Ex-New Castle police officer's excessive force trial set for January
NEW CASTLE, Ind. — A former New Castle police officer is scheduled to stand trial in late January on allegations that he physically abused arrestees.
Aaron Jason Strong, 44, was indicted by a federal grand jury in July on four charges — three counts of "deprivation (of civil rights) under color of law" and a single count of witness tampering.
According to the indictments, Strong in July 2017 "without legal justification" kicked one arrestee in the head and shot another, at close range in the back, with a bean bag shotgun in July 2017.
He is also accused of beating another arrestee — after that man had reportedly surrendered — with an expandable baton in 2019.
More:Muncie police officers' excessive force trial reset for January
In a federal lawsuit, Joshua Lee West has contended Strong hit him more than 20 times with the baton, resulting in injuries to his "head, jaw, arms and back."
That incident led to Strong's conviction on a misdemeanor count of battery in March 2020.
The federal witness tampering charge alleges Strong made false statements about the incident with West when interviewed by Indiana State Police.
U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt has rescheduled Strong's trial for Jan. 30. The trial was originally set to begin on Sept. 19.
Strong resigned from the New Castle Police Department in December 2019.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ex-New Castle police officer's excessive force trial set for January
