NORTH MANCHESTER – A North Manchester man is dead after a police involved shooting Tuesday night.
Indiana State Police, at the request of the North Manchester Police Department, are investigating the incident that led to the shooting death of Michael Kline, 40, North Manchester.
A preliminary investigation by state police?revealed that at 5:58 p.m. Tuesday, North Manchester Police Department officers initiated a traffic stop involving a Chevrolet pickup truck for a traffic infraction. The driver, Kline, stopped the truck in the parking lot of The Eel River Inn on Ind. 114, North Manchester, according to a press release.
North Manchester Town Marshal Jim Kirk told WANE TV Channel 15 News that the officer was working for Operation Pullover, a law enforcement campaign paid through a grant that allows for extra patrols.
Calls to speak with Kirk this morning were referred to the ISP. Calls and an email to ISP Public Information Officer Tony Slocum were not returned immediately this morning.
At the time of the stop, two North Manchester officers pulled behind the first officer.
At some point during the stop, an incident led a NMPD officer to allegedly fire gunshots at Kline.
Kline died from a gunshot wound, WANE TV reported.
No other injuries were reported.
WANE also reported that Kirk said the officer was wearing a body cam, but it was covered up by his jacket. ISP investigators are reviewing video from the police car’s dashcam, and it’s not clear if the other two officers captured anything on camera.
The television station’s reporter also spotted what appeared to be a handgun near Kline’s body next to his pickup truck, but investigators have not said if the gun belonged to Kline or if he pointed it at police.
The officer has not been identified and has been placed on administrative leave.
Kirk told WANE the officer will remain off-duty until the Wabash County Prosecutor reviews the ISP investigation.
North Manchester employs 11 full-time officers. Kirk said that to the best of his knowledge, there has never been a fatal officer-involved shooting in the town.
