Prosecutor: Off-duty Anderson police officer charged after shooting weapon during car robbery

INDIANAPOLIS -- An off-duty officer with the Anderson Police Department reportedly fired a weapon after two individuals were accused of stealing his vehicle last month on the near east side of Indianapolis.




According to a news release from the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, officials said that Maurice Magee has been charged with two counts of criminal recklessness, one a Level 5 felony and the other a Level 6 felony.




On the morning of May 19, officers were called to a reported shots-fired incident. After an investigation, they learned that two suspects, identified at the time as a man in a black hoodie with tan or gray pants, and a man in a gray or white top with black pants, reportedly stole Magee's car that morning.

According to the release, Magee used a GPS tracker after he found his car to be stolen. Magee, who was reportedly armed, found the vehicle in the 600 block of Woodruff Place West Drive.




The two vehicles, including the stolen vehicle and a vehicle driven by Magee, reportedly collided. Then, Magee allegedly exchanged gunfire with the occupants of the stolen vehicle. Officials said a fired bullet from the incident reportedly traveled through a child's bedroom window.




"The unknown occupants then fled the area between houses," the release said. "At this time, the occupants of the stolen vehicle have not been identified."




After the incident, Magee reportedly told officers he did not fire his weapon, an AR-15 rifle. However, investigators allege at least one of the shell casings found at the scene was fired by Magee's rifle.








"Law enforcement officers should understand the proper and safe ways for reporting a crime," Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears, said in the release. "The allegations in the probable cause affidavit could have been avoided if the defendant had simply allowed local police to conduct an investigation. Instead, his alleged actions unnecessarily jeopardized the safety of the residents of Woodruff Place."




Officials with the Anderson Police Department told FOX59/CBS4 in a statement that they were notified of the preliminary charges on Friday morning. Magee has been with the Anderson Police Department for around two years.




The Anderson Police Department said that Magee "remains on administrative leave and (the department) will reevaluate once (they) receive all the charging information."





via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/prosecutor-off-duty-anderson-police-officer-charged-after-shooting-weapon-during-car-robbery/