Latest news with #IMPD
Indianapolis Star
5 days ago
- Indianapolis Star
IMPD involved in shooting near Crown Hill Cemetery. West 32nd closed
This article will update. Indianapolis police were involved in a shooting at around 8:15 a.m. on July 24 near Crown Hill Cemetery. West 32nd Street will be closed between Clifton Street and Dr. MLK Jr. Street for the next several hours as members of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigate the area. Details are scarce this early in the investigation, but here's what we know: The shooting took place in the 900 block of West 32nd Street. No officers were injured in the shooting, according to IMPD. No details have been announced about the person shot. This article continues past images and tweets. Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at and follow her on X, formerly Twitter, @IAMJADEJACKSON. Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@ follow him on X @1NoerPadilla or on Bluesky @
Indianapolis Star
22-07-2025
- Indianapolis Star
'We can't tout this as a success.' Youth leaders want curfew progress to continue, expand
The first floor of the City-County Council building was full of activity this past weekend. IMPD officers and at least seven community organizations were prepared to implement a first-time process for handling youth breaking curfew. Under the plan to help curb downtown gun violence after a deadly start to July, youth out after curfew would be taken to the downtown hub. Officers would collect their information, contact parents to come pick them up, and organizations would provide food while connecting with them to resources. If parents don't pick them up within an hour, they would be taken to the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center. In the hub's first weekend, which featured the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game and Indiana Black Expo downtown, officials said they accounted for zero kids taken to the detention center for breaking curfew. "That's in addition to the fact that we had no significant violent crimes or public safety incidents downtown this weekend," IMPD Deputy Chief of Operations Tanya Terry said. "It took all of us to come together to get to this point and show what downtown Indy can be a fun, safe place for residents and visitors alike." Only six people have been cited for a youth curfew violation in the past two years. Five youths were cited in October 2023, and one was cited this July 2025, according to city records. While the weekend has been deemed by some public safety leaders as progress, community leaders say there's more work to be done. They want to make sure this type of response can sustain well beyond downtown when there are large events like Black Expo, the WNBA All-Star Game, and Fourth of July. The organizations that volunteered to be a part of the hub collaborating with police were Firefly Children & Family Alliance, Eskenazi Health, VOICES, Inner Beauty Program, Inc., Let Them Talk Indy, and New B.O.Y. Kareem Hines, the founder of New B.O.Y (Breed of Youth), leads one of the organizations represented at the hub over the weekend. He said he hopes that police and city officials look at the early success and push the pilot program to the rest of the year. "And not just downtown, 'cause that's a minimal space," Hines told IndyStar. "We need this all over the city if other organizations can collaborate. 'Cause we see kids out all over, not just downtown. We need this at Post Road, 30th and MLK, Lawrence, or wherever. Go where the hotspots are." Following the mass shooting that left seven young people shot and two dead over Fourth of July weekend, Keith "Wildstyle" Paschall went downtown to observe the problem. He feels youth should have more controlled spaces where they can gather and have fun. Reunification site for youth: City to open 'safe and secure' site with resources for youth found out past curfew "We need to audit our relationships with promoters, venue organizers, and people who used to host events for teens and young people," Paschall said. "A couple of years back, rolling rinks, for example, used to be open later, but they'd shut down because of a lot of youth fighting, and they felt pressure to." Pascall also said there needs to be more resources for parents that aren't punitive. He wants them to have more support beyond pouring money into mentorships or community organizations that don't consider them in their mission to help. In a statement, Fraternal Order of Police president Rick Snyder said this past weekend "proves it can be done." "When accountability and consequences for criminal behavior are clearly articulated and understood, it works," Snyder said. "It also turns out we didn't need to restrict the rights of the law-abiding to get adults and juveniles to not shoot one another in downtown Indianapolis." Snyder also said the city didn't need a change to curfew or gun laws; just a willingness to enforce existing laws. "Time will tell if Indy's politicians in charge choose to sustain this path or return to failed policies and misguided agendas," he said. IMPD's Terry said the department has community organizations, including Ten Pointe Coalition, that try to target hotspots of youth violence throughout the city. "While it's not as visible as the downtown events and incidents, they are ongoing in the background, and our hope with IMPD is we're happy to continue to be a conduit between the kids and families that need the services, and those community-based service providers" Terry said. She said IMPD is in the early stages of creating written guidance for organizations that are willing be part of the solution. The ideal situation for everybody, Terry said, would be that a family or child in need of extra support has access to services regardless of the presence of a major event downtown, Hines said this should be something the city invests in. Whereas IMPD is paid to work all hours of the night to ensure curfew is being met, the city's service organizations are not. "We had like five to six mentors and we asked them to volunteer from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m," Hines said. "But that's volunteering, and we can't tout this as a success after one weekend. We need to extend that same grace, manpower, and more for the rest of this year."
