INDIANAPOLIS -- A church denied Sunday that it had any involvement in a staged fight at a youth event last week that resulted in an Indianapolis police officer being injured.

Sgt. Matthew Grimes suffered a back injury while trying to break up the concocted altercation at Municipal Gardens on July 24, a dispute that the officer had no prior knowledge of that organizers claimed was a test to see how a white police officer would respond to an incident involving two black men.

Grimes had been asked to speak at a youth symposium that was organized by James Harrington, a pastor at Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church.

During Grimes' talk, two men began scuffling, and the officer got involved. He was thrown to the ground and drew his Taser before someone else stepped in and told him that the fight had been planned.

6News' Myrt Price tried to get reaction from church leaders, but they refused at first.

"How else can I tell you we're not commenting?" said one church representative, who didn't identify himself. "I'm in charge. Just take that. I don't have to tell you who I am."

Minutes later, a church representative read a prepared statement.

"We first deny any criminal activities as it relates to the actions of Friday evening at the Municipal Gardens. Mt. Vernon did not organize nor participate in this event," said Vernita Moore, Mt. Vernon trustee. "Rev. Jimmy Harrington acted in his own individual capacity as a member of the community."

Geraldine Tracy, a member of the church, said staging a fight without giving the officer knowledge was wrong.

"I think he should have notified the police and let them know what was going on so all this commotion and confusion wouldn't have happened," she said. "If the police had of known about it, then the officer wouldn't have been hurt."

Church officials said Harrington is one of many pastors at the church and reiterated that they weren't involved with the plan.

Willard Gupton, a park manager who police said had advance knowledge of the plan, was suspended in the wake of the incident. He denied wrongdoing in an interview with 6News Friday.

No charges have been filed, but police are investigating the incident. Grimes suffered severe back spasms after the incident.

Marion County Public Safety Director Frank Straub said last week that the incident disappointed him and said that a few activists are intentionally baiting officers.