NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Indiana State Police has investigated th events and circumstances surrounding the March 6, 2018 police action shooting involving a North Manchester Police Officer. The investigation was recently submitted to the Wabash County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
Wabash County Prosecutor William C. Hartley Jr. reviewed the ISP investigation regarding the police action shooting which occurred at the Eel River Inn located at 1601 State Road 114, North Manchester, Indiana. After a thorough examination of the ISP reports, statements of civilian and police witnesses, interview conducted of the officer directly involved in the shooting, the autopsy report, toxicology report, photographs, body cam video, ISP crime lab reports, and use of force policy for the North Manchester Police Department, the totality of the evidence establishes this incident as a legally justifiable shooting by law enforcement.
On March 6, 2018, at approximately 6pm, North Manchester Police Officer Parker Stouffer initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of State Road 13 and State Road 114 in North Manchester of a pickup truck driven by Michael A. Kline (age 40) for minor traffic infractions. Mr. Kline eventually pulled into the Eel River Inn parking lot and Officer Stouffer made contact with Mr. Kline and the other two occupants of Mr. Kline’s vehicle. At about that time, Officer Nate Birch arrived with his canine partner and a decision was made to run the canine around the vehicle during the course of the traffic stop. The occupants were asked to exit the vehicle prior to deploying the dog. As Mr. Kline exited his vehicle, he drew a handgun and pointed it at the officers. At that point, Officer Stouffer discharged his firearm at Mr. Kline. Mr. Kline was struck and pronounced dead at the scene. Mr. Kline was found in possession of a 9 mm handgun with 11 rounds in the magazine. During a subsequent search of his truck, Mr. Kline was also found in possession of methamphetamine and other drug related items. An autopsy later found that Mr. Kline had several drugs in his system including amphetamines, methamphetamine, and marijuana.
Indiana Code 35-41-3-2© provides in part: … “a person is justified in using deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if the person reasonably believes that the force in necessary to prevent serious bodily injury to the person or a third person or the commission of a forcible felony. No person in the state shall be placed in legal jeopardy of any kind whatsoever for protecting the person or a third person by reasonable means necessary.”
After a through review of this case, it is clear that Officer Stouffer was justified in using deadly force as it is reasonable to believe that the force was necessary to prevent serious bodily injury to himself or the other officers in the immediate area. Accordingly, no criminal charges will be filed in this matter.