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Asst. Chief says officers kept situation from escalating by using Taser on carjacking suspect

PD: Using Taser kept situation from escalating
Posted at 3:20 PM, Jun 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-25 17:54:30-04

GREENWOOD, Ind. -- Cell phone video showing the moment Greenwood police used a Taser on a carjacking and robbery suspect is making its rounds on social media, but the police chief says he isn’t worried about this video getting out because his officers did exactly what they were supposed to do in that situation.

Police say Jameson McCarthy robbed a tobacco store last Thursday, pistol-whipping the clerk before he carjacked a van outside and led police on a chase.

McCarthy crashed into multiple parked cars, eventually getting into an accident at the intersection of US 31 and Fry Road.

Video from the scene that night shows McCarthy climbing out of the window and on top of the van before he started yelling at police.

The officers can be seen standing around the van with their guns drawn telling McCarthy to get down. One of them then deploys a Taser at him and he falls off the top of the van and onto the cement.

RELATED | Three injured in armed robbery, carjacking in Greenwood

Assistant Greenwood Police Chief Matthew Fillenwarth said the officers on the scene followed protocol “to a T.”

“You couldn’t be more proud of your department when they take such a chaotic situation like that, that could’ve turned out so terribly,” said Asst. Chief Fillenwarth. “Our officers performed flawlessly.”

***Viewer discretion advised when watching the below video***

Asst. Chief Fillenwarth says after watching the body cameras from the incident, he couldn’t be happier about how his officers performed.

“You’re right there on their shoulder watching these videos,” said Asst. Chief Fillenwarth. “I wish I could release them… because it’s stuff like that I would love the public to see.”

McCarthy is charged with five felonies, including robbery, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of a firearm.

He was taken to the hospital to be treated for some injuries but was later released into police custody. 

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