Jeremy Gibson, Assault and Obstruction, Indiana 2019

A shocking case of police brutality has rocked the city of Muncie, Indiana. Jeremy Gibson, a 31-year-old former officer with the Muncie Police Department, pleaded guilty to assaulting an arrestee in violation of his civil rights, and to an obstruction of justice offense for writing a false report to cover up the incident.

The crime took place on May 13, 2019, when Officer Gibson initiated a traffic stop of a car because one of the car’s headlights was out. When the driver stepped out of the car, Gibson attempted to physically take him to the ground, and punched him several times with a closed fist in the process. As other officers attempted to secure the driver, Gibson used his knee to strike the driver in right side of the driver’s head, causing the driver’s head to swing to the side, at which point another officer delivered another knee strike to the opposite side of the driver’s head.

Gibson authored a false report about the incident, further exacerbating the situation. This is not the first time Gibson has been involved in a case of police misconduct. He is one of four Muncie police officers who were charged in April 2021 in a 17-count superseding indictment for their roles in using excessive force against arrestees and attempting to cover up the misconduct.

The other three officers, Chase Winkle, Corey Posey, and Joseph Krejsa, are scheduled to stand trial in August 2022. A fifth Muncie police officer, former Officer Dalton Kurtz, pleaded guilty on August 4, 2021, to misprision of felony for concealing and failing to report inappropriate use of force by Officer Winkle during a separate incident.

Gibson faces up to 30 years in prison and will be sentenced by Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt at a later date. His actual sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge and sentences are typically less than the maximum penalties.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division, and FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton made the announcement.

Gibson was charged with assaulting an arrestee in violation of his civil rights, and obstruction of justice offense for writing a false report to cover up the incident. Gibson’s crimes are a stark reminder of the need for police accountability and the importance of upholding the law.

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