IMPD tight-lipped about off-duty officer crash - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

The first test of IMPD's new policies concerning how the department handles deadly crashes involving officers is underway.

A spokesperson for Metro Police told Eyewitness News they will not answer any questions about a crash at W. 29th Street and North Harding Street that killed a Greenwood man Friday afternoon. Officer Adrian Scott Aurs struck a car driven by 78-year-old William Wilkins, killing Wilkins and injuring his wife.

The investigation into the crash is being handled differently under new IMPD Chief Rick Hite, who refuses to release any information right now. The restrictions come after a string of investigative mistakes in a fatal crash involving IMPD Officer David Bisard in August 2010. Among the mishaps was the mishandling of key evidence, such as Bisard's blood sample at the police property room.

Metro police say their preliminary investigation shows Wilkins ran a stop sign at the intersection. An officer with the Fatal Alcohol Crash Team took Aurs to Wishard Hospital, where he agreed to a blood draw. Unlike the Bisard case, the state crime lab will test Aurs' blood for alcohol.

Some of Aurs' police history includes a 2004 case when prosecutors charged him with DUI after an off-duty crash. In 2003, Aurs survived a shootout, but shot and killed the suspect during a car chase. A year earlier, doctors treated Aurs for lower back injuries after crashing his cruiser during a non-emergency police run.

Eyewitness News also tried to find out if Aurs is back to work, or if he was told to take some time off, but IMPD is staying tight-lipped about that, too.

There is no word yet if the department will keep information from the public on future cases under the new police chief.