CLAY COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Indiana State Police have confirmed a 17-year veteran officer with the Clay County Sheriff’s Department was shot Friday morning in Clay County south of Clay City, Ind., and that a suspect is in custody.
ISP Sgt. Matt Ames said the incident happened around 10 a.m. Nov. 3 near the New Brunswick Bridge south of Clay City, Ind. where Clay County Sheriff’s deputies were serving a felony warrant to a man who had been hiding in a tent in the area.
The deputy shot, Brison Swearingen, was transferred to an Indianapolis hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries after being shot in the lower leg, Ames said. He has been reunited with his wife.
After Swearingen was shot, Clay County Deputy Eric Oberholtzer returned fire while other deputies took cover. Police said Hofmann then exited the tent, but quickly went back inside.
Officers have arrested one man, Joe Hofmann, 42, last known address of Jasonville, Ind., for his involvement in the incident. Hofmann, according to Ames, has felony warrant charges out of Vigo County for auto theft, unlawful syringe possession, theft, escape and resisting law enforcement.
Hofmann was taken to Clay County Jail but no charges have been filed yet for the incident today. Ames said ISP will be handling the full investigation.
According to police, Oberholtzer has been placed on administrative leave, which they say is standard in officer-involved shootings.
ISP had an Emergency Rescue Team and helicopter on scene, Ames said, and the Terre Haute Police Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Department, and SWAT all responded as well.
According to a representative with Clay Community Schools, Clay City Junior Senior High School and Elementary School were on lockdown following the incident but went about dismissals as scheduled. Shakamak Elementary-Middle-High School was also under lockdown but did dismissal normally at the end of the school day, Superintendent Jeff Gambill said.
