use of force and exaggerated the danger posed by the suspect.
Two years prior to that initial incident, in July 2017, Strong was commanding officer of the Henry County, Indiana SWAT Team. While in this role, the DOJ said he abused two men being held in pretrial detention at the Henry County Transition Center. He "stomped" on the head of a detainee, who was complying with commands to lie on the ground.
Right after this, the DOJ said Strong shot a different inmate in the back with a "beanbag" round. The inmate was kneeling with his back to Strong before being shot. The DOJ noted the impact from the round fractured the inmate's spine.
Multiple current and former New Castle and Henry County officers testified for Strong's prosecution, the DOJ said.
Strong was convicted of three counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of witness tampering.
Strong is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 7, 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison.
“Aaron Strong is a repeat offender who defied his oath and abused his law enforcement authority to violently and unlawfully assault multiple individuals,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant put his fellow officers in danger and grievously injured people in his custody, whose wellbeing and rights he had a legal and moral duty to protect. Strong betrayed the law enforcement profession when he told lie after lie in an effort to cover up his crimes and derail an independent investigation. This unanimous jury verdict makes clear a core principle in our country – law enforcement officers are not above the law and will be held accountable for their crimes.”
“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to serve our communities. Their jobs are difficult, dangerous and noble,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana. “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. Our community deserves better. Together with our partners at the Justice Department, the FBI and Indiana State Police, our federal prosecutors will continue to seek accountability for police who illegally assault those they are sworn to protect.”
The FBI Indianapolis Field Office, ISP and the New Castle Police Department investigated this case.
