A former police officer is facing a criminal charge of false informing as a result of an investigation by the Indiana State Police into allegations that he didn’t tell the truth about the events that led to the arrest of a Linton man in May. Following the incident, the officer was taken off the street and placed on administrative leave by LPD Chief Paul Clark. In addition to the ISP investigation, a special prosecutor was appointed and this week, he filed a criminal case against the officer, and the LPD Chief confirmed the officer is no longer employed by the Linton Police Department.

Adam E. King, 37, Linton, is accused of false informing resulting in a substantial hindrance to a law enforcement procedure, a Class A misdemeanor.

Back in May, King was serving as an officer with the Linton Police Department when he responded to an incident involving a Linton man, William W. Lacer. King arrested Lacer on May 16 on preliminary charges of: Disarming a law enforcement officer, a Level 5 felony; Battery against a public safety official, a Level 6 felony; Intimidation, a Level 6 felony; Battery against a public safety official, a Level 6 felony; Resisting law enforcement – knowingly or intentionally forcibly resists, a Class A misdemeanor; and Disorderly conduct – engaged in fighting or tumultuous conduct, a Class B misdemeanor.

The next day, May 17, a criminal case was filed against Lacer but it never made it into court for a hearing because on May 18, the case was dismissed.

On May 21, Indiana State Police Detective Brad W. Chandler was asked to investigate allegations made against Officer King.

According to Det. Chandler, shortly after Lacer’s arrest, Greene County Prosecutor Jarrod Holtsclaw received a complaint from Lacer that he was battered by Officer King during the arrest. He also received audio and video evidence from the encounter that included multiple angles of view of the incident. After reviewing the video, Prosecutor Holtsclaw dismissed the charges against Lacer and requested the investigation by the Indiana State Police.

When he started the investigation, Det. Chandler reviewed the incident report from the police department, the probable cause affidavit prepared by Officer King and a report by ISP Trooper Kent Rohlfing detailing Lacer’s complaint and his injuries.

Det. Chandler then met with LPD Chief Paul Clark at the ISP Evansville Post. Chief Clark provided audio and video evidence of the event that Chief Clark obtained from the Chuckles gas station and convenience store where the incident and arrest occurred. Chief Clark also provided 16 audio clips of radio traffic associated with the call, audio of the initial 911 call placed by a citizen, audio of a 911 call placed by a clerk at Chuckles and audio of a call by King to dispatch after the incident.

In addition, LPD Chief Clark provided audio of him placing King on administrative leave as well as a letter written by him to the mayor detailing the incident, and a report from LPD Officer Alan Jackson about his actions during the incident.

Det. Chandler reviewed all this material and reported that he immediately noticed disparities between what was written in the probable cause affidavit and what took place on the Chuckles video. He was able to view seven videos recorded with audio from Chuckles.

Det. Chandler said the audio captured the following exchange between King and Lacer when they first made contact:

King: Will

Lacer: How you doing?

King: Gotta talk to you man.

Lacer: No you don’t.

King: Yes I do.

Lacer: No

Det. Chandler wrote that Lacer then attempted to avoid King by sidestepping him and King initiated first contact by grabbing Lacer’s wrist. Lacer attempted to strike King via a punch and King took Lacer to the ground to gain control. The ensuing scuffle lasted one to two minutes before a citizen assisted King in handcuffing Lacer.

King later wrote in his probable cause affidavit that Lacer said “F--- you” twice during their initial encounter. King said Lacer pushed him in the chest before he grabbed Lacer’s wrist. He also said Lacer tried to grab his weapon and was yelling that he (Lacer) was going to shoot and kill King. King noted in the affidavit at what point Lacer had allegedly released his grip on King’s weapon.

Det. Chandler said, “During my investigation and review of video/audio evidence, I found none of the above referenced events and statements to be true. I also spoke with three eyewitnesses to the incident who could not verify any of the above statements.”

When King was interviewed in early June, he allegedly told Det. Chandler that he either perceived that Lacer had made those statements or the audio did not capture them.

Det. Chandler wrote that the information King included in his probable cause affidavit caused the investigation to be substantially hindered and ultimately resulted in the dismissal of all charges on Lacer by the Greene County Prosecutor.

King has retained a defense attorney to represent him, Andrew Robert Duncan of Indianapolis.

His initial hearing has been scheduled in Greene Superior Court at 1 p.m. on Monday, August 30.

Earlier today, when LPD Chief Paul Clark was asked about these cases, he confirmed that King was placed on administrative leave promptly after the incident and he confirmed that King is no longer employed by the Linton Police Department, but he declined to provide additional details at this time, citing the ongoing nature of a pending case.

“Former Linton Police Officer Adam King resigned from the Linton Police Department on July 27, 2021,” said Clark. “The City is aware of a pending criminal case against Officer King and would refer any inquiries about said case to the Special Prosecutor.”

GreeneStreets will continue to follow this case in the future. GreeneStreets covered the May arrest of Lacer and has posted other stories involving Lacer. To find them, click on the Tag “William Wayne Lacer” below this story.