MENTONE – The fourth reserve officer position in Mentone will go unfilled for a little while longer. During the town council meeting Monday night, the council unanimously voted to not have a fourth reserve officer at this time. At the Nov. 5 meeting, Town Marshal Jim Eads introduced Will Deniston, 35, Akron, as his fourth reserve officer. The council had not been made aware that Eads was going to name a fourth officer. A couple days later, the council learned Deniston was involved in a domestic dispute in Indianapolis over the summer, which led to his arrest. On July 12, Deniston was arrested for domestic battery and public intoxication, according to the Indianapolis Police Department report. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office told the Times-Union Nov. 9 that no charges were filed in the case. According to a spokeswoman from the office, “facts of the investigation don’t support that charge” of domestic battery. According to Akron Town Marshal Timothy Fleck, Deniston resigned effective July 14 from the Akron Police Department. In summary, the IPD report indicated Deniston’s behavior July 12 was erratic and his speech slurred and difficult to understand. Prior to officers arriving, Deniston allegedly pinned his wife to the ground and bit her on the face. After officers arrived, Deniston threatened to kill his wife and called her inappropriate names several times. Eads, at Monday’s meeting, told the council that given the chance, Deniston would have proven himself as a good officer and a good man. While he respected the council’s decision, Eads said he didn’t understand why he wasn’t included in the decision-making process. Tim Croy, council president, said they wanted to investigate the issue on their own without any outside input. The council felt blindsided that not only were they not informed of Deniston’s arrest, but that Eads had not forewarned the council that he was going to name a reserve officer at the Nov. 5 meeting. No further discussion on the matter was held during the council meeting Monday.
