x
Breaking News
More () »

Passenger in pursuit, crash that killed ISP trooper sentenced to maximum prison term

Trooper Aaron Smith was killed in 2023 after he was struck during the chase on Interstate 70.

INDIANAPOLIS — One of two people charged in a 2023 pursuit and crash that killed Indiana State Police Trooper Aaron Smith has been sentenced to a prison term.

On June 17, Demareon Curry received the maximum sentence of 2 1/2 years in the Department of Correction for his guilty plea to a charge of resisting law enforcement. 

The Hendricks County prosecutor said a judge found Curry’s "extensive and violent" juvenile criminal history to be an aggravating factor. 

“Today brings to a close the case against Mr. Curry," said Prosecutor Loren Delp. "The court saw through Mr. Curry’s feigned remorse and saw him for what he is, a violent criminal. While Curry may not have been driving the vehicle at the time Trooper Smith was killed, he is morally culpable for his death."

The prosecutor's office said Curry, a passenger in the car, gave commands to the driver to flee from a traffic stop. 

Eddie Jones is currently charged with murder, resisting police and car theft. A motion entitled "notice of intent to seek life imprisonment without parole" has been filed in Hendricks County, online court records said.

Jones, 18, from Missouri, was allegedly driving a stolen 2016 Chevrolet Traverse that hit and killed Smith while the trooper was trying to deploy a tire-deflating device on Ronald Reagan Parkway near Interstate 70 on June 28, 2023.

A 15-year-old female, who was listed as a missing person from Missouri, was turned over to authorities from that state and is not being charged in connection with the incident.

According to court documents, police got a notification from a Flock camera system alerting them to the vehicle. Trooper Grover Scott spotted the SUV in a parking lot on Kentucky Avenue and gave the occupants of the vehicle commands to put their hands out the window. Scott said those in the vehicle complied for several minutes before the driver put the vehicle in reverse and backed into Scott's patrol car and then fled the scene, striking another vehicle. 

Jones allegedly told police Curry told him to flee from the police at a McDonald's and that if he got onto I-70, police would terminate the pursuit. The girl allegedly told investigators she and Curry told Jones "do what you gotta do man, and so he decided to take off," the documents said.

Smith got out of his vehicle to deploy stop sticks and was hit by the suspect vehicle around 8:45 p.m.

Smith, 33, was transported to Eskenazi Hospital in critical condition. Indiana State Police Supt. Doug Carter confirmed late that evening that Smith died from his injuries.

Carter said Smith had been with ISP for about five years. He first joined the department in 2018 but left for a time before returning to the force.

"He was a shining star for the state police," Carter said.

Smith, who lived in Franklin, Indiana, is survived by his wife, Carter said.

Before You Leave, Check This Out