Full Notification

Trooper Stops to Assist Disabled Motorist; Subject Arrested after Foot Pursuit

Indianapolis, IN- A trooper who stopped to offer assistance to a disabled motorists finds himself in a foot pursuit and the subsequent arrest of that individual.

Late this morning, September 30, 2016 at approximately 10:15 a.m., Trooper Troy Sunier, of the Indianapolis District, was patrolling I-69 SB in the area of 96th Street and observed a 2005 Toyota Corolla disabled vehicle partially in the roadway with a male sitting inside. Traffic was being hampered and vehicles were forced to swerve to avoid a collision.

Trooper Sunier approached the vehicle and a white male wearing no shoes exited the vehicle and began to walk back towards Sunier. Trooper Sunier recognized the male subject matching an earlier dispatch of a male subject near Methodist Hospital driving in the grass and the wrong way on the ramp. He was also reportedly outside his car without shoes taking photographs.

Trooper Sunier explained to the man he wanted to help. The man began to walk in circles stating someone was looking for him and clinching his fists. Trooper Sunier attempted to speak to the man but he became more aggressive, pushing Sunier and running to the front of his vehicle. Sunier deployed his Taser and the subject pulled out the barbs and ran NB on the exit ramp to 96th Street.

Sunier gave chase and halfway up the ramp a Good Samaritan picked up the trooper offering him a ride   

to get in front of the fleeing suspect. The Good Samaritan stopped his vehicle beside the suspect. The suspect approached the vehicle, opened the driver’s door, and attempted to pull the driver out of the vehicle. The Good Samaritan sped off and stopped again once he was in front of the fleeing suspect.

Trooper Sunier exited the vehicle and again gave chase WB on 96th Street. The suspect then ran into the Taco Bell restaurant, through the lobby and back out across 96th Street where he was met by arriving Fishers Police Officer Robert Gaines, who also became involved in a physical altercation with the suspect. The suspect continued to resist and was successfully arrested with the assistance of further arriving officers.

Medics were called to the scene and the suspect was treated for minor bleeding where he had pulled out the Taser barbs. He was checked and release back to the custody of law enforcement.

The subject has been identified by a West Virginia driver’s license as J William Hott, 27, of Romney, WV.

Romney was arrested on the following:

Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, 3 counts, Level 5 Felony

Resisting Law Enforcement, 2 counts, A Misdemeanor

Attempted Entering of a Motor Vehicle, B Misdemeanor

Blocking Traffic with a Motor Vehicle, A Misdemeanor

Possession of Marijuana, A Misdemeanor

Possession of Paraphernalia.

Romney was incarcerated in the Hamilton County Jail.

I do not have a mug shot.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

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MYERS