IndianaLocalNews

Review of Warsaw Police Chief determines no criminal incident occurred

(Photo supplied/City of Warsaw)

UPDATE: Indiana State Police have completed their review of the January 25 incident involving Warsaw Police Chief Scott Whitaker.

A spokesperson for the State Police says that they don’t conduct internal investigations of other police departments, but can be asked to investigate by a local prosecutor if it is believed a crime has been committed by a police officer.

After an anonymous allegation was made against Whitaker, the Indiana State Police reviewed information with Kosciusko County Prosecutor Dan Hampton.

It was determined that no criminal incident occurred.

That determination ends the involvement of the Indiana State Police in the matter.

ORIGINAL STORY: When Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer announced Tuesday that he had asked Indiana State Police to review an anonymous allegation made against Warsaw Police Chief Scott Whitaker, little information was available.

95.3 MNC’s reporting partners at News Now Warsaw obtained the Incident Report for Jan. 25, the day that Whitaker’s actions are in question.

The report confirms that Whitaker was off duty when he observed what he believed was an impaired driver. It was approximately 6:30 p.m. when Whitaker notes the driver almost hit him head-on near Warsaw Fire Station 3 on 200 South.

The narrative portion of the report, written by Whitaker, goes on to detail his call into Central Dispatch to get an on-duty officer to respond.

After that call was made, the driver reportedly pulled into a residence and parked. Whitaker observed the actions and continued to wait for an on-duty officer, he writes in the report.

It was when a 74-year-old man tried to get back into the vehicle that Whitaker says he took action, despite being off duty. Here is an excerpt from the report as written by Whitaker:

“I noticed the vehicle was still running and observed an older male subject…walking toward the driver side of the vehicle. Even with my presence, he attempted to access the driver’s side front door. I immediately grasped him from behind, by his coat on both shoulders, and attempted to maneuver him slightly in front of the driver’s door, near the hood area. Upon doing so, [the man’s] legs gave out and he dropped to his knees. I was able to assist him to the ground, as I was still holding his shoulders. At that time, I identified myself as a Warsaw police officer and asked him to keep his hands on the hood of the car and to stay in that position as on-duty police officer(s) would be on scene shortly.”

After the interaction, Whitaker talked to the man’s wife, who said she was driving the vehicle that nearly hit Whitaker.

On-duty officers then arrived at the scene. The wife said she has difficulty driving in the dark and was advised not to do so in the future.

Both the man and his wife were determined not to be impaired by on-duty officers.

No citations were issued.

 

 

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1 comment

Jenson February 14, 2019 at 8:25 am

Why are you posting anonymous allegations Carli? Especially on a police officer? Sad 95.3. I thought you were better than that. Give it more thought next time, ok?

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