Former New Castle Police Officer Charged With Criminal Recklessness

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INDIANA STATE POLICE
PENDLETON DISTRICT
9022 S. State Road 67 
Pendleton, IN 46064

www.in.gov/isp

FOR RELEASE: Upon Receipt

 

CONTACT:
Sgt. John Bowling
Public Information Officer
765-778-2121

 

DATE - January 7, 2020

 

Former New Castle Police Officer Charged with Criminal Recklessness

 

New Castle – 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.

Please refer any questions reference the criminal charge to Special Prosecutor Rodney Cummings, and any questions reference Strong’s previous employment to the New Castle Police Department.

All Suspects Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law

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