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Indianapolis launches mental health response program; Whitfield family attorney weighs in

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Indianapolis launches mental health response program; Whitfield family attorney weighs in


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — For the first time, Indianapolis will have a clinician-led community program to respond to nonviolent mental health calls, meaning police won’t be at your door in the event of a mental health crisis.

“The city of Indianapolis and the mental health community are ready for this shift in how we as a city address mental health crisis,” Andrea Brown, the director of operations of the clinician-led crisis response team, said.

The idea for this program was launched in March 2022 by Mayor Joe Hogsett, hoping to improve community access to mental health services. Thanks to a budget of $2 million, this program will focus on helping people in their time of need to keep people away from entering the criminal justice system.

News 8 spoke with the attorney of the family of Herman Whitfield III, who died in IMPD handcuffs in April 2022.

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Court papers say Whitfield’s mother had called 911 asking for an ambulance to come to their home and help her and her husband get mental health care for their son, but the police’s response ended in Whitfield’s death.

Rich Waples, an attorney with Waples & Hanger, says the program is a small step forward.

Waples told News 8 that what started as the Whitfield family calling for help for their son ended in the extreme tragedy of his death, and that a clinician response team could have prevented it.

“Because they would have taken the time necessary not just gone to force, which wasn’t even necessary in that instance. These clinician-led teams are necessary. They’re helpful,” he said.

Waples also says that if the program had existed Herman would have probably still died because the incident did not occur during the hours that the response teams will be available in their first stages. 

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Waples & Hanger provided this in a statement.

The Whitfield family is encouraged by the City’s Clinician-Led Community Response program. We are as yet unaware of all the details and want to make sure that such teams are available 24-7 and that clinicians are able to lead the teams so that in the future families like the Whitfield’s receive the support they need in times of crisis. The most important objective is to avoid tragedies like what occurred with the death of their son.

Waples & Hanger

According to the Office of Public Health and Safety, there will be four response teams at the city-county building responding to 911 calls. The teams will be comprised of a clinical supervisor, a licensed clinical social worker, and a peer specialist.

The organization Stepping Stone will be responsible for hiring and managing response teams.

“Stepping Stone Therapy Center is here to provide behavioral health services and connect fellow Hoosiers to other community resources as needed,” Brown said.

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They’ll work three-day ten-hour shifts depending on the volume of calls. Once the program becomes fully staffed with 36 team members, it will operate 24/7 in the downtown and east IMPD districts.

Stepping Stone says it’s currently training clinicians and anticipates launching teams over the coming weeks. Community leaders say they are excited to get the program started.

“There’s been a tremendous amount of cooperation and collaboration,” Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said. “I’m very proud. It’s long overdue and much, much needed.”

The program is anticipated to begin July 1st.

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Indianapolis, IN

A Yard Of One’s Own – Indianapolis Monthly

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A Yard Of One’s Own – Indianapolis Monthly


Credit: Angela Jackson/Indianapolis Monthly

REALTOR Summer Hudson was always waiting for the perfect midcentury modern home to hit the market and lure her away from her beloved Irvington. On Hudson’s popular TikTok channel, Find a Lot to Love, she cooed over original 1960s woodwork and intact bathrooms for the 207,000 followers who enjoyed watching her walk through houses for sale in Central Indiana. But the eXp Realty agent’s own family needed a yard for their 5-year-old daughter more than she needed a pristine Avriel Shull A-frame, so she gave her husband, Ryan Sloan, one criterion: Find a house with the exact same layout as their 3,000-square-foot Irvington ranch, plus a yard, and she’d move.

