INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana State Police want the public's help locating two suspects they say are tied to a stolen car Tuesday night.
Investigators released a photo of a man they say took off during a traffic stop, after an ISP trooper pulled him over Dec. 12 near East 30th Street and Beeler Avenue on the west side of Indianapolis because the Kia he was driving was reported stolen.
During that traffic stop, a passenger in the car also got away, on foot. A second passenger stayed behind and was detained, but was later released with no charges.
"At some point, during this encounter, the trooper discharged his firearm with more than one shot," ISP Sgt. John Perrine said. "I don't have an exact number yet, we're still waiting on the crime scene investigators to give us that."
"There's evidence left behind in that car," Perrine said. "Whether that be fingerprints or other identifying means, maybe personal belongings. Things that might be in the car that will help us identify those folks."
On Wednesday afternoon, police released a photo of the suspected driver.
This is the fifth time this year an Indiana state trooper has fired their weapon in the Indianapolis district.
Perrine said police-worn body camera footage has not been released from any of those incidents, and he didn't have a timeframe for when the video from Tuesday night's traffic stop would be released.
"It may seem simple just to go in and watch the video, but we have to break the video down, frame by frame, and look at the different things and different scenarios and different angles," Perrine said.
What ISP did release was the name of the trooper involved.
According to Perrine, the trooper who fired their weapon is two-year veteran Trooper Damon Munn. ISP said Munn pulled over the Kia, which had been stolen from Camby earlier that night.
State police say they don't think anyone was hit by the shots Tuesday night.
"(Munn) is on administrative leave. There's a process in which he's given time to process the information before he gives his formal interview, which hasn't happened yet. Typically, that's two sleep cycles afterwards," Perrine said.
Investigators are examining footage from Munn's body camera and his car's dashboard camera to see if he followed ISP's "Use of Deadly Force" policy.
According to their deadly force policy, it can be used when:
- It's necessary to prevent serious injury to the officer or a person or a forcible felony.
- It's necessary to make an arrest for a felony, where the felony involves the suspect using or threatening deadly force or serious injury.
- The trooper believes there's substantial risk the suspect will cause death or bodily injury if they get away.
- Or the trooper believes deadly force is necessary to prevent the suspect from escaping and then causing serious injury to the officer or another person.
The policy also says the trooper is required to give a warning about using the deadly force when it is feasible.
"We recognize these incidents create a lot of questions, but they're the same questions that we have, too," Perrine said.
State police also got a search warrant for the stolen Kia, which was recovered a short distance from the attempted traffic stop. Investigators will be going over the vehicle to see if anything inside can help lead them to the suspects.
Anyone with information about this incident, or who can identify the person in the photo, is asked to contact Indiana State Police or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.