Swarts
Police arrested an Indianapolis man they say refused to leave the Greenwood mall and assaulted mall security and first responders.
Aaron M. Swarts, 23, was arrested on charges of battery causing serious bodily injury, battery against a public safety official, battery with bodily waste and resisting law enforcement, all felonies. He was also arrested on charges of public intoxication and intimidation, both misdemeanors. The Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office will decide what, if any, charges to file.
Greenwood police were called shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday to the Greenwood Park Mall to assist mall security with a man who was refusing to leave. Mall security first observed the man, later identified as Swarts, around 9:40 p.m. and told him they were locking the doors. About 30 minutes later, they saw him inside the mall watching TV, according to a Greenwood Police Department report.
Mall security asked Swarts to leave, saying the mall was being locked up for the night, and that he should use a specific door, as the others were already locked. Swarts said he would and proceeded to try to open several locked doors. Security told him again to use a specific door and opened it for him, according to the report.
Swarts became unruly, yelled at a mall security officer and tried to hit him. The security officer ducked to avoid the strike and shoved him out the door, the report shows.
At some point, mall security radioed Greenwood police for backup. An officer patrolling the parking lot was on his way when mall security informed them a fight was now in progress. When the mall security officer stopped responding, police believed he was in serious danger and additional units responded, according to the report.
Another Greenwood officer traveling north on U.S. 31 noticed Swarts running westbound through the mall parking lot. The officer tried to stop him but he continued to flee the scene, running across U.S. 31 on foot, the report shows.
Officers pursued Swarts and attempted to apprehend him. He pushed away from officers and resisted their attempts to make him move toward a patrol car on U.S. 31, according to the report.
Swarts became aggressive when officers tried to handcuff him. He made his way out of the officer’s grip, tackled a security officer to the ground, which also caused a Greenwood officer to fall. He punched the security officer in the face several times, the report shows.
Officers tried to get Swarts off the security officer, but he continued to attack the officer, according to the report.
Greenwood police warned Swarts he was going to be tasered if he did not stop. Swarts did not respond, and after some time, police lifted his jacket and tasered him. Swarts rolled off the security officer and onto his back. He then made moves toward the security officer again, and officers continued to use the taser on him until backup arrived, the report shows.
Officers searched Swarts and observed alcohol on his breath. During the search, he screamed threats and made sexist remarks toward officers. When emergency medical personnel arrived to check on Swarts and ask him questions about his health, he spit on a firefighter, according to the report.
Once EMS personnel left, Swarts threatened another officer, asking the officer to remove his handcuffs so they could fight, the report shows.
During the arrest, a Greenwood officer suffered a cut to his hand. The mall security officer suffered a broken nose and lacerations to his face and head. He also had a large knot above his left eye and said the injuries caused him severe pain. The security officer drove himself to a nearby hospital for treatment, according to the report.
Swarts was taken to the Johnson County jail, where he is held on $22,000 bond.
