A deputy accused of paralyzing an Indiana man stayed employed until a fellow deputy died

A Marion County Sheriff's deputy accused of playing a role in disabling a man in 2019 remained employed while a lawsuit over the incident worked its way through the federal court system.

The deputy, Steve Monday, was with the sheriff's office even after the city-county government settled the case in early August for $1.8 million. But last week, he was fired - for a completely different event that ended with the violent death of a fellow deputy.

Monday's employment was terminated Aug. 23 during an ongoing investigation into the killing of John Durm, a 38-year veteran of the sheriff's office who was strangled in July after what was supposed to be a routine inmate transport.

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The detainee he was transporting, 34-year-old Orlando Mitchell, is facing two counts of murder, one count of robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, and one count of escape in connection with Durm's death, court records show.

Monday fired for 'substandard performance'

It's unclear what Monday did that cost him his job. The sheriff's office only said he and another deputy, Danielle Knight, were let go because of "substandard performance." A captain in the Adult Detention Center Medical was also demoted in connection with Durm's death.

But the revelation about Monday's firing came less than a week after a man named Travis Shinneman ended a lawsuit alleging he went into Monday's jail transport wagon four years ago as a non-disabled person, and came out paralyzed.

IndyStar attempted to locate contact information for Monday through public records, but was unsuccessful.

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Shinneman's suit cited multiple law enforcement witnesses who watched Monday "nudge," "push" and "slide" him into the wagon "belly down." He was handcuffed and inebriated at the time.

Monday "was clearly getting frustrated and agitated with Shinneman," an Indianapolis police officer said.

Shinneman's attorney previously told IndyStar her client was like a "ping-pong ball" in the back of the wagon, although the sheriff's office says there's no video showing how Shinneman received his injuries. Shinneman told IndyStar he doesn't remember how he became injured.

Shinneman crumpled to the ground, diagnosed as quadriplegic

According to the suit, Monday told the sheriff's internal affairs division Shinneman was so intoxicated he worried about “potential asphyxiation and/or choking hazards." After driving him to jail, Monday found Shinneman face-down in the back.

Multiple deputies tried to get him to stand. At one point he crumpled to the ground, the lawsuit claims. He was brought to a hospital and diagnosed as quadriplegic.

Shinneman's lawsuit targeted 22 defendants, including the Marion County Sheriff's Office and several law enforcement officers, but Monday was accused of playing a key role in his injuries.

Prosecutors eventually dropped the sole disorderly conduct charge against Shinneman.

Unknown if Monday was punished after Shinneman incident

On Aug. 6 the city-county signed an agreement to pay Shinneman $1.8 million plus $9,085 a month to a trust in his name for the rest of his life. It's one of the biggest payouts the local government has agreed to in years.

IndyStar asked the sheriff's office if Monday received any disciplinary action as a result of Shinneman's injuries. Their office has not responded as of late Wednesday.

The office said there hasn't been a change to its policies for restraining passengers in jail wagons. If the city-county had gone to trial over Shinneman's lawsuit, "experts would have testified that seatbelt like restraints were not required by federal law, and could be dangerous in the event of an accident," a spokesperson told IndyStar. The office said it will be "renewing" its request for cameras to be placed inside wagons.

John Tufts covers evening breaking and trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com.

Call IndyStar courts reporter Johnny Magdaleno at 317-273-3188 or email him at jmagdaleno@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @IndyStarJohnny

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Ex-Marion County Deputy tied to John Durm death, man paralyzed in 2019