Indianapolis police shoot man who rammed IMPD cars with stolen truck

A man was shot by Indianapolis police Saturday evening after he allegedly slammed a stolen truck into three police vehicles, causing minor injuries to the officers inside them.

George Leachman, 42, was identified Sunday as the driver of a stolen black Ford F250 truck. He was arrested and charged with three counts of battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting law enforcement, according to IMPD.

Leachman received treatment on scene and was transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition.

According to IMPD, an officer attempted to pull the stolen truck over shortly before 5 p.m. near E. 19th St. and Campbell Ave. on the city’s Eastside. Police were notified that a gun was possibly inside the stolen vehicle.

Leachman allegedly stopped and then backed up and rammed into the police car, which disabled that vehicle. He then drove away. An officer suffered a minor head injury and was transported to an area hospital in good condition.

IMPD said Leachman then proceeded to crash into two more police vehicles.

The second incident occurred in the 300 block of Poplar Road in the Irvington neighborhood; the truck backed up again and slammed into another IMPD car, causing its airbags to deploy and again disabling the vehicle. An officer was transported to a nearby hospital with minor leg injuries.

The truck then crashed into a third IMPD car, again disabling the vehicle and causing the airbags to deploy. An officer was transported to a nearby hospital with a possible broken arm or wrist.

Leachman was shot by police after two officers discharged their weapons, according to IMPD.
No bystanders were hurt during either the gunfire or the crashes, police said. All of the injured officers were treated and released from the hospital.

Several officers’ body-worn cameras were activated during the incident.

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office is assisting in the investigation and will make final charging decisions.

The police officers who fired their guns are now on administrative leave, due to the department’s standard procedure in officer-involved shooting investigations. IMPD Internal Affairs is conducting an administrative investigation.

After the criminal process concludes, the civilian-majority Use of Force Review Board will conduct a mandatory hearing to determine whether the officers’ actions violated IMPD policies.

Police continue to search the area for witnesses and any other evidence. IMPD urges anyone with information to call Detective Dustin Keedy at the IMPD homicide office: 317-327-3475.

This story has been updated.

Contact WFYI education reporter Lee V. Gaines at lgaines@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @LeeVGaines.