IMPD officer accused of excessive force - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Steve Jefferson/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - Metro Police are investigating another allegation of excessive force by one of the force's officers.

Amber Montgomery called police on her boyfriend, 32-year-old Jimmy Bailey, during a May 31st argument at his house.

"He took my car keys and would not give them back to me. Me and my son...I wanted to leave," said Montgomery.

Montgomery says Officer Nhat Nguyen arrived and ordered Bailey to the front porch. Nguyen handcuffed Bailey for the officer's safety.

Montgomery says then the situation took an unexpected turn.

"Jimmy kind of turned and asked why was he being handcuffed and I guess that was the wrong thing to ask because that is when the officer started choking him," she said.

The situation got "to the point where other officers arriving on the scene had to pull the officer off of him," said Lt. Jeff Duhamell IMPD.

Metro Police Chief Paul Ciesielski has zero tolerance for excessive force. Ceisielski recommended termination for Jerry Piland, the officer accused in the arrest injuries of 15-year-old Brandon Johnson.

"Excessive force is not going to be tolerated on this department," said Lt. Duhamell.

What happened between Officer Nguyen and Jimmy Bailey came to light because of other officers who, like Montgomery, question Officer Nyguen's actions.

"The other officers on the scene felt like they needed to report it to their supervisor," said Duhamell.

Chief Ciesielski placed Officer Nguyen, a three-year veteran, on administrative duty and confiscated all of his police gear as the case gets reviewed by the prosecutor.

"He wasn't resisting. He didn't try to get up. So I didn't understand why he was choking," said Montgomery, who adds that her boyfriend recovered from his injuries. The experience left her a little apprehensive now about calling police.

"If I would not have called, he never would have gotten choked wrongfully," she said.