Trooper won’t be charged in Montgomery County shooting

Thursday, March 7, 2019

CRAWFORDSVILLE (AP) — A state trooper won't be charged in the fatal shooting of a man along U.S 231 near North Montgomery High School.

The Journal & Courier reports Wednesday that Montgomery County Prosecutor Joseph Buser concluded Trooper Daniel Organ believed a gun was being drawn by 56-year-old Glenn Rightsell. Police have said Organ shot Rightsell Dec. 28 after the Linden man failed to follow orders and grabbed a handgun on his waist.

Buser says he based his decision on interviews with Organ and other officers, drivers who passed by and Rightsell's wife. Also interviewed was a neighbor who recorded video of the scene from his porch.

The shooting occurred when Organ was investigating a vehicle parked in front of an abandoned SUV on the stretch of road north of Interstate 74.

Rightsell's relatives have said he always carried a gun on his belt and was working on his daughter's stalled vehicle.

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  • I wonder if they considered words of the victim who told emergency people before he died the trooper "just came out shooting". And why would the victim pull a gun on the trooper? He had already notified 911 he was going out to work on his daughter's car but no one notified State Police. Sounds to me like the trooper got away with murder. Hope he has a severely guilty conscience, but I doubt it.

    -- Posted by Ben Dover on Fri, Mar 8, 2019, at 8:05 AM
  • I agreed with Ben Dover. I think the trooper was quick to shoot.

    -- Posted by vicki.oliver on Fri, Mar 8, 2019, at 8:30 AM
  • *

    Per the Fox59 news article:

    " 'Organ told authorities he saw through a gap underneath the open hood of the vehicle that a man was in the engine compartment and had a holstered pistol on his right hip.'

    Buser says Organ told authorities he drew his weapon and held it at the side of his leg, pointing downward, as he approached.

    Organ then identified himself 'loudly' and told Rightsell not to reach for his gun. Rightsell then 'made a motion consistent with drawing a gun and placed his hand on the weapon.'

    That's when Organ fired his weapon.

    Buser says Organ 'honestly believed a gun was being drawn to shoot him,' and that there isn't any evidence that would contradict Organ's account of the incident."

    They want you to believe that this trooper saw this guy reach for a gun...THROUGH THE GAP BETWEEN THE HOOD AND ?? (it is never mentioned what other thing created the gap. The car body? A tree? Another vehicle?)

    Is this the way troopers are trained to approach: "Organ told authorities he drew his weapon and held it at the side of his leg, pointing downward". (Hint: NO, it is not.)

    The Montgomery County Prosecutor needs to go. He says "there isn't any evidence that would contradict Organ's account of the incident"... which means that they will simply take the word of the trooper and that is the end of it. Nevermind that common sense and the troopers own statement would easily lead one to believe that something isn't right.

    This trooper MURDERED this guy. As Ben Dover said - why would Rightsell pull his pistol? I have been a licensed carrier for over 20 years and have never pulled my gun, even when in much scarier situations than this. Rightsell was working on a vehicle on the side of 231 outside Crawfordsville. He wasn't in a "dangerous" area where he would've felt in danger of being robbed/carjacked.

    Be VERY CAREFUL of this trooper. When this story originally broke there were many people in/around the area of Crawfordsville that had told of their encounters with this trooper and ALL of them said that this guy is bad news. Escalation of the situation is his norm.

    Daniel Organ is a killer and has no business carrying a gun. Definitely not a gun and a badge.

    Shame on Daniel Organ, MontCo Prosecutors Office, and the Indiana State Police.

    (The killer is back on the street.)

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Fri, Mar 8, 2019, at 1:50 PM
  • I was not there so I have no idea what happened, however this is a good time to remind ourselves of the responsibilities one assumes when choosing to carry when it comes to interaction with law enforcement. They most likely don’t know you and have no idea of your intentions. The best thing to do is declare that you are armed, keep your hands in plain sight preferably in the air and do not move them or make sudden movements. Then ask the officer how he or she would like to proceed. This is best for the safety of all involved. Again I am not necessarily commenting specifically on this incident, but in general.

    -- Posted by Koios on Fri, Mar 8, 2019, at 6:53 PM
  • I believe I heard Trooper Organ was reassigned to a different area. Hope those citizens are aware.

    -- Posted by kbmom on Sat, Mar 9, 2019, at 11:47 PM
  • *

    ERJVH - In Indiana you do not have to declare yourself as a licensed carrier to the police. However...

    If you do declare - you will likely be subjected to a more intrusive interaction. (Taken out of the car and disarmed - treated like a criminal - in violation of your rights.)

    If you do not declare, and are discovered to be armed - you run the risk of being shot.

    So, pick your poison, I guess. Get treated like a criminal or risk being shot like a criminal.

    The problem comes from the police treating everyone as being potentially armed and a threat to the officer instead of treating everyone with a little respect and dignity. This starts when it is drilled into them from the Academy. They are trained in a "us vs them" mindset where the only thing that matters is the officer. It is later continually reinforced through their "thin blue line".

    They have gone from "protect and serve" community policing to "comply or suffer" law enforcement where they are no longer part of society-at-large and are somehow above "civilians" in their minds.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Mon, Mar 11, 2019, at 10:08 AM
  • Thanks but I’ll gladly “be treated like a criminal” (you are one to usually tend toward overdramaticism) and have everyone go home safe, including the law enforcement officer. There is no reason to make their job tougher than it already is.

    -- Posted by Koios on Mon, Mar 11, 2019, at 10:58 AM
  • *

    And that is the difference between us.

    I refuse to be treated like a criminal when I have done nothing wrong. Its not about making their job tough. Its about holding them to high standards when they have the power of the State behind them. That cop will go home just as safely when treating me with respect.

    If you wish to be a statist slave, so be it.

    That's not being over dramatic. That's being a free citizen and understanding where authority comes from. (It ain't the State.)

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Mon, Mar 11, 2019, at 1:14 PM
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