IMPD officers found not guilty on all charges in the death of Herman Whitfield III

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers Adam Ahmad and Steven Sanchez, who were accused in the death of Herman Whitfield III, were found not guilty on all five charges against them. 

The two officers were facing charges of reckless homicide, involuntary manslaughter and three counts of battery.

Defense attorney John Kautzman, who represented the officers, said he "couldn't be more pleased" with the outcome.
 
The jury reached its decision after about two hours of deliberation on Friday, following a five-day trial that included heated arguments and testimony at a Marion County Superior Court. The jury heard from Whitfield III’s father, the officers on trial, other IMPD officers who responded to the Whitfield home, police instructors as well as medical and forensic experts.

Ahmad and Sanchez were two of the six officers who responded to the Whitfield home after a 911 call from Whitfield III’s parents, Gladys Whitfield and Herman Whitfield Jr. They called at 3:20 a.m. on April 25, 2022 as their son was going through a mental health emergency. 

Whitfield III, a 39-year-old gifted pianist, was shocked with a conducted electrical weapon, handcuffed and restrained face-down by the officers.

On April 26, 2022, the Marion County Coroner’s Office ruled Whitfield III’s death a homicide and further stated the cause of death was heart failure while under law enforcement restraint. The report stated obesity and hypertensive cardiovascular disease as contributing factors. Toxicology tests, included in that report, also showed that Whitfield III had cannabinoids, including Delta-9 and THC, in his system. 

“I think it's important that we all understand that that was a tragedy, but it's also a tragedy when the state brings a criminal case against police officers that were just out there trying to do their job," Kautzman said following the verdict. “Sworn police officers aren't in the business of going out and harming. They're in the business of going out and trying to help people, and that's what they were trying to do that day.” 

During the five-day trial, the prosecutors representing the Whitfield family argued that Whitfield III died because he couldn’t breathe after officers left him prone on the ground while handcuffed for too long. But the defense pushed back and argued that Whitfield’s pre-existing conditions caused his death –– not officers’ actions.

“There's no winners in this trial. There were also no criminal actions by these officers,” said Rick Snyder, the head of the police union in Indianapols. “A death occurred as a result of a medical matter that was compounded by the patient's actions, physical condition and narcotics induced delirium, as was known from the beginning.”

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

In April 2023, a grand jury in Indianapolis indicted the two officers, Ahmad and Sanchez, on charges related to Whitfield's death.

After the verdict, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears issued a statement. “In April 2022, Herman Jr. and Gladys Whitfield reached out for help, hoping that the police would protect their son in a moment of desperate need and the result of what ensued was an absolute tragedy," Mears said. 

Separately, the Whitfield family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Indianapolis and the IMPD officers who responded the night of Whitfield III’s death.

In an email statement after the verdict, IMPD Chief Chris Bailey commended the officers for their professionalism and resilience throughout this process. "As part of our standard procedure, both officers will complete refresher training to ensure they are fully prepared to return to work. Once that is finalized, they will resume their normal duties," Bailey said. 

The family also filed a lawsuit against the city and police in federal court in 2022, which is still pending. The wrongful death lawsuit alleges Whitfield III called out “I can’t breathe” while being restrained by IMPD officers as his parents tried to get him help.