GREENFIELD — A Greenfield Police Department officer has been placed on paid leave pending an investigation into an allegation that he struck an intoxicated woman while sheriff’s deputies were dealing with her at Hancock Regional Hospital.
Cpl. Justin Jackson has been on paid leave since Aug. 26 pending an internal review and an investigation by the Indiana State Police. GPD issued a news release Tuesday acknowledging the leave but did not identify the officer.
Details on the incident are contained in a probable cause affidavit filed in support of charges against the woman, Sierra D. Gigure, 23, Indianapolis. She faces several charges, including drunken driving, stemming from a traffic stop shortly before 11 p.m. Aug. 22 that turned into a confrontation. According to the affidavit, Gigure became belligerent with a Hancock County sheriff’s deputy after he stopped her for speeding on County Road 400W near County Road 100N. Gigure failed several field sobriety tests, and she became emotional as the deputy prepared to take her to Hancock Regional Hospital for further toxicology tests.
Her behavior worsened once they arrived at the hospital emergency room, the affidavit said. At one point, she pushed the deputy and cursed at the medical staff and hospital security. She finally was handcuffed to a bed.
In the meantime, two other deputies arrived on the scene. As the arresting officer was walking out to obtain a search warrant for the blood draw for the toxicology test, Jackson walked into the emergency room, the affidavit said. The deputy told Jackson not to talk to the woman and that “we had enough guys already,” the affidavit said.
Gigure then kicked a hospital nurse, the affidavit said, while the other two sheriff’s deputies tried to get her legs under control and applied soft restraints to her arms and legs.
Fearing for hospital staffers’ safety, the deputies gave up on the blood draw and decided to take Gigure to the Hancock County Jail. As they waited to transport her, Gigure was able to free her hand, the affidavit said. She struck Jackson, who was standing nearby, in the chest area, the affidavit said.
Jackson “then threw a punch towards Gigure’s face/head,” the affidavit said. The sheriff’s deputies and a hospital security officer told Jackson to stop and to back away from Gigure, the affidavit said.
Gigure was taken to jail, where she faces six charges, including a Level 6 felony county of battery against public safety officials.
In the meantime, investigators from the Indiana State Police have sent the result of their investigation to the Hancock County prosecutor’s office.
Prosecutor Brent Eaton said his office is investigating the evidence and will make a determination on whether any charges should be filed against Jackson. He declined further comment.
“Any time we have something that could result in charges, it is our policy to not say anything that could jeopardize the case,” Eaton said.
GPD deputy chief Matt Holland, the department’s public information officer, declined to comment.
Jackson, who was named the department’s officer of the year in 2016, will remain on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
