Man shot while allegedly brandishing weapon at deputy
Suspect subsequently airlifted to Indianapolis
MORTON — A 35-year-old man was shot twice in the torso late Thursday evening as he was allegedly brandishing a firearm at a Putnam County Sheriff’s Department special deputy.
The suspect, Adam B. Wagner, was airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Indiana State Police Sgt. Joe Watts reported late Friday morning that Wagner was undergoing extensive treatment and was in stable but critical condition.
At 11:18 p.m., deputies Anthony Brown and Jeffery Freeman, along with Special Deputy Ian Zeffel, responded to a 911 call at 6400 N. CR 490 West, south of Morton, of a girlfriend reporting a domestic disturbance with her live-in boyfriend.
Minutes later, deputies met with the female victim at a neighbor’s residence just north of her own home. She had fled her home seeking help.
During conversations with the female victim, deputies noticed what appeared to be signs indicative of a battery victim.
To follow-up on the allegations, deputies went to the 6400 N. 490 West residence to investigate.
At the home, the three deputies knocked on the doors to the residence and were met at a southern lower level door by the suspect, who was reported to be brandishing a handgun at Zeffel.
At this time, Freeman fired two rounds from his service weapon, striking Wagner twice in the torso. Neither Brown nor Zeffel discharged their weapons.
Wagner was initially treated by Putnam County Operation Life paramedics and later airlifted to Indianapolis.
None of the deputies were injured. Freeman, 21, is a nine-month member of the department and a recent graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
Brown, 32, has been with PCSD for 16 months, while Zeffel, 22, has been with he agency for about six weeks.
Indiana State Police were called in to investigate the incident. Watts reported that many interviews related to the case are ongoing.
The female involved and Wagner have three-year-old twins together and the children were in the home at the time of the incident. Mother and children are reportedly doing well.
The suspect’s weapon appears to be a replica 1911 semi-auto handgun; however, to determine the exact specifications of the weapon, it will be examined by the ISP Laboratory.
The lead investigator is ISP Det. Don Curtis. Assisting are ISP detectives 1Sgt. Jason Fajt, Det. Don Anglin and Det. Mike Featherling, along with Sgt. Cory Robinson. PCSD Chief Deputy Phil Parker and other deputies are also helping with the investigation.
Upon completion of the ISP investigation, which will be a few days, the report will be submitted to Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter for review of the incident and any potential charges.
As is standard protocol following police-action shootings, Freeman has been placed on administrative support duty for the time being.
Zeffel and Brown have returned to their regular duties.