Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis, Lawrence police officers hailed for rescuing children from icy pond

Published

5 months ago

January 27, 2026

Indianapolis, Lawrence police officers hailed for rescuing children from icy pond

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Several police officers with the Indianapolis and Lawrence police departments were hailed Tuesday as heroes after they saved two young siblings from an icy pond in Lawrence.

Police say both children have fully recovered, but their father, Daschon Sims, 28, died at a hospital.

Police body cameras caught it all, including the audio from officers and a child being rescued.

“There’s a car in the water. That’s probably what’s going on.”

“Grab the rope its right next to you. Get it! Reach it, buddy. Reach. Grab on tight. Pull. We got you! We got you! Keep your head up. Is that another kid right there? Yeah, that’s my little sister.”

The heart-racing scene played out just before midnight Jan. 12 when the car went into the retention pond on Pendleton Way.

Eight officers in all carried out the daring rescue, using rope bags to pull a father and the two children to the shore. All of them were rushed into the hands of paramedics.

One of the children, a little girl, was in desperate need and received CPR.

Officer Erica Eder of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said Tuesday, “As soon as we took the little girl to the ambulance is when I realized the magnitude of what we just did. I think after we did our part, we were like, ‘Oh wow, we could’ve just saved a life.’”

The officers gathered to receive medals of valor for their heroic efforts.

The officers also got to meet the two children they rescued, after they recovered, another moment they’ll never forget. Eder said, “Because I remember what she looked like when I pulled her out of the water. I remember when she was lifeless. So looking at her with life in her eyes and her getting to hug me,
that’s amazing. We never see anything like that. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

IMPD Chief Chris Bailey said Tuesday that the officers didn’t hesitate to help. “This was an extremely dangerous situation. The darkness and freezing conditions in the murky water made for an almost impossible situation. The bravery and teamwork shown by the Lawrence police department and IMPD made the impossible possible.”

Bailey says the officers acted without hesitation, in freezing conditions and at great personal risk, saying their courage deserves to be recognized and honored.

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Indianapolis, IN

State police arrest man in connection with two Monument Circle attacks

Published

55 minutes ago

June 29, 2026

Press Room

State police arrest man in connection with two Monument Circle attacks

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana State Police have arrested a man in connection with two attacks, including one deadly, near Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis earlier this month.

29-year-old Michael Willis is facing two counts of attempted murder. Police say that the attacks happened on June 19 and June 26, both happening on N Senate Ave. near Monument Circle.

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by News 8, on June 19, Willis was walking in the area near Monument Circle around 2 a.m. when he approached a person laying down and repeatedly stomped on them. Police say that this first victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition.

The first victim died on Sunday due to their injuries sustained from Willis’s attack, documents say.

Police also say that on June 26, Willis attacked a different person at the same location near Monument Circle. Police believe that the second victim was repeatedly kicked and stomped on while they were lying down as well. This second attack also took place around 2 a.m.

Indiana State Police detectives shared surveillance photos of Willis from the attacks with other police agencies in an attempt to identify him. Police say Willis was identified by a Greensborough Police Sergeant after Willis had asked the sergeant to use his cell phone.

Police then approached Willis and detained him. Police say that when Willis was detained, he was wearing the same clothes that were seen in the surveillance footage of both attacks. Officers also noticed blood on Willis’s socks.

In an interview with detectives about the July 26 attack, Willis at first said that he was only “nudging” the victim. Police say that according to Willis, he was trying to wake the victim up because he was concerned about them.

Later in the interview, Willis admitted to attacking both victims. Willis said that he was frustrated that he had been homeless and unemployed for around the past 6 months. According to police, Willis also said that the people in the area were “mean and rude” to him.

Police say that Willis told detectives that he was the only person involved in these attacks.

Willis is currently in custody of the Marion County Jail.

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Indianapolis, IN

Where to find cooling stations in central Indiana

Published

11 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Press Room

Where to find cooling stations in central Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana is under a heat advisory with temperatures in the 90s throughout the week.

Many cooling centers will open throughout the state for those that need to find relief from the heat. Hoosiers looking to find cooling centers in their area can contact Indiana 211. To learn more, call 211 or (866) 211-9966.

Avaliable cooling centers can also be found by clicking here.

Marion County

For those living in Indianapolis, Indy Parks has several cooling centers across the city.

Those Cooling Centers are:

Broad Ripple Park Family Center
Brookside Park Family Center
Christian Park Family Center
Frederick Douglass Park Family Center
Garfield Park Burrello Family Center
Krannert Park Family Center
Grassy Creek Environmental Education Center
Pride Park Family Center
Rhodius Park Family Center
Riverside Park Family Center
Stanley Strader Park Family Center
Washington Park Family Center
Windsor Park Family Center
Watkins Park Family Center
Thatcher Park Family Center

For addresses and hours of operations of these cooling centers, click here.

Beech Grove will also have two cooling Centers for residents starting Monday, June 29. Those hours and locations are:

Beech Grove Senior Center, 602 Main St
- 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
Hornet Park Community Center, 5245 Hornet Ave
- 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday

Other Central Indiana Cooling Centers

For addresses and hour of operations of cooling centers below, click here.

Marion

St. Martin Community Center
Grant County Family YMCA
Grant County Rescue Mission

Kokomo

The Kokomo Rescue Mission
The Excel Center in Kokomo

Peru

Community Resource Center
Miami County Courthouse
Miami County Health Department
Miami County YMCA
Peru City Hall
Peru Public Library
Peru Schools Administration Building

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Indianapolis, IN

Heat Advisory and Warning for central Indiana

Published

21 hours ago

June 28, 2026

Press Room

Heat Advisory and Warning for central Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — The National Weather Service out of Indianapolis has issued a Heat Advisory for all of Central Indiana and a High Heat Warning for parts of northern Indiana. The Advisory and Warning will go into effect at 12 PM on Monday and will run through 8 PM Thursday.

WRTV

A Heat Advisory means that temperatures in the 90s with dew points in the 70s, will lead to Heat Index values reaching 106. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.

Stay cool:
Drink plenty of fluids, check up on relatives and neighbors, and stay in an air-conditioned room when possible. If outside for extended periods of time, make sure to take frequent breaks in the shade as much as you can.

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