Two Indianapolis police officers were indicted on manslaughter charges on Thursday in the death of Herman Whitfield III, a Black man who died in April 2022 after he was restrained when his parents called 911 because he was having a mental health crisis. According to The New York Times’ tweet, Officers Matthew Schneider and Christopher Kiefer are accused of using unreasonable force that led to Whitfield’s death.
The indictment comes amid ongoing national discussions about police reform and accountability. Many advocates have pushed for changes in how law enforcement interacts with people experiencing mental health crises, particularly within communities of color who often face disproportionate use of force.
This is not the first instance where police officers have been charged with crimes related to their actions during an interaction involving someone experiencing a mental health crisis. In June 2021, three North Carolina officers were indicted on involuntary manslaughter charges for the death of Andrew Brown Jr., another Black man who was killed during an attempted arrest while experiencing a mental health crisis.
As this case unfolds, it remains to be seen what implications it will have for policing practices and accountability moving forward.