Accused in Elkhart
Justice in an Indiana County
Indiana’s first man to be pardoned based on innocence was tried in Elkhart County. But that troubling case doesn’t stand alone. In a county known for cranking out RVs, there’s a deeper story about how justice is carried out by police, prosecutors and judges.
Who Runs This Police Department? Lots of Officers Who’ve Been Reprimanded or Even Suspended.
The Elkhart, Indiana, Police Department has 34 supervisors. Most of them have been disciplined for carelessness, incompetence or misconduct — including the chief.
Indiana Police Officer Before Punching Handcuffed Man: “If You Spit Again, We’re Gonna Party”
On Friday, the Elkhart, Indiana, Police Department released a 30-second clip of two officers beating a man in custody. Now we have the full 30 minutes, ending with the man leaving the police station on a stretcher.
How a Police Beating in Elkhart, Indiana Unfolded
Reporting by ProPublica and the South Bend Tribune revealed a history of corruption and police abuse in Elkhart. This video, obtained through a public records request, shows police officers punching and kicking a handcuffed man.
Two Indiana Police Officers to be Charged After Video Shows Them Beating Handcuffed Man
“A little overboard,” is how the police chief had previously described the officers’ actions. The decision to charge them came only after ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network demanded to see the video.
When Public Records Aren’t Public
In Elkhart, Indiana, even easy records can be hard to get. Trial exhibits? No. Appellate briefs? No. Police reports in the court file? No. And don’t even ask about moving those boxes.
Standing by Their Convictions
The DNA didn’t match. The witnesses weren’t sure. But the prosecution persisted.
