INDIANAPOLIS —A Marion County Sheriff's Office Deputy died at the hospital after being assaulted while transporting an inmate.
According to IMPD, just before 11:30 a.m., Deputy Durm was returning from transporting an inmate for a hospital visit. At this time, police said the inmate, Orlando Mitchell, 34, assualted Deputy Durm inside the sally port of the Adult Detention Center.
The inmate was then able to steal the transport van.
The deputy was "attacked" according to MCSO.
After stealing the van, the inmate crashed into a utility pole in the 3000 block of E. Prospect Street. There, other deputies were able to take the suspect into custody.
The deputy and the suspect were taken to Eskenazi Hospital. The suspect was said to be in stable condition.
One of the deputies who took the suspect into custody also had minor injuries and was treated on scene.
In a press briefing, Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal confirmed that Deputy John Durm died at the hospital.
Deputy Durm was 61-years old. He was a 38-year veteran of the MCSO, and came from law enforcement family. He is survived by a wife, four children, his parents, and several family members.
Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb released the following statement on the tragedy, which marks the third Indiana law enforcement officer killed in two weeks.
“It pains me to attempt putting into words again the unfathomable loss of a man in uniform who was protecting Hoosiers from harm’s way. Marion County sheriff’s deputy John Durm made the ultimate sacrifice, and we owe him our utmost gratitude.
Janet and I are praying for his family, loved ones and for the law enforcement community.”
"Another tragic day for the community," IMPD Officer Shane Foley said.
According to Foley, police are investigating the incident as an "intentional act of homicide."
Police said there is also video of the incident that will be investigated by IMPD and the MCSO.
The suspect will be arrested for murder when he is released from the hospital, police said.
Orlando Mitchell has been in the Marion County Jail since September 2022 awaiting trial for the 2022 murder of his ex-girlfriend, Krystal Walton.
RELATED | Suspect in deputy death accused of killing ex-girlfriend in 2022 (wrtv.com)
