WEST LAFAYETTE – Adonis Tuggle alleges that a Purdue police officer used excessive force while restraining him.
The junior in the College of Health and Human Sciences was arrested for resisting law enforcement, according to Purdue police logs, but he says he didn’t resist.
In a video taken by his girlfriend, Tuggle struggles in the snow, while officer Jon Selke holds his forearm over Tuggle’s neck and face. It’s unclear from the video how much pressure Selke uses.
Purdue Police were called around 8 p.m. Friday after a report of a domestic dispute near the veterinary hospital on the south side of campus. Tuggle and his girlfriend were driving home from the Co-Rec when they pulled over near the hospital and got out of their car, still arguing, said Capt. Song Kang.
Police logs indicate officers arrested Tuggle at Harrison Street and Horticulture Drive.
Officer Jon Selke arrived about two minutes later and tried to question Tuggle and his girlfriend to determine what happened., Capt. Kang said.
“Tuggle didn’t follow instructions,” Capt. Kang added. “It was a simple resisting case.”
Tuggle said he wasn’t resisting arrest.
Any time a PUPD officer uses force in connection with an arrest, the department conducts an internal review, according to John Cox, Purdue University police chief.
PUPD commenced that review, led by Deputy Chief Lesley Wiete immediately upon receiving the officer’s report on Friday night. That investigation will, under PUPD General Orders, include input from all witnesses to the arrest and take into account all available evidence, including video from officers’ body-worn cameras and statements from the students involved.
No physical injuries were suffered in the incident.
Purdue police take incidents such as this seriously. The video from body-worn cameras will be made available as will all findings and evidence from the internal review when complete.
Purdue University President Mitch Daniels issued this statement on Thursday:
“There are no subjects Purdue takes more seriously than campus safety, student well-being, and proper police conduct. On Friday evening, Feb. 4, police received a bystander report of a suspected assault on a woman, prompting an officer’s urgent response.
Immediately upon learning of the use of force during our police officer’s response, we ordered an investigation, including not only the required review of the officer’s actions as is standard procedure under Purdue University Police policies but also witness interviews and a release of all video evidence, including body-worn and in-car camera footage.
The inquiry into the police officer’s handling of the situation will be swift and thorough. As an additional step, following the internal review, the Indiana State Police will immediately commence an independent review of the PUPD investigation and video evidence. Should there be a finding of misconduct by the officer, appropriate action will be taken promptly.
In the spirit of transparency, once the Purdue Police and Indiana State Police reviews are complete, all findings and evidence, including all video evidence from body-worn cameras, in-car camera footage, dispatch calls, and witness interviews, will be made available.
We ask for your patience as the investigation moves forward and again, will communicate findings as soon as they are available.”
— Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr.
As part of Purdue’s campus response, the Office of the Dean of Students, Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, and Office of Counseling and Psychological Services are providing resources and support for students who were involved or affected.
According to Chief John Cox has placed Officer Jon Selke on administrative leave after the officer and department received death threats
PUPD is investigating the threats.
An internal investigation is taking place into the Feb. 4 incident, and upon completion, the Indiana State Police will immediately commence its own independent review.
