May 9, 2020

Indianapolis Police Use Pepper Balls While Making Arrest At Shooting Protest

Indianapolis Police Use Pepper Balls While Making Arrest At Shooting Protest

Updated May 10 at 12 p.m.

Indianapolis police used pepper balls to disperse a crowd as they made an arrest Saturday during a protest of a fatal officer-involved shooting.

IMPD says a crowd at 62nd Street and Michigan Road began to close in on officers as they were arresting a man. The officers, according to IMPD, believed the situation was getting unsafe and used pepper balls to disperse the crowd. IMPD say no officers or protesters were injured.

IMPD spokesperson Michael Hewitt says Robert Bently, 41, of Indianapolis was taken into custody on suspicion of obstruction of traffic and disorderly conduct. 

The protest continued peacefully for several hours after the incident.

Saturday's protest was the latest in a series on the northwest side and downtown this week following the death of 21-year-old Dreasjon Reed. He was shot and killed by police Wednesday evening near the intersection of West 62nd Street and Michigan Road. Thousands watched as the incident unfolded on Facebook Live.  

IMPD Chief Randal Taylor said this week that there is no body camera or dash cam video of the shooting. 

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said Friday he has contacted the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI to monitor investigations of the shooting. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears has asked for an independent prosecutor.

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