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By Suzie Ziegler
GREENWOOD, Ind. — Newly released video of a police pursuit in Indiana shows the tense moments leading up to a deadly officer-involved shooting. At one point in the video, a DUI suspect crashes into squad cars and drives at officers.
The March 29 incident began when someone called 911 to report a possible drunk driver, FOX 59 reported. Greenwood police officers contacted the driver, Monica Vaught, and later determined that she was high on methamphetamine. Vaught refused to stop and led police on a pursuit before coming to a stop at the police department’s parking lot.
Police tried to block her in and, at one point, surrounded her car with their guns drawn. Vaught refused multiple orders to get out of the car and used her vehicle to ram multiple police cruisers, video shows.
“She just rammed me, she just rammed me!” Officer Ben Louzon is heard saying in the video.
Vaught used her vehicle to push through cruisers and other cars in the parking lot. She then drove toward officers, who jumped out of her way. That’s when Officers Louzon and Elijah Allen opened fire, according to the report.
Vaught continued to drive through the parking lot, heading toward more officers. Officer Zane Hennig and Sgt. Brandon Cox also opened fire, ultimately ending the situation. Vaught was declared dead at the scene, according to the report.
Police Chief James Ison defended his officers’ actions: “I don’t know what else they could have done,” he told FOX59.
In an earlier news conference, Ison referred to the suspect’s car as “a 2,000-pound weapon” and said officers followed procedure.
“They tried to end it peacefully, but ultimately, their lives were put in danger and they had to react,” Ison said in March.
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