A Lafayette man was killed in a Tuesday morning police action shooting in Pulaski County. It happened on U.S. 421 south of State Road 114, about four miles south of Francesville and involved officers from multiple agencies.
The incident started in Warren County when a 36-year-old Peter J. Doffin of Lafayette reportedly pulled into a residence, dragged a female juvenile to his vehicle and left. Dispatchers in Warren County broadcast a description of the vehicle and license plate to law enforcement agencies in the area.
Deputies from the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department found the 1999 GMC Yukon, but the Doffin refused to stop. They pursued him through Tippecanoe, Carroll and White Counties, according to the ISP. Stop sticks were deployed several times during the pursuit and caused the tired on the Yukon to deflate.
Doffin continued through Monticello with deputies from Tippecanoe and White Counties and officers from the Flora, Monicello and Indiana State Police in pursuit. He took U.S. 24 west of Monticello and turned north on U.S. 421 in Reynolds, heading towards Monon.
The Monon Marshal deployed stop sticks on the south edge of town. Doffin went over them and continued north through town at speeds of less than 40 miles per hour.
Police say Doffin continued into Pulaski County around 6:30 a.m. A deputy had stopped southbound traffic on U.S. 421 about a mile north of the White County line and was prepared to deploy stop sticks when a semi went to pass him as the pursuit was coming north.
The Monon Marshal was in front of the Yukon and drove off the right side of the road to avoid hitting the semi. Meanwhile Doffin tried to go between the semi and the marshal’s car, struck both vehicles and continued into the ditch, where it came to rest.
He got out of the SUV, displayed a weapon and reportedly made threatening gestures toward the officers, who shot and killed him.
Neither the female passenger nor any officers were injured.
ISP officials advise the names of the officers involved in the shooting will be released by their respective departments when they feel the time is right to do so.
