“Body Cam Footage Released in Nov. 30 Fatal Police Shooting of Lamont Bland in Indianapolis”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) has released body camera footage related to the Nov. 30 fatal police shooting of 60-year-old Lamont Bland during a hostage situation on the southwest side of Indianapolis. This incident unfolded when IMPD officers responded to a McDonald’s located in the 4900 block of Knights Way at around 7:20 p.m. following a distressing 911 call reporting a woman yelling for help inside a semi-truck parked across the street.

According to the 911 call transcript, the caller informed the dispatcher that someone was heard hollering for help inside one of the trucks in the McDonald’s truck lot. The caller clarified that it was not an ambulance they needed but immediate assistance for the distressed individual.

Upon arrival at the scene, the first responding officer was directed by a witness to the semi-truck. The officer approached the vehicle, knocked on the door, and identified himself as a police officer. However, the driver of the semi, later identified as Lamont Bland, was inside the sleeper cabin behind a curtain, repeatedly peeking out before retreating back into the cabin.

IMPD reports that the officer then moved to the driver’s side of the semi and put his ear up to the sleeper cabin area, where he could clearly hear a woman screaming. In the body camera footage, the officer is heard yelling at Bland to open the door and requesting immediate assistance from his colleagues. The urgency of the situation is palpable as the officer informs his fellow officers that a female is trapped inside the truck, screaming for help.

Despite attempts to communicate with Bland using a public address system, he remained unresponsive. Consequently, the officers resorted to breaking the driver’s side window with a baton. At this point, Bland can be heard shouting, “I’ve got a knife to her throat.”

IMPD’s 26-year veteran, Lieutenant Brandon Mills, then opened the driver-side door and tried to establish a dialogue with Bland. In the tense exchange, Mills introduced himself and attempted to reason with Bland, emphasizing that no one needed to go to jail at that moment. However, Bland continued threatening to kill the victim, revealing the severity of the situation. The victim herself interjected, stating that she had already been cut and urgently pleaded for help.

As negotiations with Bland proved unsuccessful, Lt. Mills made the courageous decision to approach the sleeper cabin. Upon entering, Mills witnessed Bland on top of the victim. In response to the imminent threat to the victim’s life, Lt. Mills fired his weapon once, striking Bland.

Medical attention was immediately provided to Bland, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The woman, who had been held against her will for hours, was successfully rescued and also received medical attention. Fortunately, no officers were harmed during the incident.

The IMPD Critical Incident Response Team and IMPD Internal Affairs are currently conducting an investigation into the matter. The release of the body camera footage aims to provide transparency and aid in the ongoing assessment of the incident.

The tragic events that unfolded on Nov. 30 serve as a reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in their efforts to protect the public. The IMPD’s commitment to thorough investigations and accountability ensures that incidents like these are thoroughly examined, providing a measure of justice and closure for all parties involved..