The two Knox City Police officers involved in last month’s fatal shooting are on paid administrative leave pending the completion of the Indiana State Police investigation into the matter. Chief Harold Smith was one of the officers, along with Cpl. Chad Dulin. Smith attended last week’s Knox Board of Works meeting and told members he hopes the investigation will be wrapped up shortly.
The officers were attempting to arrest 46-year-old William R. Newman of Plymouth at Bailey’s Furniture, just south of Toto Road on U.S. 35 on Dec. 21. He had an active Fulton County warrant for dealing methamphetamine and was also wanted for a parole violation by the Indiana State Parole Board
In the process of the warrant service, investigators say a black GMC pickup truck drove through the closed garage door of the business and struck a marked Starke County Sheriff’s patrol car. The GMC driver then tried to run over another officer while attempting to flee.
That’s when officers fired their weapons, striking the truck and the driver, who was the sole occupant. He was taken to Starke Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Starke County Sheriff’s Detective Donald Ferguson was also involved in the shooting. The investigation has been turned over to the Indiana State Police.