Indianapolis Star
21-07-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Court docs show screenshots of IMPD officer harassing woman via Hinge, running her plates
Court documents show that an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officer used department resources to harass a woman before his July 18 arrest on allegations of official misconduct and harassment. A probable cause affidavit for his arrest accuses Officer Nicholas Cauley, 38, of harassing the woman, who he had a relationship with, through texts, emails, social media, and even the dating app Hinge. He is also accused of visiting her workplace while in uniform, and running her license plates through an IMPD computer. 'The trust our community places in us is built on accountability and integrity. When any officer violates that trust, it's our duty to act quickly and transparently,' said Chief Chris Bailey following Cauley's arrest. "We are committed to working closely with the prosecutor to ensure this case is investigated appropriately.' Cauley is a nine-year IMPD officer, most recently assigned to the department's North District. He was jailed and later released on bond, and is on administrative leave pending additional review by the chief. A news release from the department said his police-issued equipment has been collected, and his law enforcement authority has been suspended. He was arrested and formally charged with two counts of official misconduct and one count of harassment following an investigation by the department's Special Investigation Unit (SIU). On June 24, IMPD North District, which is the district where Cauley worked, received an email from the woman. According to court documents, it read, 'I would simply like his attempts to contact me to stop. If he had not been an officer I would have moved forward in some sort of legal way much sooner.' She added that as his behavior continues, "It becomes more difficult to ignore the seriousness of this issue.' Once North District referred the matter to SIU for review, Detective Lt. Craig Stewart was assigned the case. Stewart spoke with the woman the next day, and according to court records, she said the couple's relationship ended in August 2024. She said she noticed a discernible change in his behavior later that year. Court documents stated the behaviors included leveraging access to her personal property in an attempt to force her to speak to him by 'throwing (her) phone into the woods' and preventing her from having access to her personal items. Court documents also said the behaviors began to increase as she moved her belongings from their shared home. The woman told the detective that Cauley's behavior was "cruel" and that he was "saying unkind things." She said she cut off all contact with Cauley as much as she could in late December, which made him angrier, and she claims his harassment of her escalated. Court records reveal emails from Cauley to the woman, angry that she wasn't replying to him and had his phone number blocked. According to the probable affidavit for his arrest, the woman would get voicemails about her still owing him money and complaining about her canceling a previously shared subscription account. Then she said there would be a pattern of Cauley being apologetic before switching back to cruelty and name calling 'when he wouldn't get what he wanted." Officer Nicholas Cauley: IMPD officer accused of misconduct and harassing woman after recent divorce Even with Cauley blocked from texting her, the woman accused him of harassing her through Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, and even a PayPal and Pinterest account. She said Cauley contacted her through a Hinge account in June, insulting her. Court records reveal a screenshot of his message on Hinge to her stating, 'Hiii! How is being the fakest person going? All the lies you live going well? … 40 is not looking well on you. Whatever those rejuvenation companies are doing is not working. Hope all is well!" Before his alleged insults through the Hinge app, the woman accused Cauley of leaving a letter on her vehicle while she was at work in late March. The last time she'd spoken to him was before Christmas when she told him to stop sending mean emails and asked his mother to coordinate any needed communications so they didn't have to converse. She said she'd previously told him numerous times to leave her alone. Detective Stewart learned through GPS data that Cauley's marked police vehicle, while he was in uniform and working as an officer, traveled to the woman's workplace at 6:12 a.m. on March 24, according to court documents. Court records stated that further examination of Cauley's vehicle-mounted computer information showed him at this location near the time he was dispatched to a report of vandalism on North New Jersey Street before he left to respond. He also wasn't responding to a dispatched run, nor creating a self-initiated stop at that time or address. His confirmed location near the address coincides with the timeframe the woman reported receiving a letter on hervehicle at work. On June 30, Stewart allowed Cauley to provide a recorded statement about the allegations, and was contacted by Cauley's private counsel. But neither counsel nor Cauley has accepted or declined the offer to make a statement, court documents state. At one point, Cauley also used his law enforcement authority to look up the woman's license plate information, a news release from the department states. A harassment charge is a misdemeanor, while an official misconduct charge is a level 6 felony. Cauley could face up to six months to two and a half years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted. Cauley bailed out of the Marion County Jail July 19. His next court case is at 8:30 a.m. on July 22.
New York Post
19-07-2025
- New York Post
Indiana mom nabbed after allegedly trying to sell baby daughter for sex
A 32-year-old mom-of-seven has been accused of sex trafficking in Indiana, where authorities allege she tried selling her baby daughter to a man for $400. Morgan Stapp allegedly used Snapchat to arrange the shocking sexual assault of her 7-month-old daughter, according to Stapp sent a message to a man back on Nov. 1, 2024, explaining he could rape her baby girl for $400. 'Half now, rest after,' read the alleged exchange. 'I'll send my address. I do live alone, and her dad is not in the picture.' Morgan Stapp is being held on $100,000 bond. IMPD The message was flagged by Snapchat and shared with FBI agents, who set up a meeting with Stapp at her Indianapolis residence. When she was busted and arrested, Stapp allegedly denied ever using Snapchat, according to Detectives sought a warrant for Stapp's Snapchat account, and learned only one phone had access to her account. Cops also unearthed thousands of messages she'd sent between Oct. 29 and Nov. 1. In 81 messages, she offered to sell nude photos of herself 'so I can get baby diapers.' Stapp was nabbed July 8 and is being charged with attempt to commit child sex trafficking. She is being held on $100,000 bond. Stapp returns to court Sept. 15 for the next hearing in her case.
