An Indiana State Police investigation has led to a former New Castle Police Officer being summoned into court later this month to face a charge of Misdemeanor Criminal Recklessness.
The charge stems from an incident that occurred on August 19, 2019, around 1:30 a.m. while the man was working as a New Castle Police Lieutenant.
On August 19th, 2019, just before 1:30 a.m. two New Castle Officers were patrolling in the area of 12th and Woodward St. in New Castle when they noticed a suspicious man walking west on 12th St. As the officers got out of their car to speak with the man, he fled on foot.
The officers pursued on foot and caught up with the man in the area of 10th St. and Thornburg St. where the fleeing man surrendered. As the officers were approaching the man to handcuff him, then New Castle Officer Lt. Aaron Strong, age 42, arrived on the scene and allegedly began striking the man with his expandable baton as the man lay on the ground.
The original arresting officers took the man to Henry Community Hospital to be checked out before taking him to jail for Resisting Law Enforcement, Fleeing.
The two arresting officers then reported the incident immediately to New Castle Police Department Supervisors, who immediately requested the Indiana State Police to conduct an investigation.
When the investigation was completed it was turned over to Henry County Prosecutor Joe Bergacs in September, who then referred the case to Special Prosecutor Rodney Cummings. Cummings filed the charge on Aaron Strong late yesterday afternoon.
