Mentone’s new reserve officer was involved in a domestic dispute in Indianapolis over the summer which led to his arrest.
On July 12, Will Deniston, 35, Akron, was arrested for domestic battery and public intoxication, according to the Indianapolis Police Department report.
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office reported this morning 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.
When Mentone Town Marshal Jim Eads introduced Deniston to the town council Monday night, Eads did not inform the council of Deniston’s arrest. Eads told the council that Deniston had been with the Akron Police Department until a COPS grant expired.
According to Akron Town Marshal Timothy Fleck, Deniston resigned effective July 14, 2012. Asked why Deniston resigned, Fleck said the personnel file was closed when Deniston resigned.
Fleck said Deniston had been with his department for two years as a reserve officer and six years as a full-time officer.
According to the incident report from the Indianapolis Police Department July 12 obtained by the Times-Union, at 3:05 a.m. July 12, two officers were dispatched to a disturbance at 1340 N. Alabama St., Indianapolis. Upon arrival, officers discovered Deniston standing in the middle of the street wearing shorts and no shirt.
As an officer approached Deniston, the officer noticed Deniston crying and talking into a cell phone in a frantic tone.
The officer could smell the odor of alcohol coming from Deniston’s mouth. His eyes were bloodshot and glassy.
The report noted that Deniston’s behavior was erratic and Deniston had trouble following the officer’s commands, but did recognize he was a police officer. Deniston’s speech also was slurred and difficult to understand.
The location of the incident was a bed and breakfast. One of the officers spoke to the owner, who stated Deniston and his wife were guests at the property. At approximately 1:20 a.m., the owner was awaken by verbal arguing between Deniston and his wife. Eventually, according to the police report, this led to a physical confrontation where the owner witnessed Deniston pinning his wife to the ground and he bit her on the face. The owner immediately called the police.
An officer spoke to Deniston’s wife who was visibly upset, according to the report. The officer noticed the bite marks on her left temple and nose. She also had a right elbow injury. As the officer inquired as to how she sustained the injuries, she became uncooperative and stated her husband was an “Akron Indiana police officer” and “his job means everything to him and he can not lose his job.”
As the officer tried to explain to her about his responsbilities and his duty to uphold the Indiana state statute on domestic battery, she began to cry uncontrollaby.
“I stated to her it did not matter what her husband’s profession was and I was bound by law to make an arrest due to her injuries,” the officer stated in his report.
Deniston’s wife then told the officer she was injured from a fall. Asked how she obtained the bite marks, she said they were caused by the floor.
When the officer placed Deniston in handcuffs, he became irate. He jumped up and walked around numerous times, yelling, cursing and crying, according to the report. Deniston then told his wife, “I’m going to kill you” several times and called her an inappropriate name several times. The officer warned Deniston he could hear everything he was saying and would note his comments in his report. Deniston was advised to be quiet, but he ignored the officer and continued to berate his wife.
At one point, Deniston told his wife he hoped she and her children die.
Though the officer repeated to Deniston he could hear everything he said and should stop, Deniston continued to yell and belittle his wife.
His wife told the officer they had been married six months but together for nine years. She said Deniston had never been physical with her in the past.
Despite the officer’s repeated attempts to ask Deniston to tell him how his wife sustained her injuries, Deniston refused to tell him.
Mentone Town Council President Tim Croy said, “We didn’t know anything about (Deniston’s arrest). That was never said to us. I was kind of surprised when I heard of it yesterday.”
Right now, Croy said, all he can say until the board learns more is that the board will do its own investigation into the matter.
“As the town board, we have to serve the people,” Croy said.
The Mentone Police Department had four reserves, and then one resigned. Croy said the board didn’t know they would get a replacement so fast.
Eads picks his own reserve officers, Croy said. However, with this incident coming to light, Croy said the board wants to look into it.
“It’s still up to us whether we will hire someone to serve us or not,” Croy said. “It’s up to the town council. We will get our facts straight before we make a decision.”
The town council will hold an executive session at 5:30 p.m. Thursday to discuss personnel.
Reserve officers are volunteers and do not get paid, according to Clerk-Treasurer Barb Ross.
Eads could not be reached for comment this morning for this story.
