Police say a struggle that injured a police officer ensued following a Friday car fire near KYB Americas Corporation.
Samuel M. Killin, 46, of Indianapolis, was arrested on charges of battery against a public safety official, a Level 5 felony; resisting law enforcement, a Level 6 felony; and driving while suspended, a misdemeanor. The Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office will decide what, if any, charges to file.
An off-duty officer first observed the muffler on Killin’s car on fire near the Jefferson and Morton Street intersection, noting that it spread under the car and eventually filled the interior with smoke, according to a Franklin Police Department report.
Killin eventually pulled over near KYB, exited the vehicle as officers arrived on the scene and began using a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, according to the report.
Another officer went to speak with Killin, who identified himself but couldn’t provide his identification because it was in the burning car, the report says. 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 the report.
After running his name, the officer discovered Killin had a suspended license, the report said.
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 the report.
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, the report said.
Killin was taken to the Johnson County jail where he is held on $3,000 bond.
