Killin
A jury convicted an Indianapolis man of assaulting a police officer during a September incident in Franklin.
Samuel M. Killin, 47, of Indianapolis was found guilty Wednesday of battery against a public safety official, a Level 5 felony, and resisting law enforcement and driving while suspended, both misdemeanors. The verdict follows a two-day jury trial in Johnson County Circuit Court.
In September, an off-duty officer observed the muffler on Killin’s car on fire near the intersection of Jefferson and Morton streets, noting that it spread under the car and eventually filled the interior with smoke, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Johnson County Circuit Court.
Killin eventually pulled over, exited the vehicle as officers arrived on the scene and began using a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, court documents showed.
Another officer went to speak with Killin, who identified himself but couldn’t provide his identification because it was in the burning car. Killin was planning to walk to Indianapolis, he told police.
Killin further told police he thought someone had thrown something into his car through the sunroof, which caused the fire, according to court documents.
After running his name, the officer discovered Killin had a suspended license, court documents showed.
Two officers helped Killin, who was sitting on the ground, to his feet and tried to place him in handcuffs but he resisted and ran away, police said.
Officers ran after Killin and tried again to arrest him. He punched one of the officers in the lip, resulting in a laceration, according to court documents.
Killin then attempted to punch the same officer in the eye, but didn’t aim properly and grazed his face instead, the officer said.
By the end of the pursuit, Killin and the injured officer fell into a ditch on the side of the road, where the officer was finally able to arrest him with help from two other officers, court documents showed.
Johnson County Prosecutor Joe Villanueva was pleased with the outcome of the trial and thankful the officer did not sustain any serious injuries, he said in a statement.
“Those who wear the badge, in any jurisdiction, are already exposed to enough danger,” Villanueva said in the statement. “In Johnson County, we support and back our police officers, and those who seek to do harm to them will be held fully accountable.”
Killin faces one to eight years in prison. A sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 6.
