Indianapolis, IN
2 Indianapolis officers on trial after restrained man suffering mental health crisis dies
Watch: Father of Herman Whitfield III speaks about his about son’s death
“I just wanted to say that Herman was a gentle, wonderful genius,” Herman Whitfield Jr., father of Whitfield III, said. “The world lost a great gift.”
Mykal McEldowney, Indianapolis Star
The trial of two police officers accused in the killing of Herman Whitfield III continues Tuesday.
Whitfield, a 39-year-old Black man, died after police responded to a 911 call from his parents — Gladys Whitfield and Herman Whitfield Jr. — for a mental health emergency about 3:20 a.m. April 25, 2022. Five police officers and one recruit trainee responded to the Whitfield house, where they shocked, handcuffed and restrained him face-down. He became unresponsive and died shortly after he was taken to an area hospital.
The Marion County Coroner’s Office ruled Whitfield’s death a homicide from heart failure while under law enforcement restraint. The autopsy noted obesity and hypertensive cardiovascular disease as other contributing conditions. Toxicology tests showed cannabinoids, including Delta-9 and THC, in Whitfield’s system. There were no signs of alcohol or other medication.
The death of Whitfield, who was a gifted pianist, sparked widespread calls for police accountability and clinician-led mental health emergency response.
More than a year after his death, a grand jury indicted two of the officers over their roles in the fatal encounter.
Adam Ahmad and Steven Sanchez face charges of reckless homicide, involuntary manslaughter, battery, battery resulting in moderate bodily injury and battery resulting in severe bodily injury. Both remain on paid administrative duty with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
This article will be updated.