***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 13, 2019

NO CHARGES IN GOSHEN POLICE-ACTION SHOOTING

Media Contact: Vicki Elaine Becker (574) 296-1888

An Elkhart County Grand Jury convened today to evaluate the police action shooting of Joshua Perry on January 9, 2019, in Goshen, Indiana, has returned a verdict of “No Bill.” Accordingly, no criminal charges will be filed against Lt. Michael McCormack, GPD, for his role in the shooting.

McCormack, and several other officers, attempted to perform a traffic stop upon Perry after observing traffic infractions. Shortly after the pursuit began, Lt. McCormack was advised that the owner of the subject vehicle had multiple warrants for his arrest. After leading officers on a 50 minute, low-speed, pursuit, Perry stopped his vehicle but refused to comply with police orders to keep his hands visible. Perry then thrust one of his hands out of the window toward Lt. McCormack at which time McCormack, believing he had been shot, fired his duty weapon at Perry. Perry was struck twice in the arm, and once in the lower jaw by McCormack’s three shots.

Perry immediately obtained medical treatment and was taken into custody upon release from the hospital for the warrants and for Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, a Level 6 felony.

The Grand Jury process involves members of the community in investigating certain types of events, and evaluating whether criminal charges should be filed. As the proceedings are secret, no further information regarding the specific Grand Jury investigation are available.

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“Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”