Indianapolis Star
16-07-2025
- Indianapolis Star
City to open 'safe and secure' site with resources for youth found out past curfew
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department will take teens found in violation of the city's youth curfew to a central location where they can access "supportive services" and reunite with guardians, the city announced on July 16. "The approach is restorative, not disciplinary," IMPD Assistant Chief Michael Wolley said. This weekend marks the launch of the new initiative in collaboration with the Office of Public Health and Safety. Once the teens have arrived at the site, which is in an undisclosed location, they'll be able to connect with mentorship services from youth organizations New BOY, Let Them Talk and Voices Indianapolis. The WNBA All-Star Weekend is expected to draw crowds downtown this weekend, and Wolley said the pop-up center will likely be set up during other large events. More: Indy superintendents back youth curfew as IMPD preps for weekend before WNBA All-Star game Earlier this month, the city announced plans to enforce a youth curfew prohibiting teens aged 15 to 17 from being unaccompanied in public between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on weeknights. Those hours also apply for teens under 15 on weekends, but teens between 15 and 17 can stay out until 1 a.m. The curfew itself isn't new. In the past, it has not been consistently enforced due at least in part to logistical challenges, including staffing constraints and the lack of a central location to take the children who are picked up. But in the hours following the annual Fourth of July fireworks show, hundreds of unsupervised teens lingered downtown, culminating in a mass shooting that killed Xavion Jackson, 16, and Azareaon S. Cole, 15. Two other teens and three adults were also injured. IMPD Chief Chris Bailey said police had already confiscated firearms from multiple teens before the shooting. In 2024, the most common charge filed in Marion County's juvenile court was dangerous possession of a firearm, according to the prosecutor's office. "I don't know how many times I have to say it. We are not your children's keepers. You are," Bailey said to media gathered around him during a late-night press conference. "And parents and guardians have got to step up." Kids as young as 13 and 14 were charged with gun possession over the Fourth of July weekend, according to the Marion County Prosecutor's Office. A total of eight teens and three adults face charges in connection with the downtown mayhem, but no one has been arrested for the mass shooting. The curfew is a key part of the city's strategy to reduce gun violence among youth. The Office of Public Health and Safety is also funding programs designed to reduce violence among high-risk young people. New BOY, Let Them Talk and Voices will speak with teens brought to the center about their lives and decision-making. Leaders from those organizations said they hope to build long-term positive relationships with the teens who are brought in for curfew violations this weekend. "I believe there's no correction without connection," New BOY founder Kareem Hines said. "...This is about the safety of our young people, the safety of our city, but this is also about changing the trajectory of their lives." Dr. Heather Savage with Let Them Talk, a youth organization for the Black community, encouraged people who are concerned about violence to mentor kids or volunteer rather than pass judgment. "Our youths read those comments. Their parents see what we're saying about them online, under news articles," Savage said. "We want them to be better people, but as adults, we can be better people." The curfew ordinance doesn't create a criminal offense for the city's children and teens, but it does grant police the authority to detain them. They will be searched and handcuffed during transport, per protocol, but won't be restrained while at the center unless presenting a safety risk. Wolley emphasized that curfew violations are a "status offense," meaning that they don't show up on a permanent record and don't come with fines. Guardians will be contacted to come pick them up. If multiple attempts at contacting parents fail, there's a possibility the teens will be taken to the Youth Services Center, which serves as the city's juvenile detention center. The weekend safety center also doesn't preclude arrests for teens engaged in criminal activity, the police chief said. A similar curfew enforcement plan had been announced more than a year earlier after a different downtown Indianapolis mass shooting wounded seven teens. In April 2024, a feud between teens escalated into a gunfight, shining a national spotlight on the city's struggle to curb youth violence. IndyStar has submitted a public records request asking for the number of teens cited under the curfew statute over the last two years. That request remains pending. No teens were cited for curfew ordinance alone last weekend, Bailey said on July 16. Though the City-County Council is considering an ordinance that would create an earlier curfew of 9 p.m., the head of Indianapolis' police union issued a statement calling that expansion a "shallow and shortsighted approach." In the same statement, Indianapolis' Fraternal Order of Police president Rick Snyder asked state lawmakers to intervene in the city's gun violence. On July 15, Gov. Braun indicated that he was open to that possibility. Bailey said he wouldn't turn down extra law enforcement presence. There have been nearly a dozen shooting deaths over the first two weekends of July. Bailey emphasized that the criminal legal system is only one part of solving the complicated problem of youth violence. "This is an uncomfortable situation. You should be uncomfortable," Hines, the New BOY director, said of the center's creation. But he sees it as an enormous opportunity, too. "With our community partners, we will now be able to offer resources to those young people that might not have had it before," Hines said. "And it is our intent for our passion and our genuineness to become contagious." Anybody interested in helping out with this weekend's efforts can contact
