DELAWARE COUNTY — A Delaware County Correctional Officer was fired after they injured an inmate when they fired a PepperBall launcher into a cell block from the jail's control center.
Just before midnight on March 31, Jeff Stanley, chief deputy of the Delaware County Sheriff's Office, said the officer discharged a PepperBall launcher with an "inert powder" from the jail's control room into a cell block.
An inmate was struck in the back by one of the projectiles and suffered minor bruising, Stanley said in an email. The inmate didn't require medical attention.
An internal review found the correctional officer violated several of the jail's policies, including its use of force policy, Stanley said.
The names of the officer and the inmate haven't been released.
Stanley said the incident was turned over to Indiana State Police for "an independent criminal investigation." WRTV reached out to Indiana State Police by email Thursday morning for an update on its investigation and is awaiting a response.
"The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office in no way condones unlawful or punitive uses of force by deputies or correctional staff," Stanley said.
-
Local program helps residents avoid utility shutoffs during winter cold snap
United Way of Central Indiana’s Winter Assistance Fund, a program designed for people who earn too much to qualify for government energy assistance programs but still can't afford rising utility costs
Hamilton Co Sheriff's using real-time data to help during winter emergencies
The Hamilton County Real-Time Information Center is leveraging advanced technology to help first responders act faster when winter weather puts lives at risk.
How Amazon keeps central Indiana deliveries going despite snow, ice and cold
Cold and snowy weather this week has left some central Indiana residents wondering, 'Will I get my Amazon package?'
Report reveals record number of data breaches in 2025
A new report reveals a record number of data breaches in 2025. The Identity Theft Resource Center, a national nonprofit, released its 2025 Annual Data Breach report on Thursday.
