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Last updated on Friday, May 11, 2012
(LINTON) - A Linton police officer has been placed on paid administrative leave by the Linton Board of Public Works until the disposition of criminal charges filed against him is known.
Nick Schneider, of the Greene County Daily World, reports that during a special meeting Thursday afternoon, the Board of Public Works voted unanimously to place LPD Patrolman Nicholas B. Yingling, 31, of Linton, on administrative leave with pay after two criminal charges - one a felony - were filed against him Monday.
The Board of Public Works passed a two-page Resolution Adopting Findings and Conclusions that also stated that Yingling's employment status will be reviewed as the board deems appropriate.
A short public meeting to act on the resolution followed an executive session with board members Mayor John Wilkes, Tony Richards, George Skeel, City Attorney John Rowe, LPD Chief Troy Jerrell, and Yingling in attendance.
After the meeting, Wilkes said he did not want to comment on the pending criminal case.
Police Chief Troy Jerrell explained earlier the Board of Public Works has authority in this case because the alleged incident involving Yingling took place while he was off-duty.
A warrant was issued for Yingling's arrest after criminal charges were filed in connection with an alleged February off-duty incident in the weightlifting room at the Linton-Stockton High School gym.
Yingling formerly served as a volunteer junior high football coach. He was suspended after the allegations were announced.
It is alleged that on Feb. 23, the 13-year-old male victim, who was engaged in a conditioning and weightlifting training program at the school, was approached from the rear by Yingling, who placed him in a headlock, causing the seventh-grade student to lose consciousness, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by Indiana State Police Det. Brian Smith, of the Indiana State Police Detective Division at the Bloomington Post.
Yingling turned himself into authorities Wednesday morning at the Greene County Sheriff's Department in Bloomfield at 8:30 a.m. and was taken to Greene Circuit Court for his initial hearing.
In court, he was formally charged with neglect of a dependent - a class D felony, and battery with bodily injury, a class A misdemeanor.
Yingling entered a preliminary plea of not guilty and Circuit Judge Erik Allen assigned a jury trial date of 9 a.m. on Oct. 23.
A pre-trial conference was set for Oct. 3.
Yingling informed the court that he would be hiring his own attorney.
Bond was set at $5,000 surety with 10 percent allowed.
Yingling posted $500 cash bond and was released from jail about 11:30 a.m.
Yingling joined the LPD in September 2009, after working at the Linton Fire Department.
In mid-April, Bloomington attorney Barry Brown was appointed by Greene Superior Court Judge Dena Martin to investigate the case involving Yingling.
The case was investigated by Det. Smith in cooperation with Greene County Department of Child Services investigator Nina Madden.
The allegations against Yingling stem from a Feb. 23 incident in the high school weightlifting room.
During an interview with Det. Smith on March 3, Yingling admitted to the allegation.
The student victim alleged that after Yingling placed him in a headlock, the coach then released him, and the student fell to the floor and struck his head.
Det. Smith noted in the probable cause affidavit that he observed a bruise on the student's left eyelid area, between his eyelid and eyebrow during an interview a few days after the incident.
The boy's mother reported that she has not received any contact or communication from the school regarding the incident and said after her son returned home he became emotional and complained of feeling ill.
The mother also drove her son to the emergency room at a nearby hospital for examination and the attending physician said that her son had suffered "a mild concussion."
It is alleged that both parents expressed concerns that Yingling had seriously failed in his duty as a coach, and is responsible for his actions and his students to insure their safety and well being while under his dependent care.
The detective further stated in the probable cause affidavit that after interviewing several eyewitnesses to the alleged incident that he "believes that this chain of events was foreseeable and preventable."
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