Two Indianapolis police officers, Adam Ahmad and Steven Sanchez, are set to stand trial for their involvement in the death of Herman Whitfield III, a Black man who died during a mental health crisis in his family’s home. The trial, which began Monday, follows public outcry and nearly a year of demands for transparency and accountability.
Charges and Trial Details
Ahmad, 32, and Sanchez, 35, face multiple charges, including involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, and battery resulting in serious bodily injury. The charges stem from a 2022 incident in which Whitfield died after being shocked with a Taser and restrained face down by officers.
Opening statements in the trial mark the start of a five-day proceeding that will scrutinize the officers’ actions and their accountability in Whitfield’s death.
Incident Overview
On April 25, 2022, Whitfield’s parents called 911 to report that their 39-year-old son, a talented pianist, was experiencing a mental health crisis at their Indianapolis home. Responding officers found Whitfield naked and pacing.
Body camera footage, released months later after public pressure, shows officers urging Whitfield to put on clothes so he could be taken to a hospital. Whitfield resisted, moving from room to room. The situation escalated when Sanchez used a Taser, causing Whitfield to fall to the floor.
Officers, including Ahmad and Sanchez, restrained Whitfield face down while attempting to handcuff him. During the struggle, Whitfield repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe,” before falling silent. When officers turned him over, he was unresponsive. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Cause of Death and Legal Proceedings
The Marion County Coroner’s Office ruled Whitfield’s death a homicide, citing “cardiopulmonary arrest in the setting of law enforcement subdual, prone restraint, and conducted electrical weapon use.” Contributing factors included Whitfield’s weight—he weighed 389 pounds—and hypertensive cardiovascular disease.
Defense attorney John Kautzman argued that the officers’ actions were not criminal and sought to dismiss the charges. While one involuntary manslaughter charge related to Sanchez’s use of the Taser was dismissed, the court allowed the remaining charges to proceed.
Family and Civil Suit
Whitfield’s family has filed a civil lawsuit against the city of Indianapolis and six officers, including Ahmad and Sanchez. The lawsuit alleges that the force used against Whitfield was “unreasonable and excessive” and states he “needed professional mental health care, not the use of excessive force.” The family seeks unspecified damages, with a civil trial scheduled for July 2025.
