Indicted IMPD officers to make first court appearance

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Two IMPD officers indicted after a violent curfew arrest will appear in court Thursday.

A Marion County grand jury indicted the officers last week opening the door for charges including battery and misconduct. Court records show the officers and their attorney will appear by video for the initial hearing this afternoon.

The charges against the officers stem from a May 31 arrest caught on camera by WISH-TV reporter Richard Essex. It happened about 45 minutes after the 8 p.m. curfew that day.

Officer Jonathan Horlock is seen in the video using a baton to hit Ivore Westfield. He is charged with battery and official misconduct, plus perjury and obstruction of justice. Officer Nathaniel Schauwecker is charged with battery for pushing Rachel Harding to the ground. He also faces an indictment of official misconduct. The officers have been on administrative leave since the incident. Two other officers involved in the arrest were not indicted.

Lawyers for the women say they didn’t know each other prior to the protests and that Harding had agreed to give Westfield a ride home. A federal lawsuit was filed on their behalf in late June.

The initial hearing for the two officers is set for 2 p.m. Thursday. Their attorney said he expects to either release a statement or hold a news conference today as the officers make their first court appearance.