Lo and behold, he did, in Crows Nest. The three-bed, two-bath house has a circular layout with semi–open concept living, dining, and kitchen spaces and, as a bonus, a pool on the half-acre lot. “I always said I’d never turn down a pool,” Hudson says. The home had been sitting on the market for a while because, in Hudson’s opinion, the listing for 1,800 square feet was misleading; the homeowners couldn’t include the 1,200-square-foot finished attic because the ceiling was too low. Additionally, the photos didn’t do the home justice. “From the outside, it looks tiny and bungalow-ish, but you don’t realize how deep it goes,” she says, adding that the images didn’t showcase the layout’s attractive flow, either. The couple got it under list price for $410,000, and Hudson, who uses the attic as her office, has no regrets—her dream midcentury home can wait. Downsizing forced the couple to purge, and they discovered the joys of a simplified lifestyle. “I’m actually spending more time with my kid out- side. That has been the most amazing part of all of this,” Hudson says.

FAVORITE FEATURE
The nature-filled backyard

PURCHASE DATE
March 2024

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NEIGHBORHOOD
Crows Nest

SQUARE FOOTAGE
1,800





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Indianapolis man sentenced to 110 years for 2021 double homicide

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Indianapolis man sentenced to 110 years for 2021 double homicide


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An Indianapolis man has been sentenced to 110 years in prison for his role in a north side shooting that resulted in the death of two men during a $20 marijuana deal in 2021.

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office announced the sentencing of 21-year-old Camran Perry on Thursday, following a jury’s verdict after a two-day trial. In July, Perry was found guilty of two counts of murder and carrying a handgun without a license, a release said.

Andrew Jones, 21, and Blake Coffman, 20, died in a shooting about 6:45 p.m. Dec. 1, 2021, in the 8800 block of Westfield Way at the 9000 Westfield apartments. That’s just southeast of the intersection of East 91st Street and Westfield Boulevard.

Investigators interviewed a witness who reported hearing “three loud thumps” and seeing a man in a gray sweatsuit standing behind the victims’ vehicle before fleeing the scene. The witness, along with others, then approached the vehicle and called the police.

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Two cellphones were recovered at the scene. Investigators obtained warrants for the phones, one of which belonged to Coffman.

According to a release, on Coffman’s phone, which was logged into his personal Instagram account, investigators found video chats and private messages indicating his intention to meet someone at the location of the shooting. The other user of this account deleted their account just hours after the incident. Digital forensics teams traced this account back to Perry.

Perry was taken into custody on Jan. 10. Initially, he denied knowing either of the victims, but later confessed to meeting up with them to make a purchase. Perry later admitted to engaging in a verbal altercation with Coffman and Jones, before shooting both men, police say.

Prosecutor Ryan Mears issued the following statement after the conviction:

“Young people having easy access to firearms leads to them making poor, split-second decisions that result in senseless deaths and tragedy,” stated Prosecutor Mears. “It is incumbent upon us to continue to empower young people with the tools to be mindful of the long-term consequences of gun violence in order to avoid tragedies like this.”

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Indy promoter hopes education leads to a safer Indianapolis

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Indy promoter hopes education leads to a safer Indianapolis


INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis event promoter Teddrick Hardy is disappointed that violence has become prevalent in the Circle City.

“It’s very frustrating because I’m going to like my eleventh year in promoting and myself, alongside other promoters, put a lot of work in having successful, safe and joyful events,” Hardy said.

WRTV

Over the past couple of months, WRTV has reported on numerous parties and gatherings that have been held illegally or without proper permits.

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In some cases, these events have ended in violence.

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WRTV

“Our goal is to gather groups of people to come and see these establishments to spend money, to bring their friends out to celebrate,” Hardy explained.

Now, promoters like Hardy are learning from various Indianapolis government agencies to ensure events can continue in a safe manner.

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WRTV

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On Wednesday, these agencies hosted an ask the officials event aimed at answering promoters questions on how to properly organize and operate events.

“We all want safe events,” IMPD Deputy Chief Kendale Adams said. “We all want people to come and have a good time. It’s a part of what I did when I was young, and it’s important that we educate promoters on what that looks like.”

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Hardy is hopeful the event will lead to safer events being held in Indianapolis.

“I want to see Indianapolis become a better place,” he said.

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The full Ask the Officials meeting can be viewed here.





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