Sheriff’s deputy dies after being attacked by detainee during escape attempt

A Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy has died after he was attacked by a detainee at the Adult Detention Center.

According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, shortly before 11:30 a.m. Monday, there was a physical confrontation between an incarcerated person and Marion County Sheriff Deputy John Durm at the jail. Durm was returning from transporting the detainee from a medical appointment.

The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Orlando Mitchell, assaulted Durm, police said, and stole a jail van. Mitchell then drove out of the Adult Detention Center and crashed the vehicle outside the Community Justice Campus on the city’s southeast side, according to police.

“The investigation at this point shows clearly that this was an intentional act of homicide and will be investigated as such,” said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Assistant Chief Chris Bailey.

Deputies took Mitchell into custody, during which at least one deputy sustained minor injuries. That deputy was treated at the scene. Mitchell was taken to Eskenazi Hospital and is in stable condition, police said. Durm was also transported to the hospital, where he was declared dead.

Police said the jail and the Community Justice Campus are secure and there is no threat to the community.

The Marion County Coroner’s Office will determine Durm’s cause of death. This information is not expected to be released until at least Tuesday afternoon.

Durm was 61 years old, and a 38-year veteran with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Members of his family work for law enforcement, including his wife and son.

“You can’t give that much law enforcement to your community and not have meant something,” said Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal.

Police said in a statement that Mitchell will be arrested for murder once he is released from the hospital.  The case will be presented to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office for a charging decision.

This story will be updated.

Contact WFYI criminal justice reporter Katrina Pross at kpross@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @katrina_pross.

Pross is a Corps Member of Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project.