ISP: North Manchester police officer shoots, kills suspect during traffic stop
NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. (WANE) – A man is dead after being shot by a police officer during a traffic stop in North Manchester Tuesday night, according to Indiana State Police.
ISP Spokesman Sgt. Tony Slocum said a North Manchester police officer pulled over a pickup truck for a “traffic infraction” around 6 p.m. The vehicle pulled into the parking lot of “The Eel River Inn” on State Road 114 near S.R. 13.
North Manchester is approximately 40 miles west of Fort Wayne.
North Manchester Town Marshal Jim Kirk said the officer was working for “Operation Pullover,” a law enforcement campaign paid through a grant that allows for extra patrols.
At the time of the stop, two additional North Manchester police officers were in the area and pulled behind the first officer.
State police said the suspect, identified as Michael Kline, 40, North Manchester, did something that led the officer to fire several shots. At least one shot struck Kline and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
State police said officers and paramedics tried to revive Kline, but were unsuccessful.
Kirk said the officer was wearing a body cam, but it was covered up by his jacket. State police investigators are reviewing video from the police car’s dashcam. It’s not clear if the other two officers captured anything on camera.
24-Hour News 8 sister station, WANE, spotted what appeared to be a handgun near Kline’s body next to his pickup truck. Investigators have not said if the gun belonged to Kline or if he pointed it at the officer.
The officer has not been identified. He was not hurt during the incident and has been placed on administrative leave, per department policy. Kirk said the officer will remain off-duty until the Wabash County Prosecutor reviews the state police investigation. If the officer is cleared of wrongdoing and determined fit, he will be permitted to return to active duty.
North Manchester employs 11 full-time police officers in the town of approximately 6,100 people.
Kirk said officers in North Manchester had previously encountered Kline, but he did not elaborate under what circumstances.
Kirk said, to the best of his knowledge, there has never before been a fatal officer-involved shooting in North Manchester.
The incident is under investigation.