Judge rejects motion to dismiss the case against officers charged with killing Herman Whitfield III

A judge rejected a motion to dismiss the case against two Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers charged in the death of Herman Whitfield III in 2022. The criminal trial for the officers has been set for Dec. 2 of this year.

Whitfield, a Black man, died after being restrained face-down by IMPD officers. His parents had called for assistance as he was experiencing a mental health crisis.

The case has led to widespread coverage and a local campaign to fire the officers involved and push for an investigation from the Department of Justice into IMPD’s practices. 

“I just hope justice prevails,” said Herman Whitfield Jr., Whitfield's father, as he waited for the judge’s decision outside the courtroom. “They should be held accountable.”

In April 2023, a grand jury in Indianapolis indicted two of the six responding officers, Adam Ahmad and Steven Sanchez, on charges related to Whitfield's death. Both officers face multiple charges, including involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, battery resulting in serious bodily injury, battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, and battery.

Black people are around five times more likely to be killed by police than white people in Indiana, according to Mapping Police Violence. 

Rates of police use of force are even higher for people with serious mental illness. Estimates show that people with serious mental illness are over ten times as likely to experience use of force and get injured in police interactions than those without serious mental illness.

The Whitfield family also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Indianapolis and the six IMPD officers who responded the night of Herman’s death. The family also filed a lawsuit against the city and police in federal court in 2022, which is still pending.

“We’re pleased the criminal case is going to proceed,” said Rich Waples, the attorney for the family. “We’ll see what happens.” 

CORRECTION: WFYI adjusted the headline of this story to reflect that the two IMPD officers are charged, but not yet found guilty, in the death of Herman Whitfield III.

Farrah Anderson is an Investigative Health Reporter at WFYI and Side Effects Public Media. Contact her at fanderson@wfyi.org. Follow her on X @farrahsoa.