IMPD Release Name Of Man Who Died In Gun Battle With Police Officer

Man's Lengthy Record Includes Throwing Bodily Waste And Armed Robbery
Re-printed from a story at WISH-TV Channel 8 on December 13th 2011
Carriage House Apartments complex along 42nd Street and Mitthoeffer
The incident was the 3rd time a police officer has been shot in Indy this year. Video still courtesy of FOX 59.

The Indianapolis Police Department Tuesday released the identity of the man who was killed after he shot Officer Dwayne Runnels during a traffic stop.

Demetrius Martin, 23, of Indianapolis, died in the shooting Monday in the 10100 block of Pineneedle Court in the Carriage House Apartments complex, along 42nd Street and Mitthoeffer. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officials said that Officer Dewayne “Dewey” Runnels shot Martin after Martin shot Runnels in the leg.

The 12-year veteran was shot in the leg by Demetrius Martin. The officer returned fire shooting and killing the suspect. During a check on Martin’s background WISH TV found more than ten police reports tied to the shooters name.

Demetrius MartinThose reports ranged from Battery, multiple convictions for Robbery and charges related to guns and shootings. While incarcerated in the Marion County Jail Martin was no model inmate. Deputies wrote up the 23-year-old for throwing his own fecal matter on his cellmates - something that a either a child or a profoundly mentally ill person would resort to doing. Martin was charged three times for throwing bodily Waste while in the Marion County Jail.

On the night of the shooting, it’s unclear why Martin challenged Officer Runnels to a gunfight instead of surrendering. He did, however, have a probation hearing scheduled for January 2012.

“Runnels was faced with a fight" said Police Chief Paul Ciesielski. "He acted on his training he will live to fight another day."

There were two people in the car with Martin that night. Those two passengers were questioned at police headquarters and later released.

WISH TV reporters traveled back to Carriage House apartments near 42nd Street where the shootings happened and witnessed no signs of what transpired at that apartment complex just 24 hours ago. From all accounts, it appeared that their was nothing Runnels could have done to prevent the shooting.


Martin died at 10100 block of Pineneedle Court in the Carriage House Apartments complex along 42nd Street.

“We know the dangers of the job, said Ciesielski to a group of officers during a ceremony. “ We know he didn’t do anything wrong. We know based on what he saw everyone in here would have reacted the same way.”

Officer Runnels is expected to make a full recovery.

References:
WISH-TV Channel 8, Man Who Shot Cop Had Lengthy Record
WISH Channel 8, IMPD Releases Name Of Man Killed In Police Shooting
WTHR Channel 13, IMPD Shot On Northwest Side Of Indy

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