INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County prosecutors have filed formal criminal charges against five more people following clashes with police during recent protests over racial inequality.
- Zachary Kelly, Indianapolis — battery against a public safety official, resisting law enforcement, disorderly conduct
- Meredith Gable, Indianapolis — criminal mischief
- Jamie Bundy, Indianapolis — resisting law enforcement
- Randall Whited, Bloomington — battery against a public safety official, resisting law enforcement
- Gillian Huff, Indianapolis — criminal recklessness
Zachary Kelly is charged with battery against a public safety official, resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct.
Kelly is accused of picking up chemical riot control agents used by police and throwing them back at officers.
Kelly refused verbal commands to place his hands behind his back when arrested, court documents say.
Kelly’s attorney, Jonathan Little, said it’s not clear if someone in the crowd intentionally threw a tear gas canister back at police or if someone was trying to get it away from themselves.
“You don’t gas people because they’re still humans,” Little said. “When the cops promote violence they shouldn’t be surprised when people try to defend themselves. You’re treating people like you’re in a war zone.”
Little said he expects the issue to be a big one as the case moves forward.
“The state needs to justify why they’re using chemical weapons against their own citizens,” Little said.
Gillian Huff is charged with criminal recklessness after police said she nearly struck an officer with her car while driving “at a high rate of speed” on Capitol Avenue on May 31.
Jamie Bundy is charged with resisting law enforcement on May 31 after police said Bundy exited a downtown restaurant with a broken window and had rocks in her pockets.
When asked by police why she had rocks, Bundy responded, “It’s a riot, that’s what you do,” court documents read.
Randall Whited, of Bloomington, is charged with battery against a public safety official and resisting law enforcement after he allegedly clashed with police on May 30 during a protest.
Court documents said rocks, bottles and other debris were thrown at officers and they were given several commands to move out of the street, but Whited refused and continued to kneel in the middle of the street.
Whited resisted arrest by grabbing an officer’s uniform, tightening up, and pulling his arms away, court documents show.
Meredith Gable is charged with criminal mischief for allegedly defacing the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on June 1 after it had already been cleaned of graffiti.
As RTV6 reported last week, prosecutors also filed burglary charges against a dozen people in connection with looting and break-ins at businesses over the weekend of May 30 and 31.
The charges stemmed from burglaries at City Gear on East 10th Street, Finish Line at Washington Square Mall, as well as businesses downtown like Yolk Eatery, TJ Maxx and Circle Centre Mall.
Prosecutors accuse the suspects of trying to steal thousands of dollars in clothes, shoes, jewelry and liquor from local businesses
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears has said he will not file charges against 41 non-violent protesters arrested in downtown Indianapolis this past weekend.
Mears will review arrests on a "case-by-case" basis.
“We will not file criminal charges against those who came downtown to stand against injustice and make their voices heard through peaceful demonstrations,” Prosecutor Ryan Mears stated. “For us, the unfortunate choices by a few will not dilute the critical message carried by the majority.